Matt O’Connor will not be qualified
The announcement gives some clarity to Belleville’s goalie situation
With announcements of Chris Neil not returning and Erik Karlsson undergoing surgery coming earlier today, Pierre Dorion didn’t stop there by announcing goaltender Matt O’Connor will not be extended a qualifying offer this off-season.
O’Connor, who’s now 25 years old and a pending RFA, was signed by the Senators out of Boston University as one of the top college free agents available. He was highly regarded by management, infamously starting the Sens’ home opener that against the Montreal Canadiens in 2015. The rest of his pro rookie season was disappointing, putting up a SV% of .895 in 37 games for Binghamton while splitting time with Chris Driedger.
Hoping to see signs of improvement in 2016-17, O’Connor once again put up a .895 SV%. The B-Sens’ defence was disastrous, although there were times where O’Connor was having trouble stopping any pucks at all.
With promising prospect Marcus Hogberg coming in from Sweden for the start of next season, one of Driedger or O’Connor had to be the odd man out. Another move could potentially come with Andrew Hammond also in the mix, but for now it seems like Hogberg and Driedger will share the crease for the Belleville Senators’ inaugural season.
