Will Nick Paul Saddle Up With Curtis Lazar In Binghamton Next Season?
This is the second of a four part series involving some new blood arriving into the Senators' organization with the first being Tobias Lindberg, as we now take a look at forward Nick Paul and the potential he brings.
It very well could happen, and for good reason.
The second of two really big impact players that most likely will be wearing a Binghamton Senators jersey next season will be forward Nick Paul in making the leap to the pros. The Senators organization will finally see some fruition in return for an unpopular trade for fan.
Paul is set to pack his bags to begin his pro experience playing for the B-Sens next season and could have some competing company at the center position. Drafted by the Dallas Stars in round 4 (#101 overall) in 2013, he was part of the package that sent Jason Spezza on his way in return with current B-Sens player Alex Guptill.
Nicolas is more of a natural center, where Curtis Lazar's game translates better to the wing. Plus size down the middle goes a long way as he was voted the OHL's top face off man last season.
While the 20-year-old left winger native from Mississauga, ONT is known as a defensive forward and at 6' 3" 221 lb., he will be a favorable target for the opposition with his size, as he led the North Bay Battalion with 37 goals and was second on the team with 66 points in 58 games last season. In the post-season Paul had 7 goals and 8 assists in 15 games as his club was knocked out after successfully going three rounds before losing to the Erie Otters.
Meanwhile, Lazar is coming off a sub-par first season in a huge leap of faith for Ottawa and could benefit some cultivating at the AHL level, at least in the first half of the season. At age 20, he's now eligible to play in the minors to further his development while getting huge minutes under Luke Richardson that would spell a win-win situation on both fronts.
Granted, I expect some flack from the Ottawa Senators' community to an extent as being an unfavorable move, but it cannot be ruled out as an unsupported tweet by Murray Pam on the possibility;
@SensUnofficial @Ski931 Ben Harpur will be in Bingo next season. Can't visualize Lazar being sent down - depends on roster situation.
— Murray Pam (@Pammerhockey) June 6, 2015 Stats-wise Lazar had 6 goals and 9 assists in 67 games for Ottawa after posting respectable numbers for the Edmonton Oil Kings over four seasons. Clearly his development needed time in the AHL but he was caught up in an age thing with him being only 19 at the time killing his eligibility. Lazar would likely be on the top line for Binghamton with say, Paul and Tobias Lindberg on the wings. Sounds intriguing, albeit the possibility admittedly remains somewhat of a long shot.
Paul might be battling for position with Matt Puempel somewhere in the top six as he looks to return for the B-Sens after his late season call-up after suffering an injury that ended his season up top. Further along in his development, he'll be slotted on the top line somewhere as well.
Then there's the possibility of Derek Grant coming back (which I believe he will) and could play a bigger part as the second line center, with Ryan Dzingel and Max McCormick filling out the third and fourth lines. With that, I don't see Carter Camper being offered a new contract as the four center positions would be already locked up.
So in summary, things are hopefully looking up in Binghamton with both Lindberg and Paul coming aboard. In case you missed it, here is Lindberg's review. Up next will be D-man Ben Harpur.
*Photo credit to Valerie Wutti.