Weekly Bingo Bites: Wideman, Mullen & The Lehner
This is the first of what will become a new weekly update about anything and everything to do with the Binghamton Senators featuring catching up with the latest events.
We begin with parent club Ottawa in signing two defensemen that should end up playing for Binghamton and a goaltender that shows his respect as we kick off this newly developed weekly round-up featuring the Binghamton Senators and what has currently taken place.
The club had two signings to start this week as the league's best offensive defenseman was re-signed to a new one year, two way deal, followed shortly by the signing of another D-man as Patrick Mullen came to terms for another season for the Senators.
Let's break it down;
This whole saga has me in a tizzy as I go back and forth on what to expect if Wideman doesn't do well come September during training camp up in Ottawa. Wideman, fresh off a new one year, 2-way contract that will pay him 600K at the NHL level and a whopping 400K in the AHL would make him one of the lowest payed defenseman up top, but the highest paid player in Binghamton Senators history.
He would surpass another defenseman in last year's team as ex-Captain Aaron Johnson earned made $350,000, as it just goes to show Ottawa is, and has in the recent past (thanks to Bryan Murray's effort's) been a player and is willing to pay the big bucks for some men willing to deal with the environmental challenges they face that the minor league brings, let alone the winter hardships playing here in Binghamton.
It's great that Chris has decided to play another season for personal as well as professional reasons as he has stated to the media. His younger brother Alex was just signed by Binghamton and surely was one of the main reasons with both looking forward to sharing the same ice surface for the very first time in the pros. Should be a treat to watch next season, hopefully. Which leads up to another storyline.
Will He Clear?
In Buffalo, Tim Murray can't be ignored for the primary focus of claiming him. If Tim isn't pleased he can send him down to Rochester where his 400k starts to kick in. Let's face it, that would totally suck. As NHL teams have budgets to meet that would be a hefty price to pay as that would weigh into consideration if a club claims him. Fun times awaits but Ottawa, you've held your end of the bargain, nicely done.
Patrick Mullen-
Did not see this coming at all.
Ottawa reached out to re-sign Mullen for the another 150k deal in Binghamton but this time offered a 2 way deal that let's face it, will never happen considering a call-up. This signing is leaving the Bingo faithful fans scratching their heads as to why, but it's a done deal so we have to deal with it.
Pros are is his veteran status as the blue line could use his locker room banter and he's proven a steady asset on the power play opposite Wideman at times, but then again, it's Wideman.
Cons would be the costly turnovers and the amount he generates, plus he plays small and poor contacts. Too many times coughing the puck over and zero speed. Not sure what to think with this signing other than a safe insurance clause.
I would like to say in retrospect how good a feeling it has become about what Lehner meant to the City of Binghamton and the fans on the wake of his trade to the Buffalo Sabres.
With Robin's tenure in Binghamton, it boiled down to a love-hate relationship that witnessed a young Swedish lad trying to blend in and having some difficulties in the process of adapting his development to the North American style of game as well, which isn't an easy process.
As much as he tried, Robin was always one step ahead followed by two steps behind in the early days in Binghamton. Following his rough maturity process, we saw him develop to be what we always envisioned, as a top quality goaltender while leading Binghamton to the first ever championship in over 40 plus years of existence, as he was named the MVP of the 2011 Calder Cup playoffs.
I know most of you have seen it, but bears another look. His fair well gesture was a thing of class as it struck a chord with myself as I'm sure with most BSens' fans. He didn't have to include the after-mention but nonetheless, class act The Lehner.
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) June 27, 2015 Thank you Robin and good luck displaying your talents for the Sabres Organization and I hope you get that opportunity to ride the wave when you put together a hot streak! You will always be remembered in the hearts and souls of the fans here in Bingo in winning the Cup!
Cover & Insert Courtesy of Alicia Strauch