Back-to-back shutouts helped Senators prospect earn goaltender-of-the-week honours in the Canadian Hockey League this week (James Egan Photography).

It’s a trade that is already proving to be a major net gain for the Ottawa Senators.

And it appears there’s more to come in the future.

When the Senators dealt Antoine Vermette to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the trade deadline last season, the big acquisition was goaltender Pascal Leclaire – their starter this season until he was sidelined by a fractured cheekbone earlier this week.

Also part of the Vermette deal: a second-round draft pick the Senators used to select Swedish netminder Robin Lehner with the 46th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old from Goteborg continues to show plenty of signs that he’ll be the organization’s goaltender of the future.

On the strength of back-to-back shutouts for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Lehner has been named the Canadian Hockey League’s goaltender of the week. It was part of a perfect 3-0-0 week for Lehner, which saw him also post a microscopic 0.67 goals-against average and .974 save percentage.

Lehner had 27 saves in blanking the Sudbury Wolves 7-0 last Wednesday – his first career Ontario Hockey League shutout – then blocked all 25 shots he faced in a 2-0 victory over the Sarnia Sting on Saturday. In all, the Swedish stopper turned aside 74-of-76 shots he faced last week.

For the season, Lehner has compiled a 9-7-1 record with a 2.54 GAA and a strong .923 save percentage for the ’Hounds, who sit third in the OHL’s Western Division. But the Soo might have to do without Lehner over the Christmas break – he’s been invited to Sweden’s training camp for the 2010 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

Around the system

Spokane Chiefs blueliner Jared Cowen (first round, 2009) earned an assist and wore an alternate captain’s ‘A’ for the Western Hockey League squad in its 2-1 victory over Russia in the Subway Super Series on Wednesday night in Victoria … Defenceman Patrick Wiercioch (second round, 2008 NHL draft) has racked up 10 points in the first 11 games of his sophomore season with the University of Denver Pioneers … Mike Hoffman (fifth round, 2009) and the Saint John Sea Dogs have run off 15 straight wins and top the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with a 23-4-1 record. It’s the seventh longest streak in league history … Jeff Costello (fifth round, 2009) recently earned a gold medal with Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge in Summerside, P.E.I.