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Isbister and Shannon bound for Binghamton....Smolinski, Gelinas and Murray?

September 6, 2008, 1:04 AM ET [ Comments]

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GM Bryan Murray added the likes of free agent Brad Isbister and Ryan Shannon who was acquired in the Lawrence Nycholat trade this past week, to the Ottawa Senators organization. Both of these players will most likely be nothing more than depth moves. If I had to guess, Isbister and Shannon will be starting the year in Binghamton unless either player has an outstanding pre-season.

When you look at Shannon, he probably has the better chance of making the big club as he has much more upside than Isbister. At 25 years of age, Shannon had 5G and 8A in 27 NHL games, compared to that of Isbister at 31 years of age, he had 6G and 5A in 55 games.

With Jarkko Ruutu, Chris Neil, Chris Kelly, Cody Bass, Dean McAmmond and Shean Donovan are most likely pencilled in on the third and fourth lines, both Isbister and Shannon should start the year in Binghamton when you look at who the Sens have on their current roster. Antoine Vermette and Nick Foligno will be looked upon to take on top 6 minutes.

Regardless, the Sens already have enough third and fourth line players. Now, if Murray is able to trade McAmmond or Neil before the regular season begins then one of these two players could suit up in Ottawa. Lets not forget, Ilya Zubov, Jesse Winchester and Josh Hennessy will push for a spot on the big club too. Danny Bois is another player in the Sens plans down the road but is not quite ready yet. I don't see Alexander Nikulin making the team, considering he consistently goes out of his way to avoid physical contact and is a perimeter player.

The Binghamton Senators forwards are shaping up quite nicely though. Zubov, Winchester, Hennessy, Bois, Nikulin, Shannon and Isbister gives the Baby Sens seven strong forwards.

Murray still has alot of cap space to play with and if he can upgrade at forward or on defense you know he won't hesitate to do so. If Murray could ever land Brendan Shanahan, he could be a piece that pushes Ottawa back into the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. Shanahan would go a long way in helping develop Foligno at LW. This would be the most ideal player to add to this roster in which Murray has done a fine job assembling this off-season.

I know Murray is looking to add another veteran to his team. He wants someone that would be great in the locker room and still contribute on the ice. The names that are floating out there are Glen Murray and Bryan Smolinski. Martin Gelinas is another player that Murray has looked at in the past and could find his way to the Nation's Capital. Any of these three players would fit in nicely with regards to the locker room. In terms of what they can bring on the ice, personally I feel that Murray has the most upside.

Here is the roster for the Sens rookie tournament that takes from Sept. 13th to Sept. 15th at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

http://senators.nhl.com/ext/2008-09%20Rookie%20Camp%20Roster.pdf

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I will be getting back to everyones e-mails from this past week over the weekend.

Kevin

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