Matt Weinstein

mweinstein@gannett.com | @SteinTime44

The French national team's eighth-place finish at the Ice Hockey World Championship did not shake up the sport, but the country is slowly starting to have a greater presence at the global level.

And at the center of the resurgence is the reigning Binghamton Senators Most Valuable Player - Stephane Da Costa.

Da Costa, along with Antoine Roussel of the Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League, helped the French reach the quarterfinals of the world championship in Belarus last month before being ousted by eventual champion Russia. It was France's highest finish since it also finished eighth in 1995. The country only placed higher in 1930 (sixth), 1935 (seventh) and 1937 (seventh).

Roussel, who recently finished his first full NHL season, led France with 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in eight games. Da Costa tied for 11th in overall scoring with nine points (6-3), including two goals in France's stunning 3-2 victory over Canada in the preliminary round. Roussel and Da Costa both played wingers on the same line with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. The three were named France's best players through voting by opposing coaches.

Da Costa and Roussel were the only French players to dress for a NHL game this past season. Only eight total players from France have played an NHL game. Bellemare, who signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, and Montreal prospect Tim Bozon are hoping to crack that list in the years to come.

The Paris-born Da Costa is coming off his best season as a professional and hopes to stick in the NHL next season. He began the past season in Ottawa, playing in four games before being sent down to Binghamton of the American Hockey League on Oct. 18. He was re-called on Jan. 20 and remained in Ottawa until February 7. He played in 12 games total, recording three goals and one assist.

His time in Binghamton showed what he is capable of with consistent playing time, finishing second on the team with 58 points (18-40) in 56 games. He missed several games with a serious broken nose that required plastic surgery to fix, and added four points (2-2) in four playoff games before the B-Sens were eliminated by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The restricted free agent's play at the world championships exposed him to several scouts, and he has at least one offer from a rival league according to Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Pierre Dorion.

"For sure we're looking to sign him," Dorion said on In the Box on TSN 1280 in Ottawa with hosts Jason York and Steve Lloyd during the world championships last month. "We think Steph's a part of our future. He's showed in spurts that he's a good NHL player.

"We'd like to keep him but it has to make sense for both parties. It's no secret that the KHL is offering him big money and it's up to Steph if he wants to pursue his NHL dream or not. I think we've made a very fair offer. (Ottawa general manager Brian Murray) feels that way, I feel that way, I think his agent feels it's a fair offer and we'll just see where we go from there."

Dorion would not divulge if the Senators' offer was a one-way contract. The Senators will likely offer Da Costa a qualifying contract to retain his NHL rights, but he would still be free to sign with another league.

Da Costa's decision could also be influenced by the likely departure of star center Jason Spezza, who requested a trade from Ottawa this week.