SenShot Report Card: Jesse Winchester
The following article featuring former Colgate standout Jesse Winchester appeared August 12 on the SenShot Web site.
By Tony Mendes
In his third season as a NHL pro, Jesse Winchester was probably one of the only Senators that fulfilled his role. As a fourth line center, Winchester provided physicality and energy in his limited ice time. With a career high in goals with four (seriously), Winchester also notched 13 points and 101 hits in 72 games. Solidifying himself as the fourth line center, Winchester was a regular on the penalty kill and was counted on as a strong defensive center.
But not all was rosy for Winchester last season. Consistency was Winchester’s biggest battle all season long as he had goal less streaks of 13, 20, and 29 games. With a total of 201 NHL games under his belt, Winchester only has a grand total of nine goals to his stat line. Hyped as a potential goal scorer when he signed with Ottawa as a NCAA free agent, Sens fans quickly found out that Winchester’s game was build on a solid two-way game rather than as a sniper.
With only two fights last year, Winchester needs to bring more intensity to his game if he hopes to be in Ottawa for the long haul. With the trade last year of agitator Jarkko Ruutu, Winchester had his role increased. However, in his last 29 games of the season, Winchester had three assists, eight penalty minutes and 37 hits. These stats hardly scream out that he stepped up his game. Winchester was even past on the depth chart as AHL call-ups Colin Greening and Erik Condra (who are comparable to Winchester) received more playing time then Winchester.
Complete article can be accessed via the SenShot Web site by clicking here.
