With defenceman Sergei Gonchar expected to miss some time with a concussion, there is a chance we could get our first look at defenceman Eric Gryba from the Binghamton Senators.
According to a report from the Ottawa Sun, Gonchar will be out at least a week because of the NHL’s new concussion rules and could potentially be done for the season.
Standing at 6’4, 222 lbs, the 68th overall pick in the 2006 draft is a player the club has watched closely over the course of the season in Bingo. While he struggled out of the gate, he has played much better down the stretch.
A defensive defenceman, Gryba is solid in his own end and capable of making the big hit. At the season ticket holder event last week, Sens GM Bryan Murray said that Gryba was one of the players that has impressed the organization the most this year, in terms of progression as a player.
To add to the speculation, I was told late last week that the club hopes to get Gryba a game or two down the stretch.
The Sens certainly won’t try to rush Gonchar back into the line up so this would be the perfect time to give Gryba a look. The Ottawa Sun has also mentioned familiar names like Andre Benoit and Derek Smith as call up candidates.
Gryba has six points in 62 games down in Bingo and has racked up 127 penalty minutes.
The Sens are in Carolina tomorrow night.
A number of you have asked about the status of NCAA free agents Paul Thompson and Stephane Da Costa. Still nothing new to report on that front.
Both Merrimack College and the University of New Hampshire have qualified for the Sweet 16 in the NCAA playoffs. No official negotiations can take place until their season down there ends.
