[Update: The Sens announced today the club has signed free-agent forward Cole Schneider to a two-year entry-level contract. Schneider will sign an amateur try-out agreement and report to the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League.]
–Elliotte Friedman Tweets that the Sens are close to signing 21-year old NCAA free agent forward Cole Schneider (6’2, 38-23-22-45) from the University of Connecticut. Friedman’s comments are from yesterday, and Joy Lindsay Tweets today that he’s expected to sign an ATO and join Binghamton next week.
–Daniel Alfredsson talked about the dangers of playing teams out of contention:
“We played pretty good last year at the end. Everybody plays with pride. They’re playing pretty good and I’m pretty sure they want to make sure they finish strong going into next year. For us, it’s two more points on the line. We’ve got to make sure we bring our intensity and play smart. They’re playing a little bit more relaxed. If we give them chances, they’re going to be flying and cheating a little bit. We’re going to have to be very poised with the puck.”
Alfredsson also talked about the approach the Sens need to have for continued success:
“For us, more than anything, it’s a reminder we’ve got to skate. When we’re skating, we’re making things happen. We’re creating offence, we’re getting back on the backcheck. Skate, and don’t get cautious. We’ve got to keep pushing. Buffalo, the way they play, they’re an aggressive team, if they get momentum, they’re a team that can win seven, eight, nine, 10 in a row. But if you’re a team that’s really patient (read: sits back) I don’t think you’re going to have the same kind of streaks as a skating team that’s aggressive.”
–Adnan illustrates how meaningless fights have been in generating momentum for the Sens this year (with the odd exception of Colin Greening) and expresses the obvious point that fisticuffs have nothing to do with game outcomes.
–Sports Illustrated‘s power rankings are out with Ottawa 14th.
-Sens prospect Jakob Silfverberg was voted the SEL’s MVP by the leagues players.
–Michael Traikos points out the obvious when he says, “Here is a league that readily admits the amount of concussions sustained so far this season is on par with last season, and yet this is somehow spun as good news.” And, “One website, the concussionblog.com, reported last month that instances of concussion had risen by 60% this season. The NHL, which is not exactly forthcoming with injury information, claimed then the number was closer to 10%.” There are only two effective deterrents, which are heavy-handed suspensions (which the NHL tried and immediately retreated from) and stronger penalties for hits to the head. The combination of those two elements would eliminate most head shots.
