Silver Nuggets: Lehner on Binghamton fans

Last night, Joy Lindsay wrote an article on Robin Lehner where he talked about how difficult it was for him as a rookie to booed by the Binghamton fans. He doesn't feel the booing was warranted, pointing out that he had a decent regular season and was even booed in a 2-1 loss at one point. While the booing was partly directed at Barry Brust not playing and partly at Lehner's perceived over-confidence, it couldn't have been easy for a 19-year old rookie to be getting booed at home.

Lehner seems excited for the season and he hopes the fans are as well. However, with the Senators letting go of players such as Ryan Keller, Ryan Potulny, Derek Smith, Andre Benoit, Roman Wick, some Binghamton fans have been getting antsy over Ottawa's unwillingness to hand out big AHL contracts. If Lehner or the club gets off to a slow start, I don't think the Binghamton fans will remember the goodwill from the Calder Cup for too long.

This brings me to David Rundblad. Assuming Rundblad is eventually sent down there, given his style of play, he is going to definitely turn over the puck at times and it will sometimes lead to a goal against. Is it possible that Rundblad could start getting booed and the fans clamouring for some career AHL player to replace him? (not that Ottawa would even think of doing it) The Senators have replaced a lot of the veterans with younger players, which is beneficial for Ottawa, but not necessarily for Binghamton.

The links are after the jump. Also, don't forget to vote in today's provincial election!

General Sens News

• With Daniel Alfredsson hinting that he could be starting his last season, Jason Spezza said the players will try to convince our glorious captain to stick around. (Ottawa Sun)
• The city of Ottawa was surprisingly awarded a team two decades ago, and since then the club has flirted with bankruptcy, but the long term future of the club looks very bright. According to one estimate, the presence of the Senators generates $100 million in economic development in the city. (Senators Extra)
• Sergei Gonchar was disappointed in his season last year, but he is liking the system employed by Paul MacLean, likening it to the one he was used to in Pittsburgh. I am really likening liking the look of this first power play unit the Senators are trying right now: Jason Spezza, Nikita Filatov, Milan Michalek, Erik Karlsson and Gonchar. (Ottawa Sun, Ottawa Citizen)
• Patrick Lalime is among a growing number of ex-Senators who have decided to live in Ottawa after their playing careers are over. It's a nice place isn't it? (Senators Extra)
• Daniel Alfredsson looks back at his time in Ottawa and realises while he likely won't win a cup in Ottawa, he won't change his approach. He also is considering going to business school. Can Alfie get super rich and buy the Sens? That would be awesome! (Senators Extra)
• Twenty years of Ottawa Senators quotes. My favourite is Mike Milbury explaining trading Zdeno Chara and what turned out to be Jason Spezza for Alexei Yashin by saying, "Mother Teresa would have a bad reputation in Ottawa." (Ottawa Citizen)
• Nichols looks at the performances of 18-year old top ten draft picks in their first, second and third seasons and comparing that to those top ten picks that were held back until age 19 or 20. While top 10 picks generally do better by the third season if they started as 18-year olds, it is not significantly better. Is it worth using up a year of the entry level deal? (The 6th Sens)
• Paul MacLean looks at the path leading to his first career game as NHL head coach, he feels that it hasn't been a 'four-lane highway'. (Ottawa Senators)
• Ian Mendes doesn't like Peter Regin's chances of playing tomorrow. (Ian Mendes)
• The over/under on various Senators has been set as follows: Jason Spezza (64.5), Daniel Alfredsson (54.5), Erik Karlsson (43.5), Bobby Butler (39.5), Milan Michalek (36.5). I am going with over on Spezza, Karlsson and Michalek, under on Alfredsson...and err, not sure on Butler. (Yahoo!)