The Senators have decided to bring up some extra grit for their game tonight against New Jersey. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled winger Bokondji Imama from AHL Belleville.
It’s the first recall of the season for the 27-year-old who is in his first season with Ottawa after signing with them as a Group Six unrestricted free agent last summer. Imama has played in 53 games in the minors so far this season, collecting three goals and seven assists along with 115 penalty minutes. It’s the fourth time in the last five years that Imama has surpassed 100 penalty minutes in the minors.
Imama also has nine career NHL appearances under his belt from his time with Arizona. In those, he has a goal and ten penalty minutes to his credit while averaging a little over six minutes a night. It has been more than a year since Imama has seen NHL action and getting a game or two in at the top level certainly can’t hurt his cause as he heads towards unrestricted free agency this summer.