Sunday morning blogging is usually sort of therapeutic. I dig it. But I really should be doing other things right now. I’ve got last second troubleshooting for tomorrow’s 3rd annual Microsoft Golf Classic for Autism at the Marshes, the event I co-chair. You may have heard the radio ads 1000 times or so. I just did an interview about it on CFRA. I’m way too wordy and emotional when I talk about it.
My little girl has her 7th birthday party later today. Then Grandpa is throwing her another one right after. Then she has an hour of ice time. So this 15 minutes of blogging represents the calm before the storm.
So, why do it? Simple. It’s based entirely on my need to say, “I told you so! Yeahhhh! Get me. I called it! Wooooooo!”
I was asked on several occasions on Friday’s show who I thought the Senators would select with their 28th overall selection. I told anyone who would listen it should be Sudbury Wolves' left winger Nick Foligno. Who did they select? Nick Fo-freakin-ligno! Wooooo! I’m something. I really am.
Sorry. I’m off tomorrow. So I won’t get a chance to gloat. Thanks for your patience.
The big story of the draft weekend, other than my kick ass soothsayer skills, was the Florida Panthers trading Roberto Luongo to Vancouver for Todd Bertuzzi. The Cats also get Bryan Allen and Alex Auld.
All things being equal, the Canucks won this deal. But they aren’t equal. The Canucks have to sign this guy long term right now. He’s a group 2 free agent this summer and a UFA next. If you thought he was tough to sign before, just wait. Luongo’s agent knows that Canuck GM Dave Nonis will be tarred and feathered if he gives up that package for just one season of discontent from Luongo. Luongo has all the leverage in contract talks.
So the deal should be worded like this…Luongo for Bertuzzi, Allen and Auld, plus the extra 30 million you’ll have to spend on your goaltending position over the next 5 years.
The Senators apparently offered Martin Havlat, Chris Phillips and Ray Emery. Had they made it, the deal would actually be more like this. You get Luongo but you lose Havlat, Phillips, Emery, Redden, Chara and that extra 30 million over five. Doesn’t look quite as attractive for the Sens when you put it that way, does it? Shockingly, Mike Keenan turned them down, presumably putting way more stock in Bertuzzi than I do.
NOTES…You can see all the work I put into the video blog. Gruelling, really. It will generally be updated on Wednesdays.
TRIVIA TIME: For a chance to win a beautiful array of no prizes, answer these trivia questions.
1. What current Senator played for six different OHL teams?
2. What 2 Senators were Brandon Wheat King teammates for parts of three seasons?
3. Only two Senator draft picks, who were chosen in the four drafts between 2003 and present, have played in an NHL game. Name them.
Answers in the next blog. We’ll see ya!
