Silver Nuggets: Lehner's development; Rookies rolling offensively

It was a great weekend for the Senators prospects as they scored 10 goals in their two games and didn't allow a single goal when their top goaltender was in net. So the Senators and the Maple Leafs are both 2-0 and will play for the undisputed title tomorrow night. The Leafs have scored 9 goals and allowed 3 in their two games.

Anyway, my topic of the day is Robin Lehner. If you will allow me to get ahead of myself, Robin Lehner is going to start the season in Binghamton. He could go 4-0-0 in the preseason with four shutouts but he won't play in Ottawa's season opener. But let's suppose it's midway through December and Lehner has a 1.90 GAA and a .930 save percentage, then does it help his development to keep him in the AHL where he is clearly not being challenged enough? Even if Craig Anderson isn't struggling and is providing decent goaltending, should Lehner be called up to the NHL at that point? We know Lehner's thoughts on this, he thinks backing up in the NHL and being in practice with NHL players is better than playing in the AHL.

Here are today's links:

• With two games in the books, SenShot takes a look at how each player performed. In the great defensive battle, Tony Mendes feels that David Rundblad is NHL ready, but adds that both he and Jared Cowen might benefit from some AHL time. Among the forwards, Mika Zibanejad, Stephane Da Costa and Corey Cowick have impressed. (SenShot)
• Bob McKenzie also attended the game and he was impressed with Rundblad, Zibanejad and Da Costa. (Bob McKenzie)
• Mika Zibanejad and Stephane Da Costa are battling it out for one spot. Tim Murray feels they have to earn a spot iin the top nine to earn enough time to justify keeping them up. He also feels that one of them will make the club or neither will, but not both. (Ottawa Citizen)
• David Rundblad thinks he's ready, but he's not sure. Unlike his compatriot Erik Karlsson, Rundblad is more quiet and cautious. He isn't looking past the rookie tournament at this point. Rundblad adds that while the longer schedule and smaller rink will be different, he doesn't think it will be a problem. (Ottawa Citizen)
• Jared Cowen is a little more confident about his chances and feels he is ready. He points out that the biggest adjustment between the juniors and the AHL was the size of the players. In the WHL, he felt there were only a couple of big players which allowed him to take a shift off here and there, where as in the AHL, everyone was strong. (Ottawa Citizen)
• With so many hopes for the club's prospects, if they all have a strong camp, it will make things difficult for Bryan Murray. That is exactly what he wants. (Ottawa Citizen)
• The five rookies to watch in the Senators camp: David Rundblad, Jared Cowen, Robin Lehner, Mika Zibanejad and Stephane Da Costa. (Ottawa Sun)
• An interview with Senators head coach Paul MacLean. The most interesting thing for me was that he said he didn't need to see Milan Michalek, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson as a line to start with, because he knows what they can do together. (Ottawa Sun)
• Erin Nicks has this profile on Jared Cowen for NHL.com. Nicks asks if Cowen can follow in the footsteps of previous big Senators defenceman as Zdeno Chara and Chris Phillips (okay he is still current). My question is, will Cowen be more of a Chara or a Phillips? (NHL.com)
• A mother wonders why kids aged five and six, including her son, are slashing other kids ankles and saying things like you get down and you stay down. This is pretty sad at that age level. (Ottawa Citizen)
• And yet another prediction of the Senators finishing 15th in the East! (The Hockey Writers)