Binghamton Senators Grades: November
Binghamton is at .500 and 5th in the East division, however is only two points away from 4th place (the top 4 teams from each division qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs) and has one of the AHL's best offenses. That and Barry Brust. Here are the grades for the Binghamton Senators (I decided to use grades because it works better on a monthly basis than up and down).
| Goalies | Grade | Notes |
| Barry Brust | A | Barry Brust is the AHL leader in saves, and is fifth in minutes. Brust has been a workhorse for Binghamton starting in as many as five consecutive games for the club, and had some fantastic games while playing with a developing defense, and he's popular with teammates and fans alike. Not bad for a guy who was supposed to be the starting goaltender for the Elmira Jackals. |
| Robin Lehner | C | Lehner hasn't been bad as his numbers would tell you, but he has been good enough to get the lion's share of starts for Binghamton. He's had games where he's looked unbeatable and like the goaltender the organization and fans want him to be, and games where he's had a terrible first and has been beaten on shots that should have been easy saves. Consistency has been his problem, as well as every goaltender to put on a Senators uniform, but he's only 19 and needs to get more ice time. |
| Mike Brodeur | N/A | Hasn't played a game since suffering a concussion. |
| Forwards | ||
| Jason Bailey | F | What can I say about Jason Bailey? His offense is non-existent (Barry Brust has more points than him), his defensive play is mediocre, and the coaching staff has used him a healthy scratch for most of the games. |
| Cody Bass | C | The only thing holding Cody Bass back is his injuries. While he wouldn't be an offensive force, Bass can still put forwards on the floor and kill penalties very effectively. |
| Bobby Butler | A | Butler leads all rookies in the AHL in goals and points, and has looked fantastic doing it. He and Corey Locke have great chemistry on the top line. While Butler's offense is getting looks, the real reason he's an A is his defense. Many of Butler's goals can be traced back to fantastic board play and pressure in Binghamton's zone. |
| Erik Condra | B | Binghamton's leading rookie scorer last season is still going strong. He's third in team scoring despite the lack of top-6 playing time. |
| Kaspars Daugavins | D | After becoming an internet sensation, Daugavins has fallen off the map. When not a healthy scratch, he's a fourth liner, and with only 8 points has shown no signs of bouncing back. |
| David Dziurzynski | D | David Dziurzynski has only one point in 19 games, but he has been playing better recently. He can win faceoffs when the game is on the line. |
| Colin Greening | B | The only guy on the line Bobby Butler and Corey Locke, Greening's been the physical one of the three, winning the battles on the boards and getting the puck into the offensive zone. |
| Mike Hoffman | D | While he's a great stickhandler, Mike Hoffman has at many time been invisible on the ice. For a player of his size, he has a great shot and can be seen on defensive end, it's just a shame he hasn't been seen much. |
| Ryan Keller | B | The new Binghamton captain has gone a great job. He's tough on both offensive and defensive zones, has done well while working with Roman Wick and Jim O'Brien, and hasn't been afraid to stand up for his players. |
| Francis Lessard | C | Leads the AHL in PIMs and majors. He's done everything the team needed him to do. |
| Corey Locke | A | Binghamton's leader in points (and 2nd in the AHL) has been his typical point per game player he was in Hamilton. His playmaking skills are so ever-present on the top line with Butler and Greening, and he has assisted in nearly all of Butler's goals. |
| Jim O'Brien | B | After being called a bust after his disappointing rookie season in the AHL, O'Brien has passed his point total from last year has have been an effective centre for Binghamton. He also leads Binghamton in plus/minus. |
| Zack Smith | B | While he may not have a permanent spot on Binghamton's roster, Zack Smith has been great in Binghamton. His offense has started to come alive while filling in for Corey Locke on the first line, and his toughness and grit is still present. |
| Roman Wick | C | Roman Wick had 0 points in his first 10 games, and has 9 points in his last 13. He's adjusted to the style of play in North America, and has actually been physical on the ice. |
| Defense | ||
| Andre Benoit | A | Benoit leads Binghamton defensemen in points and is the teams best defender by a mile. While he may not be as physical as people want, Benoit has been amazing on the powerplay. |
| Eric Gryba | C | He's adjusted to the level of hockey and has started to play physical. While his play in front of the net is still developing, he has gotten into some fights and has made some monster hits. |
| Geoff Kinrade | B | He's been great on the powerplay and is by the far Binghamton's best skater. He leads the defense in goals with 3. |
| Craig Schira | C | Schira has been working with Benoit on the first paring, and his offensive mindset is starting to rub off on the second-year defensemen. |
| Derek Smith | C | His defense hasn't shown any signs of development, but his offense has become better from the last season. |
| Patrick Wiercioch | D | A -10 plus/minus tells the story of Patrick Wiercioch's first season in the pros. |
