Michael Sharp: Hockey Blogger Extraordinaire

For anyone with an interest in following the progress of Ottawa's prospects, and the Binghamton AHL team for which many of them play, Michael Sharp's blog, Sharp on Sens, is invaluable.

Here's a recap of his latest and greatest.

"We were the quickest team in the tournament" - new Bingo head coach Don Nachbaur's impressions of the rookie tournament in Kitchener.

"I thought all the drafted players, and the free agents that showed up, were outstanding," he said. "Had a tremendous show. I thought within the tournament our scouts did a really good job of assembling young talent, and we really utilized our speed. We were the quickest team in that tournament, and consequently, we were able to score some big numbers throughout the tournament.

"But names? Our young goaltender (Robin Lehner) was outstanding. Jimmy O'Brien was good. Condra had an excellent camp. (Keegan) Dansereau. I mean, we go through the list of guys -- I thought everybody had a real decent showing for themselves."

Lehner in 2010? - Binghamton General Manager Tim Murray talks about Robin Lehner.

"Obviously, he's committed and we've committed for him to go to (the OHL's Soo Greyhounds) this year, but we'll see the year he has in the Soo," Ottawa assistant GM Tim Murray said. "We'll see who we have coming back. As you know in the American League, there's a lot of one-year deals, and guys moving on to better opportunities, or perceived better opportunities. So, yeah, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that at 19-turning-20, he'd be playing in Binghamton."

Rookie Watch: Jim O'Brien - Binghamton General Manager Tim Murray talks about Jim O'Brien.

"He had a good tournament. Jimmy's biggest thing is consistency, I think, as any player. And strength. And early in the shift, he's really jumping and flying, and later on in the shift, you can see his strength and stamina and skating suffer a little bit. And I find that with most young players. He's got a good head on his shoulders. I think he can play both ends of the rink. He can shoot the puck. I think it's just a matter of, again, the grind. Him moving to Seattle (in the WHL) two years ago from (the University of) Minnesota I think will really help that area of it. I think he's grown up a lot, and he wants to be a player. So, he'll have an opportunity to play with good players down there, and we'll just see what he does."

Kaspars Daugavins Update - recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and almost ready for contact.

THN: Video Report on Erik Karlsson

Ted Cooper of The Hockey News has an interview and video report with Senators prospect Erik Karlsson.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/27827-VIDEO-Rookie-blueliner-Karlsson-poised-to-make-his-mark-in-Ottawa.html

Senators Reduce Training Camp Roster by Nine Players

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 14, 2009) - The Ottawa Senators reduced today their training camp roster by nine players.

All nine were assigned to attend the club's American Hockey League's Binghamton Senators' training camp, which opens Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Binghamton's Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

The group includes four defencemen: Paul Baier, Mat Robinson, Craig Schira and Kyle Wharton; and five forwards: Jason Bailey (RW), Keegan Dansereau (LW), Kaspars Daugavins (RW), Matt Lowry (RW) and Brandon Svendsen (RW).

The Senators camp roster is now comprised of 46 players: six goaltenders, 12 defencemen and 28 forwards.

Senators Rookie Tournament Roster Announced

The Ottawa Senators have announced the roster for this year's rookie tournament to be held in Kitchener from the 7th to 10th of September.

Goaltenders:
Shane Connelly (Wisconsin - WCHA)
Robin Lehner (Frolunda Jr. - Sweden)

Defencemen:
Paul Baier (Portland - AHL)
Collin Bowman (Kelowna - WHL)
Erik Karlsson (Frolunda HC, Boras HC - Sweden)
Geoff Kinrade (Michigan Tech - WCHA, Norfolk - AHL, Tampa Bay - NHL)
Mat Robinson (Las Vegas - ECHL, Alaska-Anchorage - WCHA)
Craig Schira (Vancouver - WHL)
Kyle Wharton (Johnstown - ECHL, Syracuse - AHL)

Forwards:
Jason Bailey (Bakersfiled - ECHL)
Erik Condra (Notre Dame - CCHA)
Keegan Dansereau (Swift Current - WHL)
Kaspars Daugavins (Binghamton - AHL, Mississauga - OHL)
Jordan Hale (Brandon - WHL)
Michael Hoffman (Drummondville - QMJHL)
Casey Lee (U. of Saskatchewan - CWUAA)
Matt Lowry (Brandon - WHL)
Jim O’Brien (Seattle - WHL, Binghamton - AHL)
Brett Parnham (Oshawa - OHL, Rochester - AHL)
Peter Regin (Binghamton - AHL, Ottawa - NHL)
Zack Smith (Binghamton - AHL, Ottawa - NHL)
Brandon Svendsen (Idaho - ECHL, Bowling Green - CCHA)

The tournament is a round-robin between rookie teams representing the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Check the link for Kitchener game schedules and pre-tournament Sensplex open practice schedules.