2008 NHL Trade Deadline - Rock, Paper, Scissors!

As we rumble toward Tuesday's NHL trading deadline, there is no shortage of armchair General Managers out there. Everyone has an opinion on what the Ottawa Senators need to win a Stanley Cup. What every team needs, even the great ones, is good, old-fashioned luck of the draw.

It's impossible to build a team well equipped to take down every team in the NHL. It's the rock-paper-scissors effect. If most of the league is building scissors, you build yourself a rock of a franchise. You win every time against those scissor teams. But suddenly, you run into a paper squad in the playoffs and they kick your ass.

Case in point: I believe the Ottawa Senators would have won the Cup in 2007 had Detroit beaten out Anaheim in the Western Final. The Sens just matched up better against the Wings. The Ducks had the horses to grind the Senators down with hard, physical play.

This year the Senators have to be careful not to get too focused on constructing a club to beat a rugged team like Anaheim. For starters, the Ducks might not even get to the final. There's too much talent in the West to suggest it's a fait accompli. For example, if the Sens give up speed and finesse to acquire hard nosed veterans, they might find themselves less equipped to deal with a quicker Eastern team like Pittsburgh.

I think all you can do between now and the deadline is make sure you're as prepared as possible for the Eastern teams. Last year's formula worked perfectly and there hasn't been dramatic change this year. Focus on winning the conference then hope the luck of the draw falls your way in the final this year. (And that you don't have nine days off before it starts).

Having said that, 2 players on the opposing side tonight should prove very attractive to contenders between now and Tuesday. Mike Peca and Adam Foote both become unrestricted free agents this summer. Tell me they wouldn't look good in Sens' uniforms. Guys like that beat rock, paper and scissors.

Sister's Golden Hair Surprise

I love it when a positive news story occasionally cuts through the negative garbage that clutters up newspapers and newscasts. But it's reality. "ANGRY MOB SCENE ON THE HILL" is a headline that will always beat out "PEOPLE REPORTEDLY NICE TO EACH OTHER". But here's a great story involving hockey, charity and a great kid.

11 year old Emma McFarlane is the only girl and the Assistant Captain of the Nepean Raiders Minor Peewee Competitive Boys Hockey team. She and her brother Spencer and parents, Chris and Ron, lived across the street from us in Barrhaven for about 6 years. It's as nice a family as you'll ever meet.

Along with her beaming smile, the first thing you noticed about Emma was her long, Rapunzel-like blonde hair. When I first heard this story of a little hockey player with the long blonde hair, I thought it might be Emma. Though remembering how shy she always seemed, I wasn't sure. It was her all right.

Emma came up with the idea of cutting and donating her golden locks, in the hope of raising funds for Rogers House and CHEO Foundation. She told the Ottawa Sun this week, "I just thought about everyone suffering from cancer, so I decided to cut it and donate it for wigs," said Emma. "I think it must be hard to go without hair. They just want to play outside, but I guess they can't. I think it would be pretty cool that my hair would be helping kids." Her teammates are planning to cut their hair too, though it will probably take all of them to match Emma's donation.

Kudos to Gary M. Renaud & Dundee Wealth Management. To encourage others to support Emma’s Dream, Dundee Wealth is matching all donations to up to $5,000.00.

To pitch in, go to the Sens Foundation website at:
http://www.sensfoundation.com/eng/

1) Click Donate Now
2) Select - In Honor and write Emma McFarlane
3) Reason – Dundee Client
4) Follow steps on the SECURE site and generate
your tax receipt for donations greater than $25.00.