Ottawa signs veteran blueliner 2009-07-16 (AP) The tightfisted Ottawa Senators signed journeyman defenseman Shane Hnidy to a two year contract. As per team policy financial terms were not disclosed. Hnidy is being looked upon as a sixth or seventh defenseman, joining a solid corps of rearguards led by the top-touted rookie Drew Doughty, Keith Ballard, Ron Hainsey, Zbynek Michalek, Johnny Oduya, and Rob Scuderi. The veteran Hnidy, who started 65 games last season in Boston, figures to be in the group consisting of Marc Methot and Jeff Woywitka that will serve as reliable backups. "Injuries tend to strike defensemen more than forwards and goalie, so we feel we have a solid trio of backup defenders to call upon when one of the starters goes down to injury," Ottawa general manager Gary Brown told a group of reporters at the weekly team press conference.
