Eager for the chance to select Puempel, Ottawa traded a pair of second-round picks (35th and 48th overall) to Detroit in order to obtain the 24th overall spot in the draft. Puempel signed an entry level contract with the Senators on December 29, 2011. He made his professional debut with the Binghamton Senators late in the 2011-12 season. In his first full professional season in 2013-14, Puempel scored 30 goals, tying Mike Hoffman for the Binghamton team goal scoring lead.