OTTAWA — Improbably, they were both grinning like crazy fools, these two teenagers on the receiving end of polar opposite news.
There was 18-year-old Mika Zibanejad of the Ottawa Senators, smiling as he led the centre ice stretches for the morning skate. What a pleasant surprise.
Just on Wednesday the club announced the kid was returning to his Swedish club team for the rest of the season, but he doesn’t fly until Friday, and the assignment of leading the stretches, normally a veteran’s gig, was a parting gift to the likable prospect. Come back soon, Mika.
When the Senators left the ice, the Florida Panthers emerged, and their own mega-prospect stole the show, as Erik Gudbranson, 19, was informed by head coach Kevin Dineen, in front of the entire team, that Gudbranson was staying with the NHL club for the rest of the season.
While Gudbrandson was mobbed by his teammates, a flurry of high-fives and head pats and “Way to go, Mr. Gudbranson!,” up in the stands the other Mr. Gudbranson, Eric’s father, Wayne, saw the scene go blurry from the tears flooding his eyes, too emotional to speak about the confirmation that his son had just made the NHL.
Not that it was a question of if, just when, because Eric, a six-foot-four, can’t-miss defenceman, was drafted third overall in 2010, behind those glory boys Taylor (Hall) and Tyler (Seguin). He probably should have been on the Panthers last season but a quibble over his contract bonuses led Florida to send him back to Ontario Hockey League Kingston, where he joined his little brother Alex.
How classy of Panthers general manager Dale Tallon and coach Dineen to let Gudbranson know ahead of this game in Ottawa — Erik’s hometown — when Erik had enough on his plate coming home.
“I was wondering how I was going to deliver it,” Dineen said. “A lot of times in this business you’re delivering bad news, so it’s nice to let someone know — that’s a heck of an occasion, not only for him but for his family, his minor-league coaches, a lot of people can really enjoy that.”
Erik’s mother, Donna, was the ticket manager for the two dozen or so friends and family at Scotiabank Place for the occasion.
“I’m at a loss for words right now,” Erik Gudbranson said, a few minutes after learning that his nine-game tryout was over after game 8. “It’s kind of a little hockey player’s dream that’s coming true. It’s exciting.”
He had no clue a decision would be rendered before the game, so that was a surprise. Learning his father had broken down with emotion at the news was less of one.
“As much as it’s a dream for me, I’m pretty sure it’s twice as exciting for him to see his kid do that,” Erik said. “I give them all the credit in the world, him and my mom, my brothers and sister — it’s pretty unbelievable”
Gudbranson has played at Scotiabank Place — as a Timbits player, mucking around with a few dozen others five and six-year-olds. Fourteen years later, he took a first period penalty for high-sticking and then was getting called for a necessary hook on Nick Foligno to prevent a breakaway, only to see Daniel Alfredsson score during the delayed penalty call. One of those early welcome to the NHL moments a rookie must endure.
We also saw the potential, Gudbranson’s big blast from the point, his size and strength withstanding a Chris Neil hit.
While Gudbranson will earn the rookie maximum of $900,000 US, his salary cap hit is $3.2 million because of potential bonuses: up to $850,000 for performance bonuses and up to $1.45 million for awards, such as rookie of the year.
Zibanejad’s cap hit would have been $1.75 million, had he not been sent back for another year of development.
Erik and Mika, their paths crossing ever briefly on this day, won’t meet on the ice until next year, unless Gudbranson were to be released for the IIHF world junior tournament, which is unlikely for an NHL regular. Zibanejad should be there for the Swedes.
Disappointed as he was not to make the Senators in his first attempt, Zibanejad made fast friends with a lot of young Senators fans who love what they have seen and heard from Ziba, who talks softly but carries a big stick.
Alfredsson, the Senators captain, understands the connection.
“He comes in, he has a smile on his face every day, even though emotionally he’s been going through ups and downs,” Alfredsson says.
“He’s a confident person, He’s a big kid, too, that can grind it, can get into the corners, he can play a skill game — I think he’s shown a lot of different sides.
“His background, too, Finnish mother, Iranian father (who fled during the revolution), so he’s been through a lot. He obviously has good values at home because he’s been very mature for an 18 year old.”
Just as Gudbranson is mature beyond his years, a rookie who now knows where he will be the day after tomorrow and the day after that.

Tags: Gudbranson, Panthers, Senators