Well it had to come up at some point, and this one's number just happened to come up randomly right after the biggest target of ire of fans on the club, Jared Cowen. Today we turn our attention to the one that can't get away, Colin Greening.
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION
There wasn't much expected of the overpaid winger, and most fans suggested, hoped and prayed that Greening wouldn't be part of the organiziation come opening night.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Well, a taker could not be found and his one-way deal did make the roster, and he played sparingly. Greening suited up for 20 games before he was waived and sent to Binghamton after Curtis Lazar returned from the World Juniors. It was evident then, if not before, that this was a contract that wasn't going to be easy to get rid of when he passed through waivers unclaimed.
Injuries to Zack Smith and Chris Neil meant a return to the NHL for Greening, and he suited up for 6 games over the last month of the season.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
While he played 26 games, there really isn't enough to even try to compare him to other players in the division.
So no fancy stats chart here today.
THE "KEY" STATS
While you would have hoped that even in limited action he would get something done, but the fact is that the one goal he was credited for was an empty netter and he didn't even shoot it in, it was awarded based on him getting hauled down with a clear path to the empty net.
He did finish 7th among forwards with 85 hits in 26 games, so there is that.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Colin Greening won't be needing shades any time soon. When teams could have had him for nothing, they balked. Expect a buyout this summer from the Senators, and then it will be determined if he can get a deal for close to league minimum, maybe even a 2 way deal, from a team who likes his size and speed. If that doesn't happen, hello Europe.
GRADE: Its tough, because he really seems like a likeable guy, who became a victim of having some success as a default option on Jason Spezza's wing for a year because there was no other option. He parlaying that into a contract that was a mistake from the start, but not his fault for getting it. But you can't really say he didn't live up to expectations, which were basically 0, which was part of my evaluation criteria for this exercise. So, no F, but Greening gets a
D-
For tomorrow's report card we go up the food chain a little, but still stay in the realm of overpaid-underachiever.
If you missed it, check out prior Report Cards:
May 7 - Mark Stone
May 8 - Jared Cowen 
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