AHL: Baby Senators Get Passing Vote

Unlike their parent club (Ottawa), the Binghamton Senators are in the thick of the playoff race in the AHL. The team currently sits in fourth place in the East Division after visiting Norfolk over the weekend. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson has notes on several Binghamton players, including Peter Regin, Ilya Zubov, Tomas Kudelka and Zack Smith.

Peter Regin C, Binghamton Senators

The 22-year-old Danish center saw limited time in Ottawa earlier this year, registering one point (goal) in six games for the Senators .. however, he made that one goal count, as it ended up being the game winner against St. Louis on January 29 .. Regin is a quality, playmaking pivot who excels in the passing game .. Regin's adept vision allows him to target rushing teammates with regularity, while his spongy and velvety hands permit him to deliver the puck with precise accuracy .. he can even get away with perilous passes at times given his ability to thread the needle .. Regin also owns a useful wristshot but prefers to act in a set-up role .. despite his unselfish play, Regin has the aptitude to hold the puck and challenge defenders when he chooses, as his clever stick work allows him to win one-on-one battles .. he possesses above-average speed but needs to develop better balance and command on the puck .. Regin can also improve his play in the circle, particularly on the man advantage, as the team will often defer to one of his wingers in the event of a faceoff.

Ilya Zubov C/LW, Binghamton Senators

Zubov is a highly-skilled forward who currently leads the team in scoring .. he is a powerful skater who maintains a low center of gravity as a result of his rock-like frame and parallel position to the ice .. Zubov is famous for gaining the opponent's blueline and using his gifted backhand to dish the puck in a nonchalant (sometimes no-look) fashion to one of his teammates .. despite being somewhat predictable, defenders still have a difficult time doing anything about it .. Zubov can keep the puck on a rope and sidestep opponents with his superior agility and quickness .. even though he is not an upright skater, which can hinder his ability to survey the ice, Zubov possesses shrewd vision and is very successful in the short passing game .. his defensive play can be praised as well .. for example, Zubov will slide in behind a pinching defenseman to ensure that an odd-man rush is not created in transition .. Zubov also keeps his feet moving in the defensive end (will retreat to the corner, streak up the wing or cross-over in the high slot), which allows his defensemen to use him as an outlet.

Tomas Kudelka D, Binghamton Senators

Kudelka is a smooth-skating, offensive defenseman who moves well in all directions (laterally, straight-ahead and backwards) .. as a result, it is no surprise that he flourishes on the powerplay, where six of his seven goals this season have come .. Kudelka owns a booming slapshot from the point but can also be seen driving to the net with his solid wristshot .. his generous frame allows him to see the ice with great clarity and home in on open teammates .. Kudelka is effective at taking away the boards in the offensive end, keeping the puck in the zone and pinching when the opportunity arises .. he can also carry the puck up ice with relative ease, as his sound stickwork and maneuverability permit him to lead the rush .. defensively, Kudelka does an adequate job of putting himself between the opposing player and the net, and is able to stay with his man on a consistent basis .. he also takes advantage of the boards to avoid forecheckers .. however, his decision-making can be poor at times .. for example, instead of skating the puck out of trouble, Kudelka is prone to passing the puck to a teammate who is already being pressured .. additionally, sometimes he will try to use counter-direction along the boards (pass in the direction of the pursuing forechecker) when he is not being burdened from the opposite side.

Zack Smith C, Binghamton Senators

Smith, an overage draft pick by the Senators in 2008, has been a pleasant surprise for Binghamton this season and may be one of the most underrated players in Ottawa's prospect pool .. he is currently tied for second on the team in scoring .. the two-way pivot sees icetime in just about every situation and has become one of the team's top faceoff men .. Smith enjoys a combination of speed, size and skill .. he is a natural skater who can pressure on the forecheck, create turnovers in the neutral zone and get behind the defense in the attacking zone .. furthermore, Smith possesses the necessary fortitude to crash the net on a regular basis .. he is known for going behind the net, where he can utilize his quick, wrap-around shot .. Smith can go into high-traffic areas and still get the puck to teammates, thanks to his intelligent vision and flexible hands .. he displays impressive muscle on the puck and can make defenders miss with his effective stickhandling skills .. Smith also exhibits a disciplined work ethic in his own end, as he will assist the puck-side defenseman behind the net, allowing the other defenseman to anchor himself in the slot.