Senators Re-Sign Five Players

[Thrillhouse]

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators today announced they have re-signed five players. Returning to the Senators organization for the 2005-06 season on one-year deals are centres Jason Spezza and Antoine Vermette, right-winger Chris Neil, and defenceman Christoph Schubert. Defenceman Anton Volchenkov signed a two-year contract.

All players signed today lined up with the Senators American Hockey League affiliate during the 2004-05 season, with only Neil joining the Binghamton Senators late in the regular season and playoffs.

Neil, 26, joined Binghamton on March 2 for a late push in the 2004-05 season and playoffs. In 22 regular-season games with the B-Sens, he recorded 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) and 132 penalty minutes. Neil also added two points (1-1) and 26 penalty minutes in six playoff games. In three season in Ottawa, from 2001 to 2004, the Markdale, Ont., native had 43 points (24-19) and 572 penalty minutes in 222 NHL regular-season games.

Schubert, 23, played his third season with the Binghamton Senators in 2004-05. The Munich-born defenceman had 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points — 10 more points than he scored in the his previous two seasons combined. Third best blue-liner in scoring on the team, Schubert added 110 penalty minutes in 76 games last season. He also contributed two goals and as many assists in six playoff games. He has yet to play an NHL regular-season game. The Senators fourth-round pick, 127th overall, in the 2001 draft has represented Germany in international competition, most recently the 2005 World Championship.

Spezza, 22, returned to Binghamton for the 2004-05 season as a result of the NHL lockout. The 2005 AHL most valuable player led the league in scoring with 117 points (32-85), playing in all 80 regular-season games. In six playoff games, he added four points (1-3) to his season tally. Spezza also played in the AHL all-star game and was named centre for the AHL first all-star team. In two seasons with Ottawa — 2002-03 to 2003-04 — the Mississauga, Ont., native recorded 76 points (29-47) and 79 penalty minutes in 111 games. He also recorded a goal and assist in six playoff meetings. The Senators selected Spezza second overall in the 2001 NHL draft.

Vermette, 23, collected 28 goals and 45 assists for 73 points to finish third in scoring for the B-Sens. He also led Binghamton in playoff scoring, tallying one goal and four assists for five points in six games. In 2003-04, Vermette saw his first NHL action, recording seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 57 games during his rookie season with Ottawa. The St-Agapit, Que., native was Ottawa’s second second-round draft choice (55th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

In 69 games during the 2004-05 season, the 23-year-old Volchenkov finished second in scoring among Binghamton’s defencemen with 10 goals and 35 assists for 45 points. He also finished tied for second in plus-minus with his +24 rating, and was a mid-season selection for the PlanetUSA squad at the AHL All-Star Classic. Volchenkov has played two NHL seasons with Ottawa after originally signing a three-year contract in July of 2002. In two NHL seasons, the Moscow native has four goals, 15 assists and 48 penalty minutes over 76 games. He also added a goal and assist in 22 playoff games. Volchenkov was Ottawa’s first selection, 21st overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

[paint huffer]

Nice to see them secure those five guys. It'll be interesting to see what Neil's role is this season, crash and bang player or if he'll keep fighting as much as he has the past few seasons. Depends if they sign a big boy or not I guess, or bring Gratts up from Bingo.

Too bad they didn't lock Spezza and Vermette up to longer deals. Too bad Hossa isn't on the signing list either.

[Thrillhouse]

Volchenkov was a big signing, it sounded like he might stay overseas.

[paint huffer]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Volchenkov was a big signing, it sounded like he might stay overseas.

Last I heard he was offered double his qualifying offer from the Sens by a Russian club. On the news last night they said it looked like he was going to sign, but I was still skeptical. You're right, it is a big signing for sure.