As hockey starved fans in Ottawa look for good news during the seemingly endless lockout, they need look no further than the performance of one of the organization's top prospects tearing up the Canadian Hockey League.
Matt Puempel, drafted in the first round, 24th overall by the Ottawa Senators, is off to a blistering start with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL and turning heads across the Ontario Hockey League.
Puempel scored twice over the weekend, notching both goals in a 2-1 win over the Oshawa Generals. The two goals bring his season total to 16, making him the leading scorer for the Rangers and 3rd overall in goals in the entire OHL.
Puempel, and another Sens first round draft pick in Cody Ceci are both expected to be in the mix for a spot with the Canadian Junior team next month. Obviously both guys will be in tough as Team Canada will be loaded with NHL quality talent if the lockout continues to drag on.
In an organization with incredible prospect depth, Puempel is often forgotten by Senators fans. When the Sens grabbed the Ontario native, he was considered to be one of the best pure goal scorers in that draft.
Through 20 games with the Rangers this season, you can see exactly why scouts and in particular the Ottawa Senators were so high on him. He has a fantastic release and great offensive sense that make him a threat to score every time he's on the ice.
The Kitchener Rangers are one of the best teams in the entire OHL and Puempel's strong start has a lot to do with that.
- Another Sens prospect, Jakub Culek, was finally traded over the weekend, going from the Rimouski Oceanic to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Culek was caught up in a numbers game in Rimouski and should finally get a chance to play in Cape Breton.
- It was a good weekend for Jakub Silfverberg in the AHL, as he picked up a couple points bringing his season total to six. The organization knew there was going to be an adjustment period with some of the young Swedes in the AHL. Here's hoping Saturday's strong showing was a sign of things to come for Silfverberg. Bingo's next game comes on Friday night when they host the Phantoms.
Silfverberg will dominate soon, he has already been a factor in a lot of the games this year, he could be a game breaker for the B Sens comes Demember. He is really showing what he can do at both ends of the ice. Been very disappointed with Mark Stone's game. He really needs to pick it up. For all of you that wanted Stone in the NHL this season you are probably now saying hmmmm.....Stone is going to be good but he needs time in the ECHL I think to find his game.
Stone has been injured for half the season and has the highest points per game on the team
But he'd have even better numbers playing in the ECHL!!
lbernier = yet another big mouth with a small agenda and a tiny brain
If possible, could you start passing along the weekly prospect update pdf again? I vaguely remember that it was put out by the Sens, but I could never find where to get it myself. I enjoyed sifting through their stats. If the Sens still put it out, it'd be nice to have accessible.
Thanks
oh, and guys, start supporting the 67's a bit! We have a projected top 5 draft pick, and a Sens first rounder playing every single night.
Go fuckin Sens.
Jared Cowen has opted for surgery for his hip problem.
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That is definitely not good..
FINALLY.
How funny is that? Had we drafted 5th instead of 6th in the 2011 Entry Draft, I think Murray & company would've drafted Strome, thus potentially having them as future line mates. Maybe it could still be done. Look what happened in 2001.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu-RZwq3NtA
Scotiabank is too far to go to more than a few 67s games. On Bank Street I generally get to 10-15 games a year, really convenient with the Queensway exit a stone's throw from the place and Kettleman's right around the corner for some primo bagels mon ami...but SBP is...really far. I'll go see the 67s one of these weeks.
As for Matt.
PUEMP UP THE JAM! PUEMP IT UP! KEEP THAT PUCKY MOVING!
I've been to most of the 67's home games this season. They are struggling right now. The first periods have been their downfall so far. They have just traded Cardwell and brought in another goalie named Windsor...
Sean Monahan... great young player... Graovac -- what a pick up by Minny. Ceci struggling a bit last couple of games.. but he is such a smooth skater.. Eight rookies in the lineup for the 67's probably has led to inconsistencies .. that hopefully will even out over the season. Goaltending, however, has to be better.
Between the 67's and the B-Sens I'm getting by with my hockey fix. I hope the fans that went to Binghamton had a great time... they sure brought some good luck to the team..
Injuries and surgery to fix them are never good, but considering the timing and no NHL, this is the best time if there is ever one, to get the proper treatment. Sure we want to see him kick arse in the AHL, but I'd really want him to be tip top for the NHL when it comes back.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
OTT says Jared Cowen to have surgery for lower body inj. Good news: hear it's not ACL (previous injury). Bad news: hear it's season ending.
Like I had mentioned before, he's already missing the NHL season so get it done and rehab and he'll be ready for a full NHL season next year.
Gryba's injury is a broken hand. Havent heard a timeline on his return.
Too Bad for Cowen. Really hope he has a quick recovery.
BOB SWARLEY, if you are looking for a site that has up to date sens prospects stats.
Check out this site that some guy from HF made:
http://sens.6te.net/
He gets shuffled aside in our prospect pool simply because of our sheer depth, but he probably has one of the highest ceilings.
He's gonna score goals in the NHL some day
I completely agree hopefully he becomes a good one for us!
He made a nice quick one touch pass to Strome for the first goal.
For the second goal showing off his net presence; he screened the goalie pretty well, so the other guy was able to pounce on the rebound. Puempel was not credited for the assist, but from the replay it looked to me that the Dougie Hamilton shot hit puempels stick before reaching the goalie.
Just sayin
Ottawa should trade for Andrew Ladd
As a Winnipegger, no. We really need Ladd over here. LOL.
i prefer noesen's game. he is out on the penalty kill, out as the 4th forward on the pp, plays a lot more responsible defensive game, he's on the ice in critical situations and just moves more in general.
puempel is clearly good as demonstrated by his goal numbers but i wasnt a fan of what i saw. he scored a goal in all the games i have seen him in but he is absolutely one dimensional. more of a cherry picker lurking for someone to pass him the puck.
dont get me wrong. im not saying he is bad by any means. Im way excited that he's doing so well and hope he only scores more. but im just saying i prefer more multi dimensional players.
No you're definitely right. In I've seen both play, and they're both good prospects, but if I were to pick which one would make the NHL sooner [I think they both will be NHL regulars one day], I'd say Neosen, simply because his game is more transferable to the NHL. He can hit, forecheck, score, pk, honestly he does everything for Plymouth.
Puempel's a pure goal scorer and will have to continue to improve, obviously like any prospect.
Their both dandies to watch though. I like Puempel, because Ottawa has never really drafted a pure goal scorer in a long time, so it's nice to have him in the system. He's going to play a top six role one day and score a lot of goals, but Neosen may be the more "valuable" player who can play pretty much any line.
But that's the beauty of having three picks in the first round. It gives you the option to mix and match like this. Similar to what the Caps did this past draft- drafting Forsberg who is skilled, and Tom Wilson who can hit.
Its great to hear about all the young guys coming up...exciting times for SENS fans!