Senators sign 2011 sixth-round pick to two-year deal

By Jared Clinton (@JPDClinton)

The Ottawa Senators have announced the signing of Max McCormick, their 2011 sixth-round pick.

McCormick, who just completed three years with the NCAA’s Ohio State Univeristy, comes to the Sens after a career-best NCAA campaign. In 37 games, the 22-year-old winger registered 11 goals and 35 points, besting his previous high of 31 points.

In 104 total NCAA games, McCormick racked up 36 goals and 52 assists, along with 97 PIM.

At 5’11” and 192 lbs., McCormick brings average size to the lineup, and will certainly help fill out the ranks for the Senators. While, according the Sens release, McCormick has been at each of the teams’ three previous development camps, this is the forward’s first deal with the team.

It appears likely that McCormick, barring an incredible pre-season, will begin the season with the Binghamton Senators.

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AHL Today: Barons snap two-game skid, beat Marlies

AHL Today is a roundup of the night that was, the day ahead, and anything you may have missed. Your quick look at what’s going on around the league.

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To Watch:

• BINGHAMTON at MANCHESTER: When the Senators head in to Manchester to play the Monarchs, they’re looking to pull themselves even closer to the top of the Eastern Conference. After a convincing 6-3 win over the Worcester Sharks their last time out, the Senators are hoping to continue their winning ways. The last time the two teams faced off this season, which came earlier this month, the Sens walked away with a 5-4 OT win, and Bingo’s Mike Hoffman lead all scorers with a goal and two assists.
• TORONTO at SAN ANTONIO: In their past two games, the Rampage have knocked off the top two seeds in the West. Friday night, with a win over the visiting Toronto Marlies, the Rampage could complete the trifecta. The Marlies, leading the Western Conference’s North Division and sitting third in the conference, roll in to San Antonio following a travel day and ruminating on their 5-3 defeat to the Oklahoma City Barons. A late-November contest was the only match up between the two teams, and that game saw the Marlies double up the Rampage 4-2.

Last Night:

• OKLAHOMA CITY 5, TORONTO 3: Brandon Kozun notched his first two points as a Marlie, both helpers, but they weren’t enough to bring the Marlies closer to the top seed in the West. After the Barons relinquished two two-goal leads — they lead 2-0, and 3-1 — Oklahoma City finally pulled away for good thanks to a Jack Combs tally with just over six minutes to go in the third. An Anton Lander empty-netter sealed the deal, as goaltender Richard Bachman and the Barons skated away with the ‘W’.

Moves:

Abbotsford Heat
Blair Jones (F) From: Calgary Flames
Trevor Gillies (F) From: Orlando Solar Bears
Adirondack Phantoms
Chris VandeVelde (F) From: Philadelphia Flyers
Charlotte Checkers
Cam Ward (G) From: Carolina Hurricanes
Aaron Palushaj (F) From: Carolina Hurricanes
Hamilton Bulldogs
Christian Thomas (F) To: Montréal Canadiens
Portland Pirates
Jesse Mychan (F) To: Colorado Eagles
Texas Stars
Pat Nagle (G) To: Idaho Steelheads
Russ Sinkewich (D) To: Toledo Walleye
Dustin Jeffrey (F) To: Dallas Stars
Syracuse Crunch
Riku Helenius (G) From: Florida Everblades
Maxime Parent (F) From: Florida Everblades
Utica Comets
Frank Corrado (D) To: Vancouver Canucks

News & Notes:

• A nice story by Wayne Fish on longtime AHL official Scott Adams, who is calling it a career after 20 years calling games in the ‘A’. Adams, on his passion for hockey: “When I’m skating, I feel like a little kid. When I saw the little kids skating on the rink next to the Winter Classic (in Michigan), I was almost crying.’’ [The Intelligencer]
• Sean Shapiro on Jamie Oleksiak, who could one day be a superpower on the Dallas Stars’ blueline, but for now, he’s working out of a tough time with the help from a Stanley Cup champion. [The Statesman]
• The Hershey Bears and Adirondack Phantoms are going to be busy this weekend, playing a weekend pair that starts with a 7 p.m. EST game tonight in Glens Falls and ends with a game starting at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Denis Hamel, former AHL star, to be honoured by Binghamton

It’s been nearly four years since Denis Hamel suited up for Binghamton, but tonight the former Senators forward will take to the ice to be honoured by the team and given his induction into the Binghamton Hockey Hall of Fame.

In six seasons with the Sens, Hamel amassed 392 points while securing his spot as the franchises leader in goals, assists and points. With 203 goals and 189 points, Hamel was a fan favourite, captaining the Sens from 2007 to 2010 before spending his final two AHL seasons in Adirondack with the Phantoms. Hamel sits at 11th all-time in goals in the AHL.

Hamel, who has spent his last two seasons with the LNAH’s Jonquière Marquis, was given the 2007-08 Yanick Dupre Award for his work in the community.

The Senators tweeted a photo of the plaque they will be honouring Hamel with.

Tonights the night #BSens don’t want to miss!722-7367 for Tix-LESS THAN 1,000 REMAIN.Let’s pack the house for Denis pic.twitter.com/VWULNUHdBu

— Binghamton Senators (@BSens_Hockey) January 25, 2014

Report: Ludwig Karlsson signs with Sens

Elliotte Friedman has reported that Ludwig Karlsson prepared to sign a deal with the Ottawa Senators.

Karlsson, 22, spent last season with Northeastern University and scored five goals and three assists in 17 games. By signing a deal with the Sens, Karlsson voids his NCAA eligibility and would likely join the Binghamton Senators.

The Stockholm native spent two seasons with Northeastern, and came to North America in 2009-10, joining the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. In his two seasons in the USHL, Karlsson — no relation to Ottawa defenceman Erik — scored 24 goals and 51 assists in 137 games, as well as helping the Gamblers to a Clark Cup as league champions.

A member of the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2011-12, the 6-foot-2, 194 pound forward scored 34 points (15-19) in his 49 game NCAA career.

 

Cowick signs one-year, two-way deal with Sens

Corey Cowick, who has spent the majority of the past three seasons with the Binghamton Senators, has landed himself a new deal with parent-club Ottawa.

The 24-year-old from Gloucester, Ont., was drafted by the Senators in the sixth round of the 2009 draft, and came to the Binghamton Sens after ending his career with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s.

In his OHL career — Cowick spent 154 games with the Oshawa Generals and 114 with the 67’s — Cowick was a power forward who drove the puck to the net and could contribute, but was never a go-to guy. Though his OHL career, Cowick was able to post 81 goals and 56 assists, and put together a nice junior career.

After coming to the pros, Cowick spent a significant amount of time in his first season playing with the Elmira Jackals, and has developed quite well. Since his 31 game stint with the Jackals in 2010-11, Cowick has only spent another 22 games in the ‘E’ — part of his season in 2012 — and became a full-time member of the Senators last season.

In 75 games with Bingo last year, Cowick buried 16 goals and added 19 assists, a scoring pace he was on back in his OHL days.

 

Hoffman back with Sens next season

Mike Hoffman — who was without a deal for 2013-14 until today — will be back with the Senators organization when the new campaign gets underway.

Hoffman, 23, has spent his last three seasons in the ‘A’ with the Sens top affiliate in Binghamton. While a member of the Binghamton Senators, Hoffman has racked up 42 goals, 69 assists, and 114 PIM in 210 games. A prolific scorer in the QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs, Drummondville Voltigeurs, and Gatineau Olympiques — Hoffman 227 points (122-105) in 180 regular season games — Hoffman has slowly been increasing his production in the minors.

In his first full year in the league, Hoffman played a depth role but contributed 25 points (7-18) in 74 games, adding another goal and eight assists in 19 playoff games. The B-Sens would go on to win the Calder Cup in Hoffman’s first season in the league, but was expected to help produce more in his sophomore year. When Corey Locke went down with injury, Hoffman took the reins and lead the team in scoring, putting up 21 goals and 28 assists in 76 games.

Hoffman, who was again leading the team in scoring last season before an injury sidelined him, was signed to a one-year, two-way deal.

Sens sign Dziurzynski, Borowiecki to two-way deals

The Ottawa Senators are bringing back some toughness.

It was announced today that the Sens have re-signed a pair of pugilists — David Dziurzynski and Mark Borowiecki — who spent last season with the Binghamton Senators.

Dziurzynski, a 23-year-old from Lloydminster, Alta., has spent the majority of the last three seasons with the Binghamton Senators after coming to the team as an undrafted free agent. A 6’3″, 205 lb. enforcer, Dziurzynski has amassed 259 penalty minutes over his 201 career regular season AHL games, along with racking up 68 points (21-47) over that time.

A part of the 2010-11 Binghamton Senators team that won the Calder Cup, Dziurzynski suited up for 14 games during that postseason, adding three assists. His new deal with the Senators is for just one season, and Dziurzynski will have to make an impact to stay with the team for an extended period of time.

Sadly, most know Dziurzynski for being on the bad end of a fist from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Frazer McLaren that resulted in him being out cold and missing game action for an extended period.

Borowiecki, who has re-signed with his hometown Sens, was a fifth-round pick of the Senators in 2008. The former Clarkson University (NCAA) captain has spent the last two seasons playing for the Sens top affiliate, and had a cup of coffee in the majors. However, in his eight games in the NHL, Borowiecki has been held scoreless.

In 159 games in the AHL, Borowiecki has put up decent numbers for his role, scoring ten goals, and assisting on another 29. On top of that, over his AHL career, the defenceman has racked up over 300 PIM.

Also a member of the 2010-11 Calder Cup team, Borowiecki suited up in 21 games with Bingo during their run and contributed to the tune of two assists.

The Kanata, Ont., native will be on a two-way deal next season, but come 2014-15, the deal will become one-way as he looks to make his mark in the NHL.

Blues acquire Cannone from Sens

The Ottawa Senators have sent Pat Cannone, who spent last season with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators, to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations.

Cannone, 26, signed with the Senators after ending his four year tenure at Miami University (OH.). While with the college hockey powerhouse, Cannone helped the team to a CCHA Championship in 2010-11, just before signing on with the Sens.

In two full season with Bingo, Cannone was a consistent performer, contributing 30 goals and 40 assists in 152 games with the Senators top affiliate.

Standing 6’0″ and nearly 200 lbs., Cannone has the hands and size to be an effective power forward and will look to put the pieces together next season when he suits up with the Blues top affiliate in Chicago. As a member of the Wolves, Cannone will likely slot into a top-six role. His current contract is a two-way deal that pays $625,000 in the NHL, and $105,000 in the ‘A’.

 

Sens sign Lawson, Binghamton fills net need

Nathan Lawson has been around, and it looks like he’ll finally get his shot at a starting role in the AHL.

The 29-year-old Calgary native has been re-signed by the Ottawa Senators, and reports are that he will be slotted into the starting gig for the Binghamton Senators. Lawson, who had previously spent time with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Hamilton Bulldogs, was inked by the Sens last year to back up Robin Lehner in the AHL. With Lehner getting the call to back up Craig Anderson in the bigs, and former Anderson understudy Ben Bishop shipped off to Tampa Bay, Lawson will move up the ranks.

Lawson, a keeper with 150 games of AHL experience, posted a 2.19 GAA and .938 SV% in 23 appearances last year with the B-Sens. In 2011-12, Lawson set a career high with five shutouts while a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs.

From the Sens, with an interesting note in the first paragraph:

His only appearance through the team’s first 34 games was a nightmare showing on Oct. 20. After Robin Lehner was ejected for fighting midway through the second period in a home game against Syracuse, Lawson entered with a 5-0 lead. The Crunch went on to score six straight goals to beat the B-Sens, 6-5.

Lawson had a lot of time to think about that appearance, not getting back between the pipes again until Jan. 12, the day the lockout ended. Lawson clearly felt comfortable as the No. 1 goaltender, finishing the season with a 12-6-2 record with 2.19 goals-against average and .938 save percentage and two shutouts in 23 games. He stopped 76 of 84 shots in the opening round of the AHL playoffs as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins swept the B-Sens in three games.

Let’s hope he keeps those “nightmare showings” to a minimum this coming year.