Steve Warne's TGOR Nation Blog

The Full All-Star Weekend Schedule

2012-01-25T16:22:00.001-05:00

ALL-STAR WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS.

Thursday, Jan. 26

2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. NHL Trophy Procession
Rideau Canal Skateway from Waverly St. to the Ottawa Convention Centre
(Free to the public)

All the NHL Trophies including the Stanley Cup®, the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Vezina Trophy will travel down the Rideau Canal Skateway to officially commence the All-Star festivities. The Trophies begin the procession at Waverly St. and will exit the Skateway on Daly Ave. to enter the Ottawa Convention Centre marking the opening of the Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair(tm). Fans of all ages are encouraged to line the Skateway between Waverly St. and Daly Ave. to watch as these historic trophies make their way down the Rideau Canal Skateway.

3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair(tm)
Ottawa Convention Centre
(Get tickets at www.CapitalTickets.ca)

The official fan festival for the 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend, the 2012 Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair(tm) will offer three days of family-friendly interactive games and attractions, special appearances, trophy and memorabilia displays, live TV and radio broadcasts, music, food and dozens of other dynamic activities.

Tickets are available online at CapitalTickets.ca or via phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 877-788-3267; in-person at the Scotiabank Place box office or by visiting participating Canadian Tire locations within the Ottawa area. Tickets purchased after Jan. 25 and at the door to Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair will be $15 per person. Children under the age of two will be admitted for free. Once inside, fans may enjoy all the attractions for no additional cost. For more information, fans can visit nhl.com/fanfair.

3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Confederation Park NHL Ice Sculptures
Confederation Park
DJ Zattar 7:00 pm
(Free to the public)

Ice carvers turn blocks of ice into stunning works of art featuring logos of the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend and the thirty NHL teams. Each evening, popular local DJs perform.

8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft(tm)
Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy
(Watch live on TSN, RDS, NBC Sports)

The NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft(tm) is back by popular demand, allowing the players to draft their own teams in a televised event for the second year in a row.
Friday, Jan. 27

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair(tm)
Ottawa Convention Centre
(Get tickets at www.CapitalTickets.ca)

The official fan festival for the 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend continues for the second of three days of family-friendly activities.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Confederation Park NHL Ice Sculptures
Confederation Park
DJ CPI 7:00 pm
(Free to the public)

Ice carvers turn blocks of ice into stunning works of art featuring logos of the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend and the thirty NHL teams. Each evening, popular local DJs perform.

7 p.m. Energizer® Night Skate(tm) at NHL® All-Star
Rideau Canal Skateway
(Register at www.energizernightskate.ca)

Energizer®, the NHL and the Sens Foundation will host the first-ever Energizer Night Skate, a one-of-a-kind 5KM skating event on the Rideau Canal Skateway that will benefit the Sens Foundation. Under the blanket of the night sky, families, friends and hockey fans will don headlights that will light up the evening as they skate the Rideau Canal Skateway to raise money to construct future outdoor ice rinks in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Entry to participate in this event requires registration and is $20 per person or $15 for those aged 12 and under. All entrants receive an Energizer LED headlight and Energizer Night Skate commemorative toque for their participation and donation. To register, visit energizernightskate.ca.

8:00 p.m. SiriusXM NHL® All-Star Concert in The Cabin(tm)
The Great Canadian Cabin
(Sold out--Listen live at The Verge on XM 151 or Iceberg on SIRIUS 151)

Canadian rock sensations, The Sheepdogs, will perform live with Young Rival.
Saturday, Jan. 28

9 a.m. to noon 2012 Canadian Tire NHL Junior Skills(tm) National Championship
Rideau Canal Skateway, between Rideau Street and the Mackenzie King Bridge
(Free to the public)

The Canadian Tire NHL Junior Skills(tm) Competition was a program launched in September to find the most skilled hockey players between the ages of 7-12 in Canada. This nation-wide competition culminates in Ottawa, as finalists from the regional competitions gather on the Rideau Canal Skateway to showcase their skills in fastest skating, shooting accuracy, puck control and passing accuracy in front of a national audience during All-Star Weekend. The
championship will feature a special guest and NHL alumni and will be taped for a segment on CBC that will air as part of the All-Star coverage. For more information, visit canadiantirehockeyschool.ca/nhljuniorskills.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair(tm)
Ottawa Convention Centre
(Get tickets at www.CapitalTickets.ca)

The official fan festival for the 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend, the 2012 Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair(tm) wraps up with its third day of activities.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Confederation Park NHL Ice Sculptures
Confederation Park
DJ Steve Martin from Fresh Beat 7:00 pm
(Free to the public)

Ice carvers turn blocks of ice into stunning works of art featuring logos of the 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend and the 30 NHL teams. Each evening, popular local DJs perform.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition(tm)
Scotiabank Place
(Sold out--watch live on CBC, RDS, NBC Sports Network)

The NHL All-Stars show off their skating, puck-handling and shooting skills in the Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition(tm).
Sunday, Jan. 29

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Confederation Park NHL Ice Sculptures
Confederation Park
(Free to the public)

Ice carvers turn blocks of ice into stunning works of art featuring logos of the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend and the thirty NHL teams. Each evening, popular local DJs perform.

4 p.m. 2012 Tim Hortons NHL® All-Star Game®
Scotiabank Place
(Sold out--watch live on CBC, RDS, NBC Sports Network)

The League's mid-season spectacular concludes with the 59th annual NHL All-Star Game. Live television coverage of the event will be provided by CBC and RDS in Canada and NBC Sports Network in the U.S.

Ovechkin is Too Legit to Quit

2012-01-16T17:06:00.000-05:00

There are no words. Go to 2:53 in and feel the nausea. Alexei Ovechkin rapping. Seriously. Let your backbone...and dignity slide.

Great Video - Hockey Concussions Explained in Layman's Terms

2012-01-12T08:33:00.000-05:00

At no time in the NHL's history has there been such a focus on concussions.

Dr. Mike Evans is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital. He put together a neat 5 minute video so that hockey playing kids will recognize the symptoms of concussion. It's also a great guide for parents, many of whom aren't quite sure about concussions or how to handle them.

Tebow - All He Does Is Win

2012-01-08T21:42:00.001-05:00

I guess it's time to stop underestimating Tim Tebow. After he and the Broncos lost three straight games to close the season, I was sure - as was the betting public - they' d be crushed by Pittsburgh last night in the finale of wild card weekend. Against the best defence he's faced all season, Tebow merely had his best game all season. He capped it off with Demaryius Thomas on an electrifying 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime and the Broncos defeated the stunned Steelers 29-23.

With the defending AFC Champs in his wake, Tebow deserves a little musical tribute. This from DJ Steve Porter a few weeks ago.

Don Cherry's Pianist Envy

2012-01-03T16:57:00.001-05:00

Sens Win in Turris Debut

2011-12-21T10:24:00.003-05:00

Kyle Turris looked right at home in his debut with the Senators. Turris, acquired Saturday from Phoenix, set up the first of Erik Condra's two goals, helping the Senators to a 4-1 win over Buffalo. Turris was also a solid 7-2 in the faceoff circle and impressed with his skating and backchecking all night.

"I thought Kyle was a real good player for us," said Senators coach Paul MacLean. "He did a good job in the faceoff circle. I thought as the game wore on his game progressed. I thought it was a solid game by his line."

The Sens' poise and confidence with the puck is now emerging at an elite level. Lindy Ruff said after the game, "We knew we didn't want to get into a run and gun battle with them." Who would have imagined, at the start of the season, that any coach would say that about the Sens. At best, I thought they'd be a blue collar team who'd win some games with hard work while being a little shy on skill.

Rebuild? What rebuild? This team is flat out fun to watch and it's interesting to think of them doing some damage if they can squeeze into the playoffs. They would not be an easy out, if they're still playing this way in the spring. Confidence is spreading like a virus through the lineup right now. Guys who used to dump the puck away as quickly as possible are now taking that little extra second that helps them make a useful play.

The win leaves the Sens now tied with the Leafs, whose wheels have lost a lugnut or two in the last few weeks.

On a sour note, Ottawa's Jesse Winchester suffered a concussion when Paul Gaustad sent him flying headfirst into the boards with a check in the opening minutes. It's awful to see another concussion, but I can’t say I saw anything illegal about it. Winchester puts the brakes on at a bad spot a couple of feet from the boards trying to protect the puck.

It appeared Winchester was thinking he could just drop a shoulder on the checker, something that would have worked against 90 per cent of the guys in the NHL. Unfortunately, it was Paul Gaustad, one of the stronger guys in the league. Gaustad hit him with strength Winchester wasn't expecting - thus, the awkward spin into the boards. Not a suspendable hit in my book.

***

Darryl Sutter begins his fourth N-H-L coaching stint today when he takes charges of the Los Angeles Kings. Sutter last coached with Calgary in 2006, and replaces Terry Murray who was fired December 12th. The Kings haven't scored more than two goals in regulation in their last 12 games. They play their next game tomorrow against Anaheim.

Hmm. I wonder if we’re going to have a Montreal situation. There are almost 5 million Hispanic people in LA. Let me be the first to demand that Sutter learn Spanish immediately. Who cares if none of the Kings speak Spanish. Learn it, Sutter!

***

Colby Armstrong is out of the Leafs lineup with a concussion. It took the Leafs by surprise because they didn’t know about it all. Armstrong recently collided with Ryan Kesler in a hit that didn’t look like anything at all. He wasn't right after that but kept playing. He wanted to play against LA but, on the day of the game, started hurling when he got on the bike. Only then did he admit he wasn’t right.

It's amazing that a guy who's paid really well, who’s tight with Sidney Crosby, would hide concussion problems here in the year of the concussion. That's the competitive fire, I guess. That's what we've given guys credit for in the past - playing through the pain. It's what our fathers taught us. Armstrong and many others in the league obviously remain old school, even in the face of so much new information.

Just Win, Baby! And Speak French...

2011-12-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

The Montreal Canadiens have named former Senators' captain Randy Cunneyworth as their new head coach. He replaces Jacques Martin who was fired over the weekend. Predictably, there is an uproar in some French-Quebec circles over Cunneyworth's inability to speak French.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Canadiens owner Geoff Molson says Cunneyworth is “a qualified and experienced coach” who had earned respect. However, Molson does say the Habs will conduct a “carefully planned” coaching search after the season.

“Although our main priority remains to win hockey games and to keep improving as a team, it is obvious that the ability of the head coach to express himself in both French and English will be a very important factor in the selection of a permanent head coach,” Molson said.

Barring a remarkable turnaround and finish, it sure sounds like Cunneyworth is a temp. If he does get the job full time, Cunneyworth strikes me as the kind of guy who would take some French lessons, just to be courteous to the media. But it's clear that Molson would demand he do it to appease his French, beer buying public. I love that beer unites us as Canadians.

Impératif Français, a nationalist group based in Gatineau, has called for a boycott of Molson products to protest the hiring. Another group, Mouvement Québec Français, has piped in as well. The reality is, groups like these don’t have hockey in mind when they say and do this stuff. They’re thinking only of protecting French culture and identity which, to a degree, I admire. But it always seems to go overboard.

Don't forget, this was a move made by a proud French Canadian - GM Pierre Gauthier - who obviously knows this team's history and wants the best for this team and its fan base. The French protesters don't think like that. In fact, they think it would be terrific if the Habs hired a French-only coach.

That would be a real problem. Like it or not, a French-only coach would be unqualified because most of the players wouldn't understand what he was saying. That's not discrimination. If the NHL's universal language were French, I wouldn't hire a coach who didn't speak fluent French. Coach-to-player communication is everything and this is a Habs' roster with only 2 or 3 Quebec-born, Francophone players. Cunneyworth speaks English, the language that is spoken in every NHL dressing room - including Montreal's.

Sure, French sound bites are nice. The French media really appreciates it and maybe they don't write that "fire the coach" column quite so quickly. But speaking French has no real bearing on a coach's on-ice success. In the 50's? Yes. But not now. Thankfully, I think most Montreal Canadien fans get that.

Sens Deal Rundblad for Turris

2011-12-18T09:45:00.002-05:00

Wow. An actual NHL trade to analyze before Christmas. A rare bird indeed, and the Senators are right in the middle of it. Love it.

On Saturday, the Sens sent defenceman David Rundblad and a 2012 2nd rounder to Phoenix for centreman Kyle Turris, a number 3 overall pick from 2007.

Newest Ottawa Senator Kyle Turris

The deal is simple. The Sens hope Turris can become their number two centre. He can skate and shoot, which fits nicely with Paul Maclean's vision for this team. He now needs to add scoring to his act.

Right now Turris is no more a top 6 forward than Rundblad is a top 2 defenceman. Their old teams were hoping they would be someday. Now their new teams are too. If you're going to be waiting on a kid anyway, he might as well be playing a position where a void exists. So both teams were just addressing needs.

My concerns about the deal? Turris' resume. The entire NHL was excited about him as an 18 year old because he lit up BC's Tier 2 Junior Hockey League. In the four years since leaving that league, he really hasn't done anything eye popping yet. Behold...

			Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005-06	Burnaby Express	BCHL	57	36	36	72	32		20	10	13	23	6
2006-07	Burnaby Express	BCHL	53	66	55	121	83		14	12	14	26	16
2007-08	U. of Wisconsin	WCHA	36	11	24	35	38
2007-08	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL	3	0	1	1	2	-5	--	--	--	--	--
2008-09	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL	63	8	12	20	21	-15	--	--	--	--	--
2008-09	San Antonio Rampage	AHL	8	4	3	7	6	-1	--	--	--	--	--
2009-10	San Antonio Rampage	AHL	76	24	39	63	60	6	--	--	--	--	--
2010-11	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL	65	11	14	25	16	0	4	1	2	3	2
2010-11	San Antonio Rampage	AHL	2	0	1	1	2	-2	--	--	--	--	--
2011-12	Phoenix Coyotes*	NHL	6	0	0	0	4	-2
2011-12	Ottawa Senators	NHL	Statistics Unavailable
	NHL Totals		137	19	27	46	43		4	1	2	3	2

You'd think a 3rd overall, 2007 draft pick would have arrived by now. Patrick Kane was chosen two picks earlier and he's been fantastic, as billed. Thomas Hickey went one pick later than Turris, 4th overall to LA that year. Hickey was a WHL teammate of Jim O'Brien, who went later in that first round. Suffice to say, Hickey is in the Kings' future plans the way O'Brien is in Ottawa's - and that's not at all.

We'll find out in the coming months if Turris is a Hickey or a Kane or, most likely, something in between. I don't put much stock in his zero points in 6 games so far. It'll be a while before he gets up to speed after missing camp and most of the season.

Some Sens fans worry Turris may be Nikita Filatov 2.0. There certainly are similarities. Both are former first rounders, who got cranky with the team that drafted them. Filatov didn't nearly live up to his former draft status. Turris may not either. We'll have to see. But I think you can also compare this to the tale of Pascal Leclaire. The Sens had to give up Antoine Vermette for Leclaire, who was also a very high draft pick. That was expensive.

When a GM gives up that much for a player - whether it's a very high pick in the draft or assets in a trade, they will give their new player everything he needs to succeed. Time, line mates, quality minutes, whatever. Otherwise, the GM and his scouts look like chumps for giving up so much for him.

So, like Leclaire and unlike Filatov, who only cost them a third rounder, Turris will get every chance to shine in Ottawa. He will not yo-yo up and down from Binghamton or play on the 4th line. Not this season. Hopefully, Murray will have more luck with this former first rounder than he did with the kids from Columbus.

The move will likely force the Sens to send Kaspars Daugavins to the minors. Meanwhile, it probably moves pesky Binghamton defenceman Mark Borowiecki one step closer to the NHL.

The 2011-12 NHL All-Concussion Team

2011-12-13T15:58:00.005-05:00

The Concussion Blog (yep, devoted to all things concussive) says the NHL is actually seeing a reduction in head injuries this season. They compared the first 2 months of this season to the same 2 months in 2010. Accordiing to their stats, we actually saw a 23 per cent reduction in concussions over last season.

Well, it sure doesn't feel that way. Maybe they stand out this season because so many quality to superstar level players have been sidelined with concussions. This is the Sidney Crosby effect. Unlike fringe players trying to stay in the league, stars like Crosby can do whatever they want. If they want or need time off because they don't feel right, they're going to take time off. Crosby showed other players that you don't have to "shake it off" and get right back out there. In fact, it's a bad idea.

But it's not just that they're being more sensible and cautious than at any time in NHL history. If these guys felt well, you couldn't keep any of them out of the lineup. They're genuinely injured. With that, we present the 2011-12 NHL All-Concussion Team - players who are out or have recently missed considerable time with concussions. Wait. Sorry, ”Upper Body Injuries”.

Goalies:

Ryan Miller BUF

Josh Harding MIN

James Reimer TOR

Defensemen:

Chris Pronger PHI, Kris Letang PIT

Marc Staal NYR, Zbynek Michalek PIT

Mike Green WAS, Chris Campoli MTL

Forwards:

Sidney Crosby PIT, Claude Giroux PHI, Daniel Alfredsson OTT

Marc Savard BOS, Brayden Schenn (ed.) PHI, Jeff Skinner CAR

Mike Richards LA (ed.), Guillaume Latendresse MIN, Peter Mueller COL

Andy McDonald STL Nino Niederreiter NYI, Nathan Gerbe BUF

This bell-rung squad, if healthy, would easily compete for a Stanley Cup.

There are others around the league who have "mild" concussions, which is laughable. Apparently, the team believes the player’s brain is only “mildy” bouncing around within his skull. Being mildly concussed is like being mildly pregnant or mildly dead.

To Russia With Disinterest

2011-12-12T16:19:00.005-05:00

Today the Ottawa Senators bid farewell to Nikita Filatov, allowing him to return to Russia to make better money in the KHL. The Sens retain his rights but he's not likely to be back with the club. The red flag for me on Filatov was always this: If Columbus, the worst team in the NHL, was willing to give him up for virtually nothing, was he really an NHL prospect anymore? But it was still a low-risk worthwhile move, just to kick the tires.

Since taking over as GM of the Sens in 2007, Bryan Murray has been noticeably gun shy on taking Russians in the draft. In his last 4 drafts, Murray has avoided Russians the way Lindsay Lohan avoids dignity and soap.

Here is a list of the Sens' Russian prospects, just the ones taken in the top four rounds of the NHL draft. It should be noted, since 2000, the Sens haven't once bothered to use a single top 40 pick on a Russian.

1992 - 2nd overall - Alexei Yashin. 491 points in 504 games. Now in KHL with CSKA Moscow. Good as he was, his contract holdouts and insufferable renegotation demands left him regarded as one of the least liked Sens of all time. Mike Milbury's generous care package to Ottawa - Chara and Spezza - helped ease the hatred.

1998 - 101st overall - Peter Schastlivy - 38 points in 107 games. Now in KHL with UFA Salavat Yulayev.

2000 - 21st overall - Anton Volchenkov - 94 points in 428 games. Helped the Sens to their only Cup final. Now in New Jersey.

2002 - 47th overall - Alexei Kaigorodov - 1 assist in 6 games. Now in the KHL with Magnitogorsk.

2003 - 67th overall - Igor Mirnov - Never played. Now in KHL with UFA Salavat Yulayev.

2004 - 58th overall - Kirill Lyamin - Never played. Now in KHL with Omsk Avangard.

2004 - 122nd overall - Alexander Nikulin - 0 assists in 2 games. Now in KHL with Khabarovsk Amur.

2005 - 98th overall - Ilya Zubov - 2 assists in 11 games. Now in KHL with CSKA Moscow.

2005 - 70th overall - Vitali Anikeyenko. Never played. Played 6 years in the KHL, all with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, until the entire club was killed in a plane crash this year.

2007 - 60th overall - Ruslan Bashkirov. Never played. Now in the VHL - Tier 2 Russian Pro League - with HK Ryazan.

Most of those prospects are tales of lesser prospects. Why would they come here and toil in the minors when they can stay home and make big money right away? But Filatov was 6th overall (ed.). A can't miss prospect and it still didn't pan out.

Let's say, for the sake of argument, the Sens were to become a lottery team this season. Would Murray set aside his general disinterest in Russians? Injuries aside, it'll be tough to pass up Nail Yakupov or Mikhail Grigorenko. But I think, due to the current Russian bias out there, someone might. Can't blame Murray for it. Since 2007, he's rolled the bones on only two other Russians. Alexei Kovalev and Sergei Gonchar. Ugh.

Shuffling the NHL Deck

2011-12-06T13:25:00.006-05:00

For the first time since 1998, the NHL will be a four division league. Yesterday, the league voted to go with the following four conferences for next season, pending NHLPA approval. The Sens lose none of their division rivals and are joined by the two Florida teams.

CONFERENCE A - (NORTHWEST?)	CONFERENCE B (CENTRAL?)








CONFERENCE C (NORTHEAST?)	CONFERENCE D (ATLANTIC?)

Your team will now face conference rivals 6 times and non-conference opponents twice. Truthfully, I'm not too wild about out-of-conference play. It's hard to get too worked up about teams you don't see much or know well. There are 10 bland, uninspiring teams I'd prefer weren't taking up a quarter of my team's schedule. 2 games per season against Nashville, Phoenix, Columbus, Minnesota, Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado, Calgary, LA and St Louis doesn't really register on my new digital give-a-crap-o-meter.

I'd gladly trade all those games for more against teams in my club's conference. Familiarity breeds contempt. Contempt creates passion and rivalry. Rivalries and hatred make for very interesting hockey.

The best part of this realignment is the playoff format. The top four teams in each conference make the playoffs. That means, to get in, the Sens only have to outduel 3 teams instead of the current 7.
The first-place team would play the fourth-place team while the second-place and third-place teams would square off. The four respective conference champions would meet in the third round, with the two remaining teams playing for the Stanley Cup.

The Sens could also see the return of Quebec City to their division for the first time since 1995. That is the likely landing spot for Phoenix if no owner steps forward. And the Northeast - if that's what they call it- would likely be the Coyotes new home division. How good would it be to see the Nordiques and Habs battling it out again?

I am a fan of this realignment for two reasons. They went back to divisional playoffs and they didn't muck with the Sens' established rivals. Especially Toronto. As you may have noticed, the Leafs are the Hatfields to my McCoys.

Hatfield sucks.

Filly Does Rebounds

2011-11-27T13:36:00.000-05:00

The Ottawa Senators are hoping Filly does rebounds. They've recalled forward Nikita Filatov from the AHL, where he put up 12 points in 15 games. Meanwhile, Stephane Da Costa's NHL run came to an end, for now. He's been sent down to rediscover the scoring touch that made him such a star at Merrimack College.

Both players are scorers who haven't scored for the Senators. Da Costa got a good long look, playing in all 22 games, logging just 5 points for the Sens. His skill and character are there but he needs to find a way to get stronger and feistier.

This may be the Senators' last look at Filatov. His agent has made it pretty clear that his client would rather be in the KHL if the Sens have no plans for him in the NHL. So Filatov figures to get a good long audition with quality minutes this time. So it's sink or swim. No tomorrow. All the standard cliches apply.

The Sens want him to do two things. Work harder and produce offence. If he can do at least one of those things, preferably the offence, he'll be worth keeping. However, his KHL threats have me very skeptical that he'll ever have an NHL work ethic to offer.

Vancouver's a Long Time Ago in Hockey Years

2011-11-24T17:50:00.003-05:00

In surfing about the net today, I stumbled onto Hockey Canada's site and the stats from the amazing mens' hockey tournament in Vancouver. It got me thinking how much has changed already in the 2 years since the last Olympic teams were unveiled.

For starters, tragically, the tournament's leading scorer is no longer with us. Pavol Demitra was killed in a plane crash over the summer. Demitra was outstanding, putting up 10 points for Slovakia. Brian Rafalski, America's leading scorer, has retired.

As for Canada, there are several gold medalists who wouldn't even be remotely considered for this team if the Olympics were held today. Dany Heatley is now the worst player from Canada's 2010 roster. That's not Senator fan bitterness speaking. That's fact. He's out, even if Canada didn't have a huge swell of youth on the way.

It is impossible to imagine the team without Claude Giroux or Steven Stamkos, who will be 26 and 24 years old in 2014. The current learning curve of Tyler Seguin, Jeff Skinner, Matt Duchene, Jordan Eberle, John Tavares, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would suggest they may also be ready to serve their country.

That's all bad news for Heatley, Brendan Morrow, Patrick Marleau, Jarome Iginla and Joe Thornton. Considering the skill of the kids, these guys could be replaceable right now. Imagine things in 2 years. You might also need to make tough decisions on Rick Nash, Eric Staal and Ryan Getzlaf who will all need to be better than they are right now to ward off some of the kids.

You can even check today's leading NHL scorers at the quarter turn. It's possible, although unlikely, one or two of these guys have figured it out and are actually ready to join the NHL's elite and the Canadian Olympic discussion: Joffrey Lupul (T-3rd), Kris Versteeg (T-3), Jason Pominville (T-6), James Neal (T-12) and Jamie Benn (T-18). They'll need to score like this for another 700 days or so before anyone takes them seriously.

On defence, Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, Drew Doughty and Brent Seabrook should all be back. However, Scott Niedermayer has retired. Chris Pronger and Dan Boyle may be too old. That opens up a spot for Kris Letang. Tyler Myers, PK Subban or Brent Burns may also get some love.

Finally, in goal, say farewell to Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo. They are no longer Canada's best. My picks right now? Carey Price and Marc-Andre Fleury (3rd string in '10) with Cam Ward as my third.

It's pretty fascinating to see how quickly things can change in less than 2 years. Some guys who haven't even played in the NHL yet - guys like Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Strome, or Mark Scheifele - may also emerge. I'll be keen to re-visit this entry two more years down the road when the team is actually being chosen. There will be more than a few really good 2011 players who aren't Olympic worthy when the roster comes out in 2013.

The Cobwebs Officially Clear

2011-11-22T10:45:00.005-05:00

Image Courtesy of Big Bad Bob Blog

What a night in Pittsburgh for Sidney Crosby Even the most jaded hockey fan had to appreciate his 2 goal, 4 point performance in the Pens' 5-0 win over the Islanders. It was Crosby's first game since early January and there were absolutely no signs of rust.

I had joked yesteday that, to live up to the media hype machine, Crosby would have to break Sittler’s record while giving himself a back tattoo as he won at chess. In reality, he did deliver the amazing comeback the clamouring media - swelled to four times its normal size - was expecting.

The matchup was almost unfair. For the Islanders, it was merely one of 82 games, only a quarter of the way through another terrible season. They started 4th string goalie Anders Nilsson, who had played all of 40 minutes of hockey in the NHL. Crosby, on the other hand, is the game’s greatest player who’d been chomping at the bit for over 10 months. It was not just another game. It was like a playoff game for him and not a single Islander could match his interest level in this game.

Crosby's smile on the bench after his 4th point made him look like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the expensive toy he wanted.

Crosby answered all questions but one…does he have enough games to still win a scoring title?

The Importance of Being Earnest

2011-11-02T16:59:00.011-04:00

Whatever you do for a living, hard work and good attitude are kind of a big deal.

Consider the cases of Senator newcomers Colin Greening and Nikita Filatov, both natural left wingers. Greening's hockey resume is much like that of a third or fourth line grinder. Good collegiate player, captain of his team, a 7th rounder with very run-of-the-mill stats. Filatov was captain of Russian World Junior team and considered one of the best 18 year olds in the world in the 2008 draft, going 6th overall.

Yet it's Greening who has played in every game and succeeded on the Senators' top line and power play. Meanwhile, Filatov has played just 4 games, now getting 5-6 minutes of ice time a night. Opportunity came knocking for Greening, mostly because his work ethic and attitude are off the charts.

Greening had just one goal in 23 AHL playoff games last season - 12th in Binghamton scoring. Not a first liner resume. He earned the chance because of character, shown late last season and again this year. Now Greening is probably shocking even himself at how well he's clicked with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek so far. He's been like a missing puzzle piece. I don't see him being a possible 30 goal man as some do, but you've got to keep rolling with it for now.

Filatov, even with his early struggles, could have been the one to get a very long look at that top left wing spot early in the season. However, he immediately annoyed his coach in the first week of the season. At one practice, Paul Maclean yelled to Filatov and Bobby Butler, “You guys want to be part of this or what?” Filatov was in the minors after 2 appearances.
Filatov's interviews still range from smug to impatient to slightly arrogant. He also famously retreated back to the KHL in the middle of Columbus' season last year, impossible to overlook in a discussion about character.
Top line minutes are really his only chance to find confidence and success with this team. Instead, he's getting 5 minutes a night, playing with Jesse Winchester and Zenon Konopka. Hopefully, he finds his way, either here or in the AHL. If not, he might be back in the KHL by Christmas. By the way, Monday is the 2 year anniversary of Filatov's last NHL goal.

There's a moral to this story. Something like, if you have a poor attitude and work ethic, you won't do well in this world. But then Jungle defies that logic every single day. So, you know, forget I mentioned it.

One Month Down...

2011-11-01T10:20:00.000-04:00

Ah, November is upon us. Today finds me full of sugar, growing a Movember ‘stache and still thinking fondly of my wife’s Katy Perry costume last night. Life is good. By the way, if I ran Halloween, and I see no reason why I shouldn't, supervising dads could get a cold beer or JD shooter at every door.

Alfie Gone for a Week

Daniel Alfredsson will miss at least another week with a concussion after the sucker hit he took Saturday from Wojtek Wolski. I hate to report time lines on concussion recovery, mostly because they’re never right. He is eligible to return Saturday but probably won’t. They could use him tonight vs Boston. He has 14pts in their last 14 meetings.

Bear Facts

Chatted with Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli at the opening of the Canadian Hockey Academy in Rockland this summer and he was concerned then about the short off season, hoping it wouldn’t affect the team too much. Think about it. The Sens’ season ended in early April, more than 2 months before the Bruins finally won the Cup on June 14th. Throw in a bunch of "my ultimate hockey dream came true" parties and you can imagine how hard it is to match the hunger that cupless opponents generally have.

The Bruins are last in the conference with just 6 points in October. Ugh. The NHL’s leading playoff scorer, David Krejci, has but one point. Their start is every bit as surprising as Ottawa’s. As the Senators seek a seventh consecutive victory tonight, the Bruins have dropped seven of their first 10. The Senators haven't won seven straight since a franchise-best 11-game run Jan. 14-Feb. 4, 2010. Ottawa is the NHL's top team on the power play with a 31.0 percent conversion rate, scoring on seven on its last 17 chances.

If you hadn’t watched the last 2 weeks of hockey, you could safely assume all those stats were completely backward. Someone is pulling a Halloween prank, right?

Tonight SENATORS (7-5-0) at BRUINS (3-7-0)

RADIO - Team 1200 - 5pm Pre game Show. 7pm faceoff.
TV: TSN, RDS (HD), NESN (HD)

A Brief Glimpse of the Future

2011-10-27T10:15:00.005-04:00

Ottawa Senators forward Mika Zibanejad is heading back to Sweden. The club announced on Wednesday that the 18-year-old forward, who the club selected with the sixth pick in the 2011, will be returned to Djurgarden of the Swedish Elite League.

"I think at 18 years of age, he was playing in the last little bit to survive and not to not make mistakes rather than be a creative kind of kid that we think he'll turn out to be," general manager Brian Murray said.

"Having talked to management in Djurgarden, they really want him back. He is going to be a legitimate first-line player for them a power play guy. He might not reach that status with our team this year." - TSN.

This probably has less to do with development and more to do with money. Even at 18, Zibanejad strikes me as mentally and physically ready to deal with the ups and downs of NHL baptism by fire. I believe he could have stayed and developed beautifully here - at least at the same rate he will in Sweden.

Zibanejad has a good, offensive-minded coach in Paul Maclean, a 2 time 40 goal NHL scorer. He has a great mentor in Daniel Alfredsson, who might not be around as a teammate next season. He has Swedish peers/friends in David Rundblad and Erik Karlssson. Plus he'd get accustomed to a superior league, longer season, smaller ice and more physical opponents.

But money talks and it came down to this: why burn off one of the comparatively cheap contract years in his entry level deal when it obviously won’t make a difference this season? Why unnecessarily push him a year closer to becoming a UFA and a greater cap concern?

If Ottawa fancied itself a contender, things might be different. If Zibanejad put up a pile of points, things might be different. But neither was in play so I don’t blame Bryan Murray if he opted to put money first in this case. The NHL is a cap world ruled by smart capologists.

Heading back the SEL isn’t the perfect development solution but, based on these specific circumstances, it’s probably the best one on the table.

The NHL World Draft - the Warnsy System

2011-10-05T17:26:00.008-04:00

We held our annual Team 1200 hockey pool last night. As always, I am deeply in love with the team I chose and excited for the season ahead. It got me thinking how cool it would be if the NHL tried it. Like Seinfeld says, with all the player movement now, we aren't really cheering for players anymore. It's more about the jersey now. So basically we're cheering for their laundry.

So, I give you - the NHL World Draft!

Think of it. The 30 general managers sit down at a giant table and do a 23 round draft. Pitchers of beer with plates of fish and chips (what I had last night) are optional. Trash talk is encouraged. “Nice pick, Burkie! That player's older and fatter than you!”

Think how compelling that broadcast would be, watching your team completely overhauled in one night. These are the rules.

The Draft Board for the Warnsy Draft - Stating the Obvious

I'll let each GM protect 3 players of their choosing. Then every hockey player in the world, 18 or older, is made available in the NHL World draft. Golf has its Stableford System. We'll call this something random like, I don't know...let's say, the Warnsy System.

The Warnsy System has its own salary structure. Each player gets a one year deal. You must pay the player entirely based upon the round he was chosen.

Your 3 protected core players each get 6 million dollars for the coming season. In total, there would be 90 protected core players in the NHL – the true superstars, the ones we pay to see, all playing at the top of their game right now.
A team's first 3 picks in the draft get 3 million each. That leaves the top 180 players on the planet extremely well paid. Now we're into the pool of guys no one is truly very excited about.
The next 10 guys drafted get 1 million each.
The bottom 10 get $500k.

No cap. No floor. A 42 million dollar payroll investment for everyone. No more long term contracts for stiffs like Scott Gomez that continue to haunt teams. Play well and you move up in the draft the following year. Play poorly and you plummet accordingly. The NHL World Draft is followed up with a second draft for your farm clubs and then you're done.

Admittedly, you'll have to lock the players out for at least two years to accomplish this. It's also tough on families of players who aren't core players. But they're paid well for their trouble and the roots they put down in an NHL city are never very strong anyway. Any idea how many Senators are left from the '07 Cup final? Four. (corrected)

Shuffle the deck! Freshen it up! Keep costs down. It's so crazy it might just work. Hey, they laughed at Columbus (just like we do in the NHL) when he said the world was round.

Or maybe these are just the ideas that pop into your head when you're a fan of a team with no scoring and now entering phase one of what appears to be a long rebuilding process. Sigh.

Sens Best Look Yet

2011-09-22T07:42:00.005-04:00

The Sens third jersey, a vintage number, is pretty cool and all. But it is now only the second best piece of Sens apparel we'll see this season.

Last night Tammy Laverty unveiled the Sens new alternate anthem singer uniform this season. Lyndon, we love ya. But don't be shy about the odd sick day this season.

Oh yeah, the Sens won 2-1 in overtime or something.

KHL Plane Crash Tragedy

2011-09-07T10:04:00.007-04:00

A plane crash in Russia today has killed almost everyone on KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslav. 43 of 45 people died, including ex-Senators Pavol Demitra and Karel Rachunek. The crash occurred right after takeoff for a flight to Minsk for a game tomorrow night.

According to Yahoo sports, everyone from the main roster was on the plane plus four players from the youth team. Lokomotiv officials said the entire team was on the plane because they were traveling for the 1st game of the season, a celebration.

All but one player - Alexander Galimov - and a crew member survived.

Another player with Senators' ties was Vitaly Anikeyenko, who was drafted 70th overall by the Sens in 2005.

Other familiar players killed in the crash include:

- Longtime NHL defenceman Brad McCrimmon, who signed on in May in hopes of realizing a dream to be an NHL head coach some day.

- Josef Vasicek who won a Cup with Carolina in 2006.

- Former Leaf Igor Korolev and ex-Ranger Alexander Karpovtsev were the team's assistant coaches.

- Ruslan Salei who played 917 games in the NHL, including last year in Detroit.

- Karlis Skrastins who played over 800 games in the NHL.

- Alexander Vasyunov played 18 games for the New Jersey Devils last season.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has sent his transport minister to the site of the crash, 15 kilometres east of Yaroslavl. The short- and medium-range Yak-42 has been in service since 1980 and dozens are still in service with Russian and other airlines.

In June, another Russian passenger jet crashed in the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk, killing 47 people. The crash of that Tu-134 plane has been blamed on pilot error. President Dmitry Medvedev has announced plans to take aging Soviet-built planes out of service starting next year.

Horrible news. Horrible day for hockey. Worst NHL summer ever.
(with files from yahoo.com)

Hockey Makes Us?

2011-08-04T17:30:00.011-04:00

The Senators held a media luncheon this morning, unveiling plans for their 20th season (for the sake of this exercise, we'll forget that there was no season in 2004-2005). It's crazy that it's been 20 years already and that I've professionally covered every year of it. The Sens have aged way better than me.

As I listened to the speeches from President Cyril Leeder, an original Senators executive, Laurie Boschman, the original Senators' captain and Daniel Alfredsson, the current captain and muse for this blog, I was fascinated by the Sens' 20th anniversary logo. I was very distracted by it, especially while the great Max Keeping was droning on with his usual cheery cliches.

The logo reads: Hockey Makes Us. Hmmm. Hockey makes us, eh? After a tough season, the Sens apparently plan to win us over with a generally underused motivator: Confusion. You could probably use it as a deep discussion subject in Grade 12 English.

Think about that. Hockey Makes Us? I'm sure Hockey isn't trying to take credit for creating us. If so, hockey has developed a wicked God complex and needs to settle the **** down.

Maybe it's a fill-in-the-blank exercise? Hockey makes us ________? Spend too much? Exercise? Travel too much? Get overly competitive? Have fun? Fight? Stay healthy? Scream? Wear mullets? Celebrate? Lunatics? Get the chicks? Destroy opponents with head shots, ending their career and deeply affecting the rest of their lives? All of the above?

Maybe they mean Hockey makes us who we are? But that opens up a whole new discussion. Who are we? Awesome, passive, fun, dull, smart, stupid, good, evil? Once we collectively figure it out, will hockey even want to take credit for making us? Is hockey bragging or are we?

And are we talking about hockey in general or Senators hockey? Big difference. If they mean Senators hockey Makes Us, then let me add to our fill-in-the-blanks fun: proud, fired up, heartbroken, crazy, passionate.

Really, in what way have we been "made" by Senators hockey? Or hockey in general? It absolutely makes the city better. I'd be devastated if the Sens ever went anywhere. No question. But Ottawa wasn't built on hockey.

We built this city on rock and roll. Everyone knows that.

Class dismissed. Don't forget to read page 7489 of the CBA. There may be a pop quiz.

The club also released a memory video, kind of like the one I do each year for my daughter's soccer team - only it doesn't suck. A must see for Sens' fans. The highlight for me? Chris Phillips incredible tale of survival in Game 6 of the 2003 Eastern Conference Final. He's somehow completely healthy today after NHL yeti Zdeno Chara body slammed him in celebration.

How Phillips wasn't snapped in two like a popcicle on a countertop I'll never know (0:48).

The Dream Wedding in Boston

2011-07-25T22:21:00.001-04:00

Well, the NHL free agent season may have all but shut down for the summer but there was a major signing over the weekend in Boston. Two Bruin fans signed a lifetime deal they hope will be lucrative, getting hitched in Boston. Identified as only Wes and Lauren, the entire wedding party's entrance was a celebration of the Bruins' Stanley Cup. Pretty cool stuff. For the A.D.D. among you, the bride and groom arrive at 6:20.

Field of Dreams 2

2011-07-07T09:07:00.003-04:00

Kudos to Wil Ferrell's website Funny or Die, for this awesome piece of sports comedy. Brilliance.

Plucking Minnows from the Free Agent Pool

2011-07-06T10:13:00.004-04:00

Apparently, both Ontario NHL teams like a little truculence on their rosters. The Senators signed free agent Zenon Konopka yesterday. It’s a one year gig worth 700 thousand dollars. Last season, no one but new teammate Chris Neil was within 100 penalty minutes of Konopka, who had more majors than Neil and Matt Carkner combined.

It's a nice, albeit minor signing. The Sens are not likely to contend next season. They simply don’t have enough scoring. So the plan seems to be to at least be a difficult team to play against; to make opponents dread coming to Ottawa.

Konopka says he wouldn’t have signed here if he thought the Sens couldn’t earn a playoff spot. For that to happen, they still need at least 2 more forwards with scoring touch. To that end, it surprises me Bryan Murray wasn’t able to do something beyond Konopka and Alex Auld. Maybe he tried. I don’t know.

In UFA, there was offence to be had with names like Cole, Ryder, Gagne, Leino, Brunette, Laich, Sullivan, Fleischmann. All would have upgraded the Sens top 6 for 4.5 million or less per season. Remember, the Sens still have 20 million to spend. Perhaps they're in cost saving mode, prepping for smaller attendance figures.

The plan may also be to stay lean and mean then see what transpires in the new CBA after this season.

Senators Grab Four First Rounders at Draft

2011-06-25T08:42:00.007-04:00

If the Senators' 2011 draft behaviour had a theme song, it would be Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way. The Sens paid little attention to Central Scouting's advice, pocketing 4 first rounders in Minnesota at the NHL amateur entry draft.

Zibanejad was ranked 2nd among European skaters

Their first was at 6, taking Swedish forward Mika Zibanejad. Zibanejad was rated number two among European skaters, behind only Adam Larsson. The Sens now have a heavy Swedish content - clearly buying into my Stockholm West theory. Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Robin Lehner, David Rundblad, Zibanejad, Jakob Silfverberg, Andre Petersson and Marcus Sorensen.

As Don Brennan in the Sun put it today, with all those Swedes, "don’t you wish you could get the image of Brad Marchand using Daniel Sedin as a speed bag out of your head?" It's a valid concern. Swedes do generally turn the other cheek. So long as they compete with ferocity, I'm good. Watching video of him blowing up an opponent, sending him flying over the boards into his own bench, I think Zibanejad does.

In this interview, Noesen said the opposing goalie folded like a tent

There's no questioning the edge of Plymouth forward Stefan Noesen, who the Sens picked at 21. TSN analysts compared him to both Maxim Lapierre and Corey Perry. Both are loathesome to play against but that's a bit of a disparity in talent assessment, no? Bubble player vs Hart trophy winner. Hmmm. Noesen is a Texan who went from 8 points last year - playing behind the likes of Tyler Seguin - to blowing up to 77 points this season.

Here's where NHL Central Scouting must have been scratching their heads. They had Noesen at 35th - among North American skaters. Noesen plays with heart and edge and doesn't lack for confidence. “I would say a little bit like Johan Franzen, with a bit of Brenden Morrow — big in the corners, a known presence on the ice, always trying to make the key play.” Now if he can marry Taylor Swift or something, it sounds like he'd more than fill Mike Fisher's skates.

Puempel's goal scoring touch unquestioned

The Sens then dealt the 36th and 48th overall picks to Detroit for the Wings 26th overall selection. They wanted to be sure no one else plucked Peterborough sniper Matt Puempel. The Hockey News called him the best pure goal scorer in the draft. Last year - not even draft eligible - Puempel had 33 goals and led all OHL rookies with 64 points. He garnered both OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honors in 2009-10.

However, Puempel is the Brett Connolly of this draft. Connolly had hip problems and played only 16 games in 2009-10. Tampa still drafted him 5th overall last season. Puempel was hampered with a back injury just before the season and a bone chip on his hip that required surgery and ended his season prematurely. The good news is, while there are still lingering doubts about the nature of Connolly's injury, Puempel is fully recovered.

The injury was diagnosed Feb. 18, but he played through pain most of the season and it affected his game. Scouts noticed an uneven compete level some nights. The hip surgery happened in March. It’s pretty common,” Puempel said. “I had a bone spur on the hip, I fell on (the) labrum and tore it. The chip bone they found when they went in.”

In an interesting twist, the surgery was performed by Dr. Marc Philippon, who performed surgery Marian Gaborik of the Rangers. Rumours continue to swirl that the Sens are making a hard push to acquire Gaborik this weekend, using their considerable cap room.

Filatov for the 66th overall pick? No brainer.

The Sens also made headlines on Day two of the draft, picking up former first rounder Nikita Filatov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a third-rounder in this year’s NHL draft.

Filatov is just 21 and was drafted sixth overall by Columbus in 2008. He had seven assists in 23 games played with Columbus last season and has a total of six goals and 13 points in 44 NHL games overall. The flashy forward also spent time in the Kontinental Hockey League after a falling out with then-Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock in 2009-10.

Guys who mess around with the KHL aren't exactly Bryan Murray's cup of tea. He's also off to a shaky start as an NHL'er. But a former Columbus first rounder is hardly something to sneeze at. Unless you're Pascal Leclaire. I'm prepared to sneeze at him. The difference is the cost - Antoine Vermette versus a third rounder. It barely qualifies as a risk and could pay huge dividends if Filatov returns to form as a blue chipper.

The Sens also made the loss of Chris Kelly easier for Sens fans to swallow. They used the final pick of the 2nd round, the one they got from Boston for Kelly, to select 67's star Shane Prince. Prince had 88 points this season.

They then stayed local in round four, scooping up Gatineau star forward Jean Gabriel Pageau of Ottawa, who led the Olympiques to the league final this year, where they lost a 6 game heartbreaker to Saint John, the eventual Memorial cup champs. Pageau led the team in scoring with 79 points this season.

Here is the Senators entire list of draft picks this year.

Round	Pick	Overall	Team	Player	Pos	Country	Ht	Wt	Amateur League	Amateur Team
1	6	6	OTT	MIKA ZIBANEJAD	C	SE	6' 2"	195	SWEDEN	DJURGARDEN
1	21	21	OTT (From NSH)	STEFAN NOESEN	R	US	6' 0"	187	OHL	PLYMOUTH
1	24	24	OTT (From DET)	MATT PUEMPEL	L	CA	6' 0"	198	OHL	PETERBOROUGH
2	31	61	OTT (From BOS)	SHANE PRINCE	C	US	5' 10"	181	OHL	OTTAWA
4	5	96	OTT	JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU	C	CA	5' 9"	163	QMJHL	GATINEAU
5	5	126	OTT	FREDRIK CLAESSON	D	SE	6' 0"	198	SWEDEN	DJURGARDEN
6	5	156	OTT	DARREN KRAMER	C	CA	6' 1"	202	WHL	SPOKANE
6	20	171	OTT (From PHX)	MAX MCCORMICK	L	US	5' 11"	174	USHL	SIOUX CITY
7	5	186	OTT	JORDAN FRANSOO	D	CA	6' 2"	178	WHL	BRANDON
7	23	204	OTT (From PIT)	RYAN DZINGEL	C	US	6' 0"	185	USHL	LINCOLN

Everything You Wanted to Know About Six But Were Afraid To Ask

2011-06-24T05:17:00.002-04:00

As the Senators and their fans get ready for the NHL draft tonight, I thought it might be an intersting exercise to check and see what the number 6 position has historically delivered to teams. I thought the last 20 years would be a good number, mostly because it would probably start becoming tedious at 20.

There are some real lemons in here. There are also some decent players. Interesting that the pick that would become the best player - Peter Forsberg - was selected almost 20 years ago to the day.

2010 Brett Connolly
2009 Oliver Ekman larsson
2008 Nikita Filotov
2007 Sam Gagner
2006 Derick Brassard
2005 Gilbert Brule
2004 Al Montoya
2003 Milan Michalek
2002 Scottie Upshall
2001 Mikko Koivu
2000 Scott Hartnell
1999 Brian Finley
1998 Rico Fata
1997 Daniel Tkachuk
1998 Boyd Deveraux
1995 Steve Kelly
1994 Ryan Smyth
1993 Viktor Kozlov
1992 Cory Stillman
1991 Peter Forsberg

The moral of the story: You're probably not getting a superstar at six. After that, you're only 50/50 on getting a player you'd describe as good or useful.

Senate Reform 3

2011-06-20T16:51:00.002-04:00

Earlier this month, the Senators invited some of the top draft prospects out for their own mini combine. That's the subject of this episode of the team's "road to the draft" webumentary - Senate Reform.

Gabriel Landeskog and Jonathan Huberdeau were there but probably won't be available when the Sens pick sixth overall. Do they trade up to ensure they get a player like that? Do they roll the bones that one of them does slip to 6th? Or will they lean toward other attendees like Sean Couturier, Ryan Strome and Mika Zibanejad, who probably will be available at 6.

Zibanejad is the most intriguing. The way his stock has rocketed, playing against men in the Swedish Elite League, you get the impression that, if they postponed the draft until Christmas, he might end up first overall. For now, he's thought of as a 9 or 10.

Melnyk's Head Coaching Choice Becomes the Assistant

2011-06-20T10:27:00.000-04:00

It appears the Ottawa Senators have found a place for Dave Cameron. Recently touted as a top Sens’ head coaching candidate, Dave Cameron is expected to be named assistant coach under Paul MacLean sometime in the next couple of days.

Cameron’s resume is more than good enough to take this job. He played in the NHL then coached in both the OHL and AHL. However, since Eugene Melnyk went public with the info that Cameron is one of his personal favourites, he comes in looking like – as TSN”s Pierre Maguire put it - the teacher’s pet. That’s not the way you want to enter any organization. You want to be there because the team believed you were the best candidate or the best fit, not because the boss did a personal favour for the owner.

NHL head coaches generally have a say in the hiring of their assistant coaches. It’s doubtful MacLean had much of a say here. His new assistant coach is someone the owner wanted for head coach. It’s uncomfortable. That said, no NHL coach should ever be comfortable. There are probably 100 guys out there who’d make good head coaches so you’re always looking over your shoulder.

What could turn this into something sticky is a lack of chemistry between MacLean and Cameron. What if they’re on completely different pages – professionally and socially? Will MacLean trust Cameron or will he see him as an insider or spy for the owner? Will he look at Cameron as a helper or a guy with an agenda out to steal his job?

Initially, there will be a professionalism that can and will rise above all this. But if the club begins to struggle again, I can see an emergence of conflict and paranoia. This is exactly why clubs rarely go on the record about coaching preferences.

Murray Has Another Go At It

2011-06-19T16:23:00.005-04:00

MacLean does the "I'm crushing your head" skit with Sens logo

Well, I didn't miss much on my week off, did I?. Boston won the cup. Vancouver tried to burn itself down. And the Ottawa Senators hired a new head coach.

Paul MacLean is leaving his post as Red Wings' assistant coach to become the 9th head coach in Sens' history. Reporter Patricia Boal, good friend to our show, asked how MacLean felt about taking a gig that so many have recently struggled with. Murray jumped in comically with, "Patricia, weren't you here in '07?" Obviously, a reference to Murray taking the Sens to the Cup final that year. It's also the year Murray began his record-setting run of bad hirings.

MacLean is the 4th man Bryan Murray has hurled into the Sens' head coaching vortex. You know all those glowing things Murray said about MacLean this week? He said all those things about the last 3 guys too. Murray's a good guy and knows hockey. But his record in Ottawa speaks for itself - he's not good right now at hiring coaches. Clouston was fired, in large part, for not being a good communicator? Isn't that exactly the kind of thing you could find out before you hire someone?

I like MacLean and his resume. He and the critter on his lip both appear ready for the NHL. Maybe Murray got it right this time. But I'm not putting money on it. Murray is like a veteran stockbroker, who knows the market inside out but can't pick a money making stock right now to save his life. At some point you have to go, "Yeahhhh, I respect your body of work but I don't think I'm going to let you pick stocks for me anymore..."

Senate Reform 2

2011-06-19T15:22:00.002-04:00

In preparation for the NHL draft Friday, the Senators recently held interviews with some key prospects, including guys like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who no one expects will be available at number 6. It's interesting to watch the youngsters squirm, trying to conjure up what they think the Sens scouts will want to hear.

Senate Reform

2011-06-09T14:48:00.006-04:00

The Senators are in the midst of what should be a fascinating off season. They're down to 3 head coaching candidates (my bet is it'll be Kurt Kleinendorst); they've got some fantastic chips to play in the draft; and they've freed up a pile of money that, if they want, allows them to go on a Canada Day, free agent shopping spree.

Knowing the high interest in this off season, the Sens have put together Senate Reform, a look at the team's summer reno project. Here is Episode one, featuring the entire scouting staff arguing over draft prospects. They speak of players, without using their names. I love the discussion of "the guy we have at number 7, who comes with baggage and will never be more than a number 5 defenceman. One scout argues for his skill level. Hmmmm. Speculate away, Sens fans.

Jason Spezza - Thespian

2011-05-20T13:37:00.005-04:00

As a favour to a friend, Jason Spezza has leapt into advertising again. His first go around came at age one, growing up in Mississauga. Spezza won a baby contest and had his face to be splashed across the front page of Toronto newspapers. The victory resulted in Spezza becoming the poster boy for Baby, a Broadway musical which played at Toronto's O'Keefe Centre in the summer of 1984.

Now he's back for more, only this time there's acting involved. His performance here was a wooden as the Sherwood he used to use. But it got better as he went. By the look of his bedmate, his pal must have learned some of Spezza's slick moves and passes. I wonder if turnovers are part of her game too...

The Greatest Canuck Fan Ever

2011-05-19T23:39:00.001-04:00

Twins? I got your twins right here...

Here she is. The Vancouver Canucks fan who flashed Ben Eager in the penalty box the other night. Let's hope we've seen the last of the green men, who said they stayed home because they're broke.

After showing Eager the goods, the woman was immediately escorted out of the building by Canucks' security.

It is hoped the Colin Campbell will review the incident and suspend the Canucks security for their heinous actions.

The woman has declined all interviews, probably feeling she's already taken part in a pretty decent expose.

Jets or Moose? Probably Neither

2011-05-19T21:35:00.000-04:00

It would appear True North is close to buying the Atlanta Thrashers and moving them to Winnipeg. I still think commissioner Gary Bettman will do what he can to keep the team in Atlanta – including having the NHL run the team for a while. But if the Thrashers do move to Winnipeg, I’d be disappointed if they call them anything but the Jets.

Manitoba Moose or Winnipeg Jets?

Tradition and heritage mean everything to hardcore sports fans.

Exhibit A: New York and Montreal fans would burn down their cities if they took away the names Yankees and Canadiens. They both have a longer, better history than the Jets’ but it’s more than just the wins.

The name and the uniform aren’t just a link to the team’s past, glorious or not, they’re a link to the fan’s past and incredible memories.

Everyone has a story linked to his or her team. Maybe Jets fans watched as wide-eyed kids with their Dad or their Grandfather. Maybe they played hockey on the driveway wearing the Jets’ jersey, wet with snow and sweat. Maybe they got an autograph from Dale Hawerchuk. Maybe it was simply the memory of a great Jets’ game. These are memories rich with passion. Those are the memories that stick.

I enjoyed the Ottawa Renegades. It was the CFL, back in the familiar confines of Lansdowne Park. The park, the fairly similar uniforms, the smell of beer and popcorn brought back the link to the past nicely. But it would have been even better if they were Rough Riders.

The buzz is they may stick with Manitoba Moose, which will be fine, of course, but not nearly as good as Jets. I suspect they’ll go with neither option. Most hockey fans already have their Jets or Moose gear. Starting fresh means big sales as fans clamor for their new i.e. Manitoba Falcons paraphernalia. See, money not only talks, it kicks nostalgia’s ass.

Derek Boogaard Dead at 28

2011-05-14T08:22:00.006-04:00

Awful news. New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard, one of the NHL's most feared fighters, has died.

The 28-year-old was found dead in his apartment by his family. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office in Minnesota confirmed those details and said an autopsy was pending.

"Derek was an extremely kind and caring individual," Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather said in a release. "He was a very thoughtful person, who will be dearly missed by all those who knew him. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time."

The Wild learned the tragic news of the death and released a statement on Boogaard's passing.
"The Minnesota Wild organization sends our deepest sympathies to the family of Derek Boogaard. Derek was a fan favorite during his five seasons with the Wild and will be greatly missed here in Minnesota and throughout the NHL. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Boogaard family during this tragic time of loss."

Here's Brent Burns joking around and interviewing Derek Boogaard when the two were excited new NHL'ers in Minnesota. Burns affection for Boogaard is crystal clear.

Georges Laraques, maybe the NHL's greatest fighter ever, called Boogaard his biggest rival. Senators defenceman Matt Carkner also had great respect for him and will forever be linked to Boogaard's final game. Carkner fought him in December and hit him so hard, it ended his season five months early.

This would be the final time we'd ever see him on an NHL ice surface. (with files from nhl.com)

Bruin Revenge!

2011-05-04T20:05:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of Puck Daddy, a Boston Bruin fan gets even with his trash talking, Hab loving boss. I know a lot of fans who would either have a stroke or beat the snot out of their employee. Have a look

Greatest Office Prank: "Welcome to Bruins Country" from climbhighproductions on Vimeo.

"Little" Green Men

2011-05-01T20:39:00.002-04:00

The Nashville Predators have lodged a complaint about the green spandex-clad fans who sit beside the penalty box in Vancouver. They're being asked to tone down their act at games after a complaint was filed with the National Hockey League.

Sully and Force wear full neon green bodysuits and have been asked to stop touching the glass and doing handstands when the opposition enters the penalty box.

The duo caught the eye of Roberto Luongo back in Decemeber, and not in a good way. Luongo was inspired to get all poetic about it. Guess he decided the word package was easier to find a rhyme for than moose knuckle.

Just the Facts Ma'am

2011-04-25T15:54:00.003-04:00

The Kings need a win to...um, something or other

The NHL first round is about to wrap up and, while there's been a shortage of sleep, there's been no shortage of interesting stats and facts.

Did you know...

- After play Easter Sunday, home teams are 18-24 (.429) in the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs? So much for home cookin’...

- The Mike Fisher deadline deal changed again yesterday? With Nashville going to round two, the deal is now Fisher to Nashville for the Predators top pick plus a third rounder next year as well. If the Preds win another series, Ottawa receives no better than the 27th overall pick and a 2nd rounder next year. And far less Carrie Underwood sightings.

- Chicago is poised to become the 2nd team in two years (Philadelphia 2010) to rally from a 3-0 series deficit to win? Before that, we only needed the entire history of the NHL - 1917-2010 - to find two teams able to do that (1942 Maple Leafs and the 1975 Islanders).

- Tomorrow night Ben Smith will have played in more career NHL playoff games (seven) than regular season NHL games (six)? Smith saved Chicago’s season in double overtime last night with his 3rd playoff goal. He had just 31 points in 63 Rockford AHL games. Smith may be, for now, the most anonymous NHL playoff hero ever. But NCAA fans know him well. Smith was MVP of the Frozen Four, leading Boston College to a national title last year.

- Pens’ head coach Dan Bylsma has never won a playoff series at home? He’s 5-1 in games that ended a series - all 5 wins came on the road, where the Pens will be tonight. If he can make it 6 and 1, sans Crosby and Malkin, this will be his most impressive coaching job yet.

- Philadelphia is the new goalie graveyard? Before this year, the last team to use 3 different starting goaltenders in one series was Vancouver in the 1st round (2004: Cloutier/Hedberg/Auld). Bad harbinger for the Flyers. The Canucks lost in 7 that year.

- Derek Roy will return for Game seven tomorrow night? The Orleans native has only missed 4 months of action with a torn quad muscle (thigh). It'll be a miracle if he's even remotely a factor.

- Jordin Tootoo went in rehab this season? On December 27th, Tootoo voluntarily entered in-patient care as part of the Joint NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. He missed 23 games doing so. Week by week he got better and better. Yesterday he was far and a way Nashville’s best player in their first ever series clinching victory.

- In a “hired to be fired” profession, it took Barry Trotz, the only coach in Nashville Predators history, exactly 984 regular season games, 34 playoff games to finally win a playoff series?

- Teemu Selanne is considering retirement again? If he leaves, he would be one of the very few who leave the game on top. He was the game’s 8th best scorer this season with 80 points. The Flash also leads the playoffs right now in goals (6) and points (7). Nothing left to prove but plenty left to give.

- A Montreal victory tomorrow and it’s back to Boston for Game 7 the very next night? Yes, back to backers in the most crucial game after having had a pair of two-day breaks in this series. Why? To accommodate the Bell Centre concerts of Rush last week and Lady Gaga tonight.

- Last night was the sixth consecutive day where there has been at least one NHL overtime game? We go for the record tonight! The record is seven straight days (April 13–19, 2001) when there were 12 overtime games over the 7 days. With the second half of a Game 7 doubleheader set for 10 pm tomorrow night, it's going to be a sleepless week. Can't PVR that one.

Why Sean Couturier Will Likely Be A Senator

2011-04-18T19:44:00.002-04:00

Couturier's stock has fallen - right into the lap of the Senators?

The Gatineau Olympiques have advanced to the President’s Cup Semifinals of the QMJHL playoffs. They’ll face either Shawinigan or Quebec, probably starting Friday night.

In the other Quebec semi, it’s not very Quebec-ish - Saint John against Lewiston. The MAINEiacs (gosh, that name gets more clever every time I hear it) are the 8th seed, while the Sea Dogs are the top ranked team in the nation. So it should be over QUICKly.

Gatineau just eliminated Drummondville in a series that was supposed to feature Sean Couturier, who started the year on top of many lists as this year’s top draft prospect. Couturier didn’t get that memo. He was not impressive at all during games in Gatineau, according to Team 1200 reporters who covered the series.

If Gatineau does its part in the semis, we’ll get a good long, live look at Saint John forward Jonathan Huberdeau, a player who has now passed Couturier on everyone’s draft list. In fact, I think he could move up to number one for many teams.

It would now be an absolute miracle if Huberdeau were still there when the Senators draft sixth this summer. I caught Huberdeau in action Friday night as Saint John finished off Victoriaville. He’s 6 foot 1, 165 pounds but doesn’t play like an underweight player. At all. And he’s really good, with the speed, hands, anticipation and vision you expect from a blue chip prospect.

What sets Huberdeau apart is more of an intangible. He plays with an angry compete level you don’t see in many skill players. In a race or battle, he doesn’t want that puck, he needs it. He’s not only the best 18 year old in the Q, he may be the best player in the Q, period.

Huberdeau’s Central Scouting stock isn’t as high as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, best in the WHL or Gabriel Landeskog, best in the OHL. But that could still change. RNH and Landeskog are done, home in their parents’ basement, waiting for the draft. Meanwhile, Huberdeau is a great bet to win the CHL playoff scoring race - he currently leads everyone in points per game with 21 in 9 playoff games - and hoist a Memorial Cup. That tends to turn heads, especially when you’re only 18.

So the class of the draft is not a trio, it’s a foursome. Huberdeau joins RNH, Larsson and Landeskog as the best of the best. History may even show Huberdeau is the best of the lot. Because Couturier has slipped, a top 5 team like the Devils will probably focus on their desperate need for an offensive defenceman, likely taking Ryan Murphy.

That will leave Couturier for the Senators. They need a centre. It’s just impossible to turn him down at 6. He led the Q in scoring as a 17 year old and was the only guy in this draft to make the Canadian World Junior team this year. Even Huberdeau’s linemate Zack Phillips calls Couturier the hardest guy to play against in the league, simply because he’s so hard to move off the puck.

EJ McGuire Passes

2011-04-07T16:47:00.006-04:00

The NHL lost a good one today. Former Senators’ assistant coach EJ McGuire has died of cancer at age 58. Most people didn’t even know he was sick, his diagnosis coming just 4 months ago. McGuire - the head of NHL Central Scouting - had something called Leiomyoscarcoma, an incurable, rare form of cancer that aggressively attacks the cells that make up the involuntary muscles within the body.

McGuire was one of those guys everyone liked instantly - always happy and friendly. His hard work and love of hockey were equally consistent traits.

Last Saturday, it was clear McGuire’s fight was starting to run out of steam as he missed Central Scouting's Final Rankings Meeting. He hadn’t missed one in nine years but still called in to make sure everything was fine and to provide his friends and colleagues with an update on his condition.

Here is the account of that call from nhl.com and Mike Morreale.

At the conclusion of his call, he'd even open it up to a question-and-answer segment with the scouts. But, there were no questions.

As usual, McGuire spoke honestly and truthfully, leaving no stone unturned, and that's just how he wanted it.

"This is a (very rare) disease, so they don't know a lot about it and they don't put a lot of research money into it for that very same reason," McGuire said.

McGuire would also do what he does best by providing his "boys" with the usual motivational mantra that sets the tone for what has become an art form at Central Scouting -- due in large part to McGuire.

McGuire was diagnosed with one of the rarest forms of cancer in December -- leiomyoscarcoma. It's a disease that aggressively attacks the cells that make up the involuntary muscles within the body.

He received radiation treatment on his right leg -- where the disease was initially diagnosed -- in January. He put up a valiant fight, but lost his battle on Thursday.

"I know it's non-curable and as you could probably tell from the way I need a little oxygen break every so often, that the disease is winning ... and it's going to win," McGuire said. "I'm not being defeated, but it's going to win."

He apologized, paused and took a few deep breaths before carrying on. McGuire always had his priorities in order; determined to get the job done and done right.

"I want you to do the job you were paid to do," he said.

In 92-93, McGuire was a member of the Sens expansion coaching staff. Rick Bowness was Sens’ head coach and Alain Vigneault his assistant, roles that have now been reversed in Vancouver. McGuire was the good cop when Bowness needed to be bad cop. McGuire was always the good cop - with everyone. That made him a favourite for those of us who covered the team that year - the Sens’ room was almost always full of losers and bad moods in those days.

Tonight the Sens will remember him with a moment of silence before their final home game of the season.

McGuire is survived by his wife, Terry, and their daughters, Jacqueline and Erin.

Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word

2011-04-04T10:25:00.006-04:00

NHL players live and die by “the Code”. But if you ask 100 players what the code is, you’ll get 100 different answers. If they ever established consensus on the code, it’s doubtful there would be a chapter on apologizing to your opponent during the game.

Senator forward Jesse Winchester appeared to do just that on Saturday night. Winchester high-sticked Clarke MacArthur in the face. Afterward, cameras showed Winchester speaking calmly to Macarthur, apparently apologizing, likely explaining it was just an accident. Just as there’s no crying in baseball, there’s certainly no apologizing in hockey, particularly in the heat of battle with your fiercest rival – not in my book. If you talk to your opponent at all, it’s to tell them off, threaten them or insult their mom and her army boots.

I guess that’s a Neanderthal take, based on the emails I got today. More people are demanding increased respect for opponents, believing it sets the right example for kids and may help curb the current culture violence in the game.

I’m definitely all for that. But I think we should be able to get to that point without giving the opponent an in-game foot masage. The game is better when you believe the two sides hate each other. There’s plenty of time for apologies after the game.

Grabbing a 24

2011-03-31T16:57:00.001-04:00

The Senators' knack for signing prized NCAA free agents was on display again today. Almost exactly a year after signing Hobey Baker candidate Bobby Butler, the Sens signed Merrimack star centre Stephane Da Costa, TSN's top ranked NCAA free agent. Butler played against Da Costa - only a freshman last season - when both were finalists for Hockey East's player of the year award (won by Butler). Butler says the kid is definitely NHL ready.

The Sens offer NCAA free agents both serious cash and a chance to play right away, not something every NHL team is able to do. Or maybe their NCAA recruiter, Lew Mongelluzzo just throws a mean kegger. Some observers joked Mongelluzzo spent more time at Merrimack this season than some of the students.

Da Costa got a two year deal, becoming the first Merrimack player since Matt Foy - the former Ottawa 67 - to play in the NHL. He'll also become the sixth player from France ever to play in the NHL, joining Cristobal Huet (LA, Mtl, Was, Chi; 2003-10), Philippe Bozon (STL; 1992-95), Paul MacLean (StL, Wpg, Det; 1981-91), Pat Daley (Wpg; 1980-81), and Andrew Peloffy (Was; 1975).

Da Costa lived in Paris until he was seventeen, when he moved to Texas to play in the North American Hockey League. The only English phrase he knew on arrival was, "I don't understand." After one year with the NAHL Tornados, he moved to Iowa for two seasons with the USHL's Sioux City Muskateers. Mark Dennehy, his coach at Merrimack, was recruiting one of Da Costa's Muskateer teammates. As he watched video, Dennehy only had eyes for Da Costa, and kept asking, "Who's number 24?"

DaCosta had a huge rookie year at Merrimack last season, winning multiple Rookie of the Year awards. Like Butler, he got a ton of offers from NHL teams, but decided to return to Merrimack for his sophomore year to work on his strength and defence. Scouts believe his offence is NHL ready.

In two seasons at Merrimack, Da Costa piled up 90 points in 67 games, leading Merrimack to a top-10 national ranking. MC lost a heartbreaker in round one of the Frozen Four last Friday. They blew a 3-1 lead and fell 4-3 in overtime to Notre Dame, which has advanced to the NCAA final four. As pressure packed as his final collegiate game was, it'll probably pale in comparison to his next game.

Da Costa will likely be in the lineup, wearing 24 for the Senators Saturday night. It'll only be a nationally televised game as his new club faces most hated rival. No biggie.

"What if...?"

2011-03-28T14:25:00.005-04:00

With playoffs looming, the NHL has released a number of their new "History will be Made" ads. Some of them are just excellent. My favourites are: the one featuring Jonathan Toews, "History Begins with a Wish" and "History Keeps us up All Night", the classic overtime quad from the '87 Islanders and Capitals. Funny how everyone you talk to stayed up for that whole game.

They're quite different from last season's series, which featured a rewinding of a key highlight and asking the question "What if...?" It spawned many fan-made ads, like this one for last season's top Senator highlight.

Since playoffs aren't in this year's picture, let me tackle this year's question. “What if the Senators had rolled out this exact lineup on opening night?” Would they still be a lottery team?

Interesting question, (Steve congratulated himself). This lineup, as is, continues to impress the hell out of its fan base. I really thought the energy they drew from the changes and influx of youth would only be temporary. Not the case. This group has now been together for a quarter of a season and it's generally been playing competitive hockey every night.

Improved goaltending has been everything. It was so bad in the year 2010 B.A. - Before Anderson - they basically went into each game down a goal or two. The skaters always looked skittish, particularly the defence. Everyone knew if they made a mistake, the dude in the mask wasn't going to help much. Anderson has stabilized the position and the team's confidence.

But it's been more than Anderson's addition. I think the Sens also needed the shakeup. For example, Alexei Kovalev just had to be removed. He was paid to be an offensive leader. It had to be frustrating for the players to see so much talent in practice and so little interest, effort or production in games. Side note: Marek Svatos, for one tenth the cost, has two more goals (3) than Kovalev has scored in Pittsburgh (1).

The other big deletions involved good third and fourth liners - Chris Kelly, Mike Fisher, and Jarkko Ruutu - guys who never hurt you but weren't living up to their paycheques. The Fisher deal in particular was like a jolt from a defibrillator for a lifeless bunch. Since making that trade, the Sens have gone 12-7-2. Parlayed over a full season, that's a pace that would crack 100pts. Presto! Playoff numbers.

Some - like my Team 1200 colleague Jason York - will rightly point out that it's easier to play when your team is out of it - no pressure. I agree; pressure can kill. But I don't agree that it's been a completely pressure-free situation. Anderson was playing for a contract. The younger guys - if they stunk - might get buried in Binghamton, never to return.

Even in an apparent rebuild - which may end up being less painful than we thought - It's certainly tough not to be excited for next season. You take the best of this group and add a healthy Daniel Alfredsson, David Rundblad, Jared Cowen and maybe a couple of free agents. Hey, maybe they'll be back in the game sooner than we think.

So "What if the Sens had this lineup on opening night...?" Would they have made the playoffs? We'll never know - because history wasn't made. But I'd have liked their chances.

Ryan’s Hope

2011-03-23T11:20:00.006-04:00

Throughout his entire pro career, Senators’ centre Ryan Shannon has been seen as little more than a depth player. Shannon will be a UFA this summer, news that makes most people shrug their shoulders and go,”whatever.” I used to share that feeling. Everyone knows he has world class speed but his critics suggest he doesn’t have enough size or finish around the net.

His hope has always been to become a top 6 forward in the NHL. Could Shannon actually pull that off? The Senators currently think so. In fact, they’re giving him first line minutes right now. Shannon posted 19:38 last night, 2nd among forwards behind only Jason Spezza.

He’s been shockingly different since his move to centre, bearing no resemblance to the Ryan Shannon we’ve come to know and ignore. In his natural position, he gets better and looks more comfortable with each game. Shannon has 11 points in the last 14 games: another assist last night in a 4-3 loss in Carolina. He’s fun to watch; he hustles every shift, makes consistently great passes, and always seems to be in a good position defensively.

Shannon is also showing some goal scoring touch, burying a breakaway beauty against Tampa Saturday night. He fell to the ice after the goal, lying on his back, the building going crazy. A smile crossed his face as if to say, “I can’t believe it. I’m finally having some success in this freaking league.”

On the air today, my co-host, JR, summed up the feeling many people have about Shannon. “Ryan Shannon is who he is,” he said. The sentiment being, Shannon won’t get any better than this. He’s completely disposable. Certainly that may well turn out to be true.

But look at the forwards they moved at the deadline: Chris Kelly, Mike Fisher, Jarkko Ruutu, Alexei Kovalev. Those are guys who weren’t going to show us anything else. In fact, in all cases, their games are likely to start declining. With Shannon, it feels like there’s something more there: like it’s only now starting to shine through. Sure, these may be nothing games to Ottawa, but they’re facing desperate teams, all still in the hunt and yet, since the purge, Shannon has still been one of their better players every night.

I don’t want to make the same mistake that J.R.’s Calgary Flames made with Martin St Louis. They simply released St. Louis without compensation in 2000. I know, I know. You’re chuckling right now, "Get this. Warne is about to compare Shannon to a Hart Trophy winner. What a joke.”
On the contrary. I’m comparing Shannon, who turned 28 this month, to when St Louis was 28. St. Louis was about to turn that same age the season he finished off a 70 point season, his first NHL season of over 40 points. Up until then, his career looked a lot like Shannon’s. Both were undrafted NCAA players, checking in at 5 foot 8, 170 pounds (drenched). Both yo-yo’ed between the AHL first line and NHL fourth line, before someone took a chance on them.

In Tampa, St. Louis only emerged as a star because John Tortorella overlooked the size issue and saw something in him others didn’t. And so he gave him ice time. Important ice time. Cory Clouston is doing the same thing right now and Shannon is responding.

I’m not saying we have a future Hart trophy winner here. I am saying Shannon is easily the Sens' 2nd best centre right now and contributing big in all situations. So there’s more than enough potential there to re-sign the guy. What's it going to cost? 'Peter Regin' money?

Game Day in Carolina

2011-03-22T05:42:00.005-04:00

SENATORS (27-36-9) at HURRICANES(33-29-10) 7pm

TV: SNET-E (HD), FS-CR (HD)

RADIO: www.team1200.com/ Pre game show at 5pm.

Last 10: Ottawa 6-4-0; Carolina 4-5-1

Season series: The Senators and Hurricanes will wrap up their four-game season series Tuesday in Raleigh. The teams split the games in Ottawa, while the Hurricanes won 7-1 in the other game played at RBC Center this season. Carolina will look to extend its home winning streak over the Senators to seven games.

Big story: The Hurricanes are fighting for their playoff lives, while the Senators will continue to try and spoil all of their opponents' chances at the postseason as they play out the final string of the 2010-11 campaign. The Eastern Conference's ninth-place Hurricanes (76 points) will need to gain ground on the eighth-place Buffalo Sabres (79 points), as both clubs have 10 games left to play on their respective schedules. Carolina has missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

Team Scope:

Senators: With consecutive wins over the Devils last Thursday and the Lightning this past Saturday, the Senators are refusing to go quietly into the offseason. But now that it has no shot at this year's playoffs, all Ottawa can do is get a closer look at players that will return for next season and assess which direction the club is heading in.

One decision toward the future was made on Monday as Senators GM Bryan Murray announced that they signed goalie Craig Anderson to a four-year contract extension.

"We feel he's brought stability," Murray told reporters at Monday's press conference. "The (goaltending) position is one that we need if we're going to retool, rebuild and improve this hockey team going forward."

Hurricanes: Losing five of its last seven games has put Carolina on the steep uphill point on the road towards the final playoff berth in the East, but the good news is that they have one more head-to-head matchup against the eighth-place Sabres coming up on April 3. But before the Canes can get ahead of themselves, they will need to concentrate on beating the teams that reside behind them in the standings.

Carolina would like to build off Friday's 3-2 overtime win against the New York Islanders, a game Erik Cole tied with less than five minutes left in regulation and later won on a Joni Pitkanen goal in the extra period.

"It was really important as a team that you can find that desperation level, and we found it," coach Paul Maurice told reporters after the game. "To be able to change gears and have some good things start happening is really important, because now we know it's there."

Injury report: Daniel Alfredsson (lower back), Matt Carkner (lower body), Milan Michalek (left foot), and Pascal Leclaire (lower body) are all out indefinitely for the Senators, while center Peter Regin is out for the season with a shoulder injury. And despite the big news on Anderson's contract signing, the American goaltender has missed Ottawa's last two games with an undisclosed lower body injury. Backup Curtis McElhinney has been in net for both of the Sens' last two victories. … It's possible that Carolina rookie defenseman Jamie McBain (shoulder) could miss the remainder of this season.

Who's hot: Goalie Cam Ward has won two of his last three starts for Carolina, with 91 saves and a 1.66 goals against average over that span. … For the Senators, Jason Spezza will try to extend his points streak to three games. The All-Star center has also tallied points in four of his last five games with 4 goals and 4 assists over that span. McElhinney has filled in fine in Anderson's abscence with 71 total saves and a 1.50 GAA in two straight wins.

Stat pack: If Carolina can manage at least three goals on Tuesday, then statistics predict it will have a very good chance at getting some much needed points vs. the Senators. The Hurricanes have a 27-3-4 record when scoring at least three goals in a game this season.

Puck drop: While Ottawa has experienced a disappointing 2010-11 season, it has plenty of reasons to look on the bright side. With the contract extension for Anderson, the Sens now have a bona-fide All-Star caliber player between the pipes.

"Andy's come in and played great for us," Spezza said at Monday's press conference. "Just to get a guy like him locked up and not let him go to free agency is a big move for the franchise."

(Preview courtesy of ottawasenators.com)

Another Possible Cure for Ottawa's Goaltending Curse

2011-03-21T13:00:00.013-04:00

Ever get the feeling there's a grubby, chubby Leaf fan out there, jamming thumb tacks into a little Senator Voodoo doll with goalie pads? I certainly do; but then I've been stripping furniture all morning and the fumes were pretty strong. We all know there's a goaltending curse here. The question is, was it lifted today?

The Senators have re-signed their new goalie, Craig Anderson. He agreed to forego the league auction this summer, inking a four year gig worth 12.75 million dollars.

I wonder if they signed the GOOD Craig Anderson; the guy who's been unreal since his arrival at the trade deadline? Or did they sign his evil twin, who struggled most of the season in Colorado, also dealing with injuries?

Only time will answer that one. I will say this: there was no goalie dramatically better in UFA this summer, and certainly no one this good you'd get at this price. Prospect Robin Lehner would rather be "hunting" Anderson here in Ottawa next season but he's probably best served being an AHL starter for a full season.

I am a little surprised that Bryan Murray is still pulling the strings on deals that will still be affecting this team in 2016. Since taking over as GM, Murray has believed Martin Gerber, Ray Emery, Brian Elliott, Alex Auld and Pascal Leclaire were answers to the curse. Hey, maybe sixth time's the charm.

Many people have just assumed kicking yourself in the crotch that many times would cost you your job (let's not even discuss Kovalev, Gonchar, Kuba and Cheechoo acquisitions). Now, reading the tea leaves, it looks like Murray may be one of the next Sens to re-sign. But Murray says he isn't sure yet if he'll be back.

If he stays, what about Cory Clouston? Will Murray get a chance to hire a fourth head coach since 07-08? Not many GM's have blasted that many coaches and lived to tell the tale. But bygones will quickly be bygones (what else would they be?) if Anderson can stay healthy and be a star. If Murray has ended Ottawa's infernal goaltending curse, and done so for just three mill, he can stay as long as he wants.

Another NHL Head Shot? Been There...

2011-03-20T19:48:00.007-04:00

The issue of head shots in the NHL was a compelling topic for a long time. Now I'm pretty much done with it.

Oh, I will talk about it on the air because it's my job and I know it will be a hot topic, thanks to Matt Cooke's latest maim job on a Ranger player. But, rest assured, it will be for show only. It's weird. I think people now like talking about head shot incidents and consequences far more than they like talking about hockey. If it bleeds, it leads, I suppose.

"Man! Something's gotta be done about Player X for incident Y against player Z! It's an outrage!" Fill in the blanks and there's your lead story. I cannot react to it anymore. Not sincerely. It's the same reason I cannot react to Charlie Sheen's commentary anymore. Chuck's got a problem. I hope he deals with it. Now I'm going to see what else is on.

I am now fully in Bruce Boudreau's camp, pitching the tent, building the fire. The
Capitals' coach said last week, "You don't like it, don't come to the games. I think players realize they can get hurt out there." Exactly. The players are good with it. They're willing to take the risk, just like an MMA fighter. Where are the protests about the health of MMA fighters?

Some people say we have to get rid of head shots and violence because of the influence it has on kids. Monkey see monkey do, right? Well, sucker me into that discussion too. It's easy. I don't care if the NHL legalizes knife fights during games. Violent little teenaged punks (and maybe their coaches and parents) must be cut out of minor hockey like a bloated cyst - no matter what's going on in the NHL. Long suspensions and bans administered by good, responsible associations, coaches and parents, who need to keep stepping up.

Do I want head shots and Matt Cooke gone from my TV? Of course. But I want this current hysteria over headshot-palooza to disappear too. I'm done with it and ready for playoffs.

Hmmm, I guess that's a lot of reaction to something I don't want to react to.

The Tampa Template

2011-03-19T10:28:00.005-04:00

The Senators re-connect with Tampa Bay tonight; their twin brother, both born in 1992. With playoffs looming, it's an exciting time for fans of the Lightning. Sens fans have their noses buried in draft previews (see previous post).

If success is measured in playoff appearances, the Sens have badly outperformed the Lightning. The Sens have only missed the playoffs 5 times in 17 years, while Tampa has only MADE the playoffs 5 times. But in one of those years, they kinda won the Cup. So, by championships, Tampa has been more successful.

Tampa does provide proof that you can turn it around quickly. Check it out. Look at the peak season for both teams. Tampa won its Cup in '04. The Sens made the Cup final in '07. Exactly three seasons after peaking, both teams bottomed out, becoming lottery teams (factoring in the lockout year for Tampa).

Tampa was last overall in '08 then second last overall in '09. In 2010, they competed for a playoff spot most of the season, falling short with 80 points. Now, in 2011 they're contenders again.

So that's a reasonable expectation for Sens fans. Right now, 2011 is year one of bottoming out. 2012 will likely be a struggle too. As the Tampa template goes, 2013 will be contention for a playoff spot. Finally, a contender in 2013-2014.

The one caveat of the Senators' two "bottoming out" seasons. Either this summer or next, the Sens must be able to draft a future superstar. They probaly won't find Steven Stamkos but they do need someone who will eventually pump in 35-50 goals, riding shotgun with Jason Spezza for the next decade.

Four on the Floor

2011-03-17T14:52:00.013-04:00

Despite the Senators' improved play of late, the 2010-11 season will still go down as one of the club's worst. I would expect next season to be a little better but not much. Senator fans are going to need a few distractions and they'll come in two forms.

First, of course, is the NHL draft, followed by the fun of following the talented 18 year old they select. The kid will likely be a forward, since the Sens are already stocked with young defenceman. Almost certainly, it will be one of these four. Each would look outstanding in a Sens' jersey. They're presented here in no particular order. Thanks to TSN and TVCogeco.

1. Gabriel Landeskog, RW, Kitchener Rangers, 51GP 65pts. Rangers have used him at all forward positions. A left hand shot but listed as a right winger. It's insane how un-Swedish he sounds. Has been called Mike Richards Light.

2. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Red Deer Rebels, 67GP 102pts, tied for 4th in WHL scoring with Brandon's Mark Stone, a Senators' 2010 draft pick. Hoppy is slick offenisvely at all levels, drawing comparisons to Matt Duchesne. His skill is NHL-ready but he's really small and, despite his gaudy point totals, went a month without a goal this season.

3. Sean Couturier, C, Drummondville Voltigeurs, 56GP 93pts. Led the Q in scoring last season as a 17 year old, first to do so since Sidney Crosby. Excellent bloodlines. Dad Sylvain made the NHL with LA, despite being an awful skater by pro standards. Has size and protects the puck extremely well.

4. Ryan Strome, C, Niagara Ice Dogs, 63GP 102pts. Excellent puck skill and playmaking. Reasonably physical for a medium sized skill player.

Meanwhile, the 20th anniversary celebrations and the all star game couldn't come at a better time either. Here's a nice start from the Senators, looking back at the great history of hockey in Ottawa.

Cramming for Final Exams

2011-03-14T21:50:00.009-04:00

I have to admit, keeping their draft position in mind, the Senators losses are starting to go down like Buckley's - it's awful but it works.

The fun for the moment is wondering about next year's potential. For example, the Senators' college interns have been extremely impressive. However, I continually hear people say things like,"Bobby Butler, Erik Condra and Colin Greening are all nice young players but they certainly don't have potential to be top six forwards."

Before Bryan Murray goes shopping in free agency, overpaying for someone in the auction, I thought it would be a good exercise to try and define exactly what we mean when we say a player has "top six potential".

Let's tackle the first liners. Many people probably think first liners are all for good for a point-a-game pace. If that were true, we'd have 90 players with 82 points or more.
Know how many there actually are? Ten. Of those who've played 60 games or more, there are only 10 on a point a game pace this season. Ten.

Let's say we held an open draft right now and teams could only draft forwards to make up their top 3, they'd likely whip out the stat page and take the top 90 scorers in the game right now.
Daniel Sedin would be the best top 3 forward. He's on pace for 104 points. Your worst top 3 forward is Scott Hartnell, on pace for just 50. So 50-104 pts makes you a "first liner".

What about the second tier of "top six" forwards? I mean, what kind of offensive dynamo must you be to be a second line forward in the NHL - the 91st to 180th best scorers in the game? Well, 50 points is your best second liner. Your low end guy is on pace to finish this season with just 34 points - Pittsburgh's Pascal Dupuis.

Did you think 34 points would be enough for people to consider you a top six forward in the NHL? Probably not.

Now let's look at the pace of the aforementioned Senators.

Butler - 39pts
Greening 37pts
Condra - 37pts

So their pro-rated numbers make them players with lower end "top six forward potential" right now. Then factor in comfort level next season - a full camp, feeling like you truly belong, not playing with the deer-in-the-headlights expression. Who knows? Maybe they have even more to offer. They all put up points (grade average and scoresheet) as captains of their NCAA teams and got better every season.

Now, they shouldn't clear off their Bingo cards just yet - it's just too early. I'm not willing to make any guarantees with these guys. But based on their hustle, intelligence and production so far, I'm not prepared to dismiss this college class either. At the very least, they can play on my third line any day.

(Photo courtesy 0f the Ottawa Citizen)

The Chara Hit

2011-03-09T08:54:00.005-05:00

Updated - Ex-Senators’ defenceman Zdeno Chara is public enemy numero un in Montreal. It didn't help that he escaped suspension completely yesterday. Chara hit Montreal’s Max Pacioretty near the players bench at centre ice. steering him into the boards at exactly the wrong place. Pacioretty’s head struck the glass partition, knocking him unconscious for several minutes. I was genuinely worried I may have just witnessed a death on ice.

He was removed on a stretcher, taken to hospital, where he was talking normally and had full movement. Thank god for that.

There is much debate on exactly how heinous the play was. You could certainly argue that Chara made a textbook play, finishing his hit, exactly the way he’s taught. You could also argue he steered Pacioretty into the partition and should be suspended under the league’s intent to injure rules.

I think Chara steered him into the boards, which you see all the time. But the rules don’t change based on where you are on the ice. On 99.5 per cent of the ice surface, there’s nothing wrong with steering a player into the boards. A fine hit. He made a standard hockey play. Did he know he partition was there? Maybe. But I don’t think that’s something you can prove.

The NHL cannot put a fixed object in the field of play then recoil with horror when someone is slammed into it. It shouldn’t be there. Get rid of the partition. It shouldn’t be there any more than a horizontal steel beam sticking out of the boards. The league took no action after Ryan Smyth was K.O'ed by Jack Johnson in similar fashion THREE YEARS AGO. Check it out. If Pacioretty cannot continue his career, the league is looking at a lawsuit.

Beer League Hockey Guys We Have Known

2011-03-08T10:23:00.007-05:00

A lively show today as our hockey playing listeners went bonkers with our “That guy” discussion – the many funny, weird or annoying characters you encounter in beer league and pickup hockey. A few of my favourites were Never brings the beer guy, Gives his teammates instructions guy or Checks his reflection out in the glass guy.

(Notable Team 1200 characters in photo: TGOR Producer Kenny Walls in goal, the humble blogger to his left and Steve Lloyd far right. At rear, third from left, Stuntman Stu and second from right, Angry Al.)

So I shall turn the blog today over to the emailers, who jammed us up with over 100 suggestions this morning.

Roy: Ringer guy. The other team is short players so they bring in a “ friend “, who just happened to play pro in Europe in a past life. He basically uses everyone on the ice as pylons during his 9 goal performance. That’s always a lot of fun.

Foligno Fan: Excuse guy. Blames home life, health, lack of sleep or equipment malfunction. Everything but the fact he sucks.

Greg: Matching equipment guy. No matter what ridiculous colour his team wears, he spends hundreds of dollars to ensure he has the corresponding helmet gloves and pants, even though everyone else has the standard issue Ottawa black gear.

Punt Lover: (Obviously looking in Stuntman Stu’s direction). Top-of-the-line equipment but cannot skate guy. He's the one that has the best of everything, didn't pay for it but he still can't play, can't stop and his nose is always off side at the media games.

Government Mike: Colonel Flag guy. This guy is the guy that simply disappears about 2 minutes before the bill for pitchers and wings shows up. NO ONE ever sees him leave….

Borden Farm Paul: Only a knee injury or lack of size kept me from the pros" guy!

Jason: Terrible but NEVER misses a game guy. You wouldn't mind if he missed a few here and there.

Ken: Never washes his equipment guy. He spends a pile of time with the puck because no one wants to get within 5 feet of him. He's coincidentally "sits on the chair in the room" guy... same reason.

Greg: Plays 4 nights a week and still has a beer gut guy.....

Steve: Keeps gear in garage then complains about his frozen rock solid stuff guy.

William: Yard sale guy. Fallin' all over the ice!!

BR: Dismisses all skill by saying “He’d/you’d get killed in a contact league guy.

Tabaczuka: Yells at goalie guy. Leave the goalie alone...he's only playing because no one else wanted to be the goalie.

Don: Forgets a crucial piece of equipment guy.

Dan: Doesn’t show up guy. Especially heinous when he’s a goalie or ref.

Reg: Lathers his junk in the shower way too much guy.

Sean: Has To Re-introduce Myself To Our Goalie After The Game Guy. He can’t be bothered to come back to his own zone even for face-offs.

Clem: Anybody got any tape, I forgot mine at home guy...Which is funny, considering he never has tape. He is usually the same as: Does anybody have any shampoo guy. Or doesn’t shower after the game guy.

Big Rick: Brings beauty products guy. You know, that fancy guy who prepares more for the showering with other men experience then the actual game itself! Luffa, bathrobe, flip flops, nail clipper but has to ask every other guy for soap! Then the post shower creams and sampler colognes and of course the hair products! This same guy plays with a broken stick for 6 months!

The Annihilator: I used to school famous guys guy. The guy who constantly says “I use to school Yzerman back in Atom”… “Lindros was nothing, I used to take him to school him physically when we were 6”.

Eric in Shawville: smells like Fleecy /Bounce sheet Guy. Seems his wife is also addicted to Febreeze and thinks she is doing him a favour by having him smell like a cheap lady of the evening. Long after he leaves the corner his fragrance lives on

Rudsy: Never Know Who’s in the Stands Guy – he’s the guy who plows someone into the boards in a no contact league because their may be an NHL scout in the stands looking for a rugged winger to compliment their fourth line.

The Hawk: Dull Skates Guy. You know, the guy who can't skate, continuously falling, blaming it on dull skates.

The Matrix: Waist-high 60 mph pass guy. Then is critical that you didn't corral his pass by merely sacrificing 9 bones in your hand.

Frank: Arrives late guy.

Steph in the Beac: Likes to whip up his junk while holding court guy.

Mark: Walks around the room naked way to much guy.

Rob: slash the back of your legs if u take the puck guy.

Brad: Obsessed-with-personal-stats-guy. You know, the guy you hear saying "yeah I got an assist on that... You know, when tried to ice the puck as I went off, and you ended up scoring on the play.

Kevin: Throwback EVERYTHING guy. Wears Gear from the 70’s. Helmet made famous by Stan Mikita, Butch Goring or Craig Ramsay.

Shawn: Angry Goalie guy. When Pond Hockey guy doesn't back check and his team gets scored on, Angry Goalie guy loooooses it! He let's everyone know, especially Pond Hockey guy, that they "have to get back on D". Usually the brother or close friend of Steve's "Coaches From the Bench" guy.

Marc: Never gets off the ice guy, everyone has one. This guy starts the game and ends the game on the ice. Usually the same guy who stays at the red line with his stick in the air looking for a break away pass.

Pat: Over his head guy. He's the guy that is playing on a team about 3 or 4 divs higher than he should. But no one has the heart to tell him. He's usually the first guy to pay his league dues first.
Finally, this one from Steve Lloyd: Always talks about why he's not good as he used to be because of a bad knee, ankle, hip, heart guy. Also known as Yorkie guy, who has been milking a bad knee suffered in a game with children at one of his kid's schools for a year.

Lloydy instantly becomes About to be murdered by his radio co-host guy.

Did we miss anyone? Give us your suggestions. The moderator will post them shortly.

O for Oustanding

2011-03-03T15:57:00.008-05:00

Senators president Cyril Leeder announced yesterday the Senators new third jerseys next season would be a tip of the cap to the barber pole style the old school Sens used to wear. The 67’s wore the barber poles – jerseys and socks - for years before settling in with striping only on their sleeves.

The current third jersey is a cool design but I’ve never been a fan of having "Sens" crudely splayed across the front. I won’t be sad to see it go.

Back on January 8th, the Binghamton Senators wore throwback barber pole jerseys. It’s quite likely the big club wanted to give the poles a trial run and gauge reaction. I might like to see them widen up the stripes a little but I like them. Unless Bingo fans reacted like Charlie Sheen at last call, it’s not a bad bet that the Sens third jerseys will look a lot like the one pictured (#26 Kaspars Daugavins).

The colour could be turned up a little but you can check the unis in action here.

Next year will the 20th anniversary of the franchise and the unveiling of the new barber pole third will actually be, by my count, the 11th jersey in franchise history. Let me inhale deeply here because this sweater history lesson will be a long haul. And...let's begin.

It began with the ill-fated peace tower jersey, which took them through the expansion campaign but was never worn in a game. Their two original jerseys would stick for one season before the road blacks were changed. They went from red numbers to white. Two seasons later, they added a white stripe to the blacks.

In 1998, they unveiled their first third jersey, a red one with a black swoop in the middle. That new third also featured a new version of the crest, a full faced, angrier centurion. A year later, they eliminated their black road jersey, replaced by the reds. After one whole year without a third jersey, the Sens were back in black, unveiling a third jersey with gold trim. Note that in 2003-04, the NHL switched things up, forcing teams to wear dark jerseys at home and whites on the road. Other than that, this is how it would stay until all three jerseys were axed, right after the Sens lost in the 2007 Stanley cup final.

In '07, Reebok rolled in with tight fitting new jerseys, one red, one white, with a new Senator crest. A year later, the Sens added a third third jersey, a black one with Sens on front and that's where we are today. Bam! History lesson over!

What an exhausting, unnecessary exercise that was. Especially when I could have just shown you the poster below. Thanks to http://www.nhluniforms.com/ for the sweater shots. Very cool site if you like to look back at retro jerseys.

Ticket Price INcrease??!!!

2011-03-02T16:18:00.006-05:00

I understand that running an NHL club is a costly business. So high ticket prices are here to stay. There will be no roll back. Ever. It's the way it is. But here we are, in the Senators’ worst season ever (expansion seasons excluded). They’re now icing a considerably less expensive team than the one ticket buyers signed up to watch. You’d think maybe a ticket price freeze for next season was the least the Senators could do.

Nope. Ticket prices are going up. Now that’s ballsy.

The average price increase is 1.6 per cent. Some tickets will see no increase; the highest increase is 2.24 per cent. The team points out this is the first time in three years that ticket prices have increased. Season-seat owners will save an average of 32 per cent off of single-game prices. The Senators will offer the lowest prices of any Canadian team.

It’s not that it’s a ridiculous hike. It’s the principle. Again, the payroll will likely be smaller next season. So what are you being charged more for? For the enjoyment you had, watching the lowest scoring team in franchise history (expansion seasons included)? For the fascination of the team’s mental and physical fragility? The terrible goaltending? The awful defensive zone play?

If you’re a business guilty of shoddy workmanship, as the Sens were this year, you should consider yourself lucky that the customer comes back to do business with you again. You don’t charge him more, even if it’s only a little more. It just looks bad. It sticks in your craw, whatever a craw is.

If it has to be done, save the hikes for when the team doesn’t suck and fans are excited about the product again. People don’t mind paying for quality. But when you jack up the price on something you pulled out of the refurb/discount bin, that isn’t fair.

If their cost/revenue ratios have absolutely forced them to hike prices, the Sens could at least put a positive spin on things. I'd tell the fans they're not paying for what was but for the new excitement still to come. To that end, I've got the perfect slogan...

The new and improved 2011-2012 Ottawa Senators. Now 100% Kovalev-free!

Bryan Murray's February Deal-a-Thon Is Over

2011-02-28T20:36:00.008-05:00

Sometime tonight, Senators GM Bryan Murray will lay down his axe, flop into his easy chair and reflect on three weeks of chopping away at the team roster and payroll. Murray sent away Chris Kelly, Mike Fisher, Jarkko Ruutu, Alex Kovalev, Brian Elliott and, earlier today, Chris Campoli. 6 guys whose salaries are around 14 million dollars.

Murray brought in goalies Craig Anderson (Elliott) and Curtis McElhinny (waivers), one first-round pick (Fisher), two second-round picks (Kelly and Campoli), a sixth-round pick (Ruutu) and a seventh-round pick (Kovalev) that could become a sixth. That means they get 6 of the top 62 picks this summer. Murray also picked up forwards Marek Svatos (waivers) and Ryan Potulny (Campoli).

McElhinny's acquisition means two things. Pascal Leclaire is probably done for the year as his groin does a killer impression of Dominik Hasek’s groin. It also means Robin Lehner will go to the AHL and learn what it means to be an everyday pro starting goalie with all the pressures – regular season and playoffs - that go with it.

Murray took what may have been a small swipe at Lehner’s attitude. “Robin’s convinced he could stay here and play,” Murray said. “But I’d like him to ride on the bus the odd time. That will help him.” Hmmm. Maybe I’m reading too much into this but what kind of person is “helped” by the indignity of sucking diesel fumes? Only those riding a little too high on their horse.

The move that’s most drawn mixed reaction is the decision to re-sign Chris Phillips to a 3 year deal at around $3.1M per season. A no movement clause is thrown in too. That’s big because Phillips and his family are really smitten with living here. He isn’t waiving that clause. For anyone. It’s not without risk but I think Phillips returns to form next season.

The question is – has Bryan Murray done enough to save his job? I have a feeling he has. Murray has done a nice job in starting to clean up the mess, just as ownership wanted. However, it’s also a mess that was made on Murray’s watch. Murray is to blame for a lot of it. Other blame goes to the pro scouting staff, Cory Clouston, Eugene Melnyk, John Muckler and basic bad luck. You need to make a lot of mistakes to wind up in 29th place.

If Murray stays, hopefully he’s learned from the mistakes. And it is a learning process. The cap has only been with us for 6 years so even old dogs like Murray are in training. So based on his February performance, I think Murray gets a one year reprieve. He will likely be heading up the Sens’ draft table, making some picks, trading others – as he did last year for David Rundblad - and then going shopping with all the money he freed up.

Let’s hope Murray can replicate his fine February this summer.

By the way, the Sens released their updated prospect report today. Have a look.

The Senators Stop Being Boring

2011-02-27T20:52:00.006-05:00

How about that? The Sens dump 5 players and lose several others to injury. Then they replace them with kids and all they do is go out and beat the best team in the world, 4-1 Saturday night. It’s official. I am excited about this team again. But not because of a meaningless win in a lost season.

First, I am excited that they may have found a legitimate, professional option in goal. That’s been a gaping wound that the Senators have been slapping band-aids on for far too long. It’s funny to be falling this deeply in love with a goaltender after just 4 games. It speaks volumes about how frustrating it’s been to watch the ongoing mess in Ottawa’s blue paint.

Secondly, I’m jacked that the Senators are interesting again. They not only played poorly, they were, most nights, maybe the dullest team in the NHL this season. I think maybe some guys reach a point as a pro hockey player where the game stops being a game. You’ve made your money and it loses its zest. It becomes a job. “Ugh. Another game tonight.” I think the Sens had/have several players going through that.

Meanwhile, the much less famous characters currently wearing Sens’ jerseys are still hungry, living and breathing hockey. “Yeah! Another game tonight!” They have the love and passion for the game. They’ll go through a wall to win a job next season. The new guys need to win. Not just the game but every battle. That, and goaltending that doesn’t suck, have infused some energy into the remaining lineup and, just as importantly, the fan base. I’m not nodding off mid game anymore.

I mean, didn’t you feel like you were watching the same movie over and over again? And not a good movie with good actors. A bad movie with disinterested actors. I hadn’t noticed how bored I’d become with this group and how bored they’d apparently become with their profession.

Can’t wait to see what happens next.

My Lazy, Disinterested Reaction to the Kovy Trade

2011-02-24T15:14:00.003-05:00

Alexei Kovalev’s career in Ottawa is now officially over. He was dealt to Pittsburgh for a 7th round selection. Maybe a 6th if he and the Pens do well. Kovalev was a tiger for this team – one of those tigers that sleep 23 hours a day.

His spot on the team is taken by the much less expensive Marek Svatos, claimed off waivers from Nashville today.

That’s it. I could go on. But I think a lazy, disinterested blog entry is appropriate today. I won’t even spell check since that’s like back checking.

Later, Clumpy.

Could the End be Nigh for Number 11?

2011-02-23T18:17:00.003-05:00

As we turn the page on the TGOR Nation Blog and begin devoting this space entirely to Sens blather (something I was mostly doing anyway), I have deep concerns for the captain for whom this blog is named. Oh, captain my captain...

Daniel Alfredsson, who had targeted next week for his return from a nagging back injury, has pushed his timetable back at least several more weeks. Alfredsson's season could be over.

With the Senators languishing in the basement of the Eastern Conference, coach Cory Clouston says there’s no need to hurry his 38-year-old star's return from a back problem that has bothered him all season.

No there isn’t. But I’ll take it one step further. Maybe Alfredsson retires at the end of the season (pause here for shock and horror). Sad it sounds, the guy has to at least be thinking about it.

Try to step inside Alfie’s head for a moment. You’re 38. Money-wise, you, your kids and your grandkids are more than set for life. Your passions are golf and hunting. But your back is a mess right now. You hope to return next season to lead the team you’ve spent your entire career with, but for what? The team is now in a rebuild that will last at least two years.

I cannot imagine any scenario where Alfie isn’t thinking about retirement right now. Done. End of season. Given his current circumstances, wouldn’t you be?

I had similar thoughts back in 1999 around this time of the year, wondering if Wayne Gretzky wasn’t thinking about it. He was 38, dealing with neck problems at the time. Sure enough, he packed it in a few months later too.

Hey, once you make your money, hit your late 30’s and start dealing with injuries that are chronic, even the fiercest competitors can be forced to the sideline. That said, I naturally hope my Spidey senses are way off base.

Hello, Mr. Anderson

2011-02-21T09:47:00.005-05:00

After just one game, some Senators fans are already anointing 29 year old Craig Anderson as the greatest goaltender in club history. It’s all tongue in cheek of course but Anderson’s Senator debut Saturday night was a cold beer on a hot day, an oasis in a goaltending desert. After he was acquired Friday from Colorado for Brian Elliott, Anderson pitched a perfect game.

It was so perfect on so many levels. Anderson beat the hated Leafs 1-0, with no scoring help from his new teammates at all. He tied a club record with 47 saves, with 3 more in the shootout. Best of all, he looked stable, quiet and confident on all shots, never lurching out of position like the guy he was traded for. Rock steady. It’s all Senator fans have ever asked for. It was truly the perfect Senator debut. A goalie who actually stole a hockey game for this team. Incredible. Anderson may already be one of the city’s favourite players.

So where do we go from here with this guy?

Anderson, one of the best goalies in the NHL last season, is a UFA at season’s end. What if he shines down the stretch? What if he struggles? Should the Sens re-sign him either way, allowing Robin Lehner time to properly develop? What if Anderson has a great week and a sweet offer comes in? How much do you pay for a veteran career backup, who’s only had one big season as a starter? Is he another Martin Gerber? How much do you pay for a guy who’s had injury problems this year. Is he another Pascal Leclaire? As Anderson auditions here, how much stock do you put in great goaltending performances that come in games that mean nothing? What if Anderson’s play helps the Sens catch fire, eroding their current high draft position?

Lots of questions, some of them ridiculous. Really? You think a good goalie is going to turn around Super Season 2011? There have been too many injuries, trades, salary dumps and underachievers this season. The draft pick is fine. Don’t worry about it.

After Saturday’s 1-0 shootout win over the Leafs, Sens fans were as positive as they’ve been all season. That’s good for business. GM Bryan Murray deserves a lot of credit for this deal. It’s created something else that didn’t remotely exist with Brian Elliott tending goal. Options and possibilities.

By the way, in my personal crusade to get Ice Girls back at Scotiabank Place, I may have an ally in Anderson. I'm just sayin'.

Anaheim Brings in a bit of an Odd Duck

2011-02-17T22:05:00.006-05:00

In 1995, when I was working for a pair of Maclean Hunter radio stations in Ottawa, Rogers bought the company and laid off a ton of good people. I sat in the newsroom and watched co-workers disappearing all around me. The boss would come in and say, “Uh, Dave? Gotta sec?” Dave wandered out with him, never to return. The boss did that all day, one at a time, until 12 of my co-workers were gone. He finally came over and spoke to me and said, “Don’t worry. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Thanks, Chief. Could have used that info 6 hours ago, though. It was a pretty nerve wracking day.

It must be, to a far lesser degree, how the Senators are feeling right now after yet another teammate was jettisoned out of town today. Almost every one of them know, there’s a chance they could be next. This won’t help the team fragility that Cory Clouston speaks of every single day. It must be like living trade deadline day over and over. Beware the ides of March? Pfft! The Sens cannot wait until March when the deadline has passed. They’re expected to go out like lambs, by the way.

The Sens traded winger Jarkko Ruutu to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft. The 35-year-old was minus-2 with two goals and eight assists in 50 games this season for the Senators. Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly were also traded this week but the Sens got substantially more for them.

In reality, Ruutu is no longer of value to the Sens. He’d have been a free agent and there'd be no point re-signing and giving a raise to a guy his age. He’ll be done when the Sens get good again.

But why even bother dealing Ruutu for a 6th round draft pick? What’s left by round 6? Nothing left of the NHL draft carcass then, right? Just buzzards still picking away at the remains. Most of the time the 6th round brings you a guy you’ve never heard of and never will again. But 6th rounders have panned out for this team more frequently than you’d think.

2001 – Brooks Laich
1999 – Martin Prusek (Trivia: Ruutu’s brother Mikko was actually drafted by the Sens right after Prusek in round 7 that year. Never played in the NHL, though)
1998 – Chris Neil
1996 – Andreas Dackell
And in 1994, some punk named Alfredsson.

The Sens have chosen in the 6th round 15 times and found 5 good players (including one future hall of famer). Not bad. Again, Ruutu is no longer an asset. This I know. But you never know with draft picks. A six isn't sexy but it's better to get something than nothing. Granted, it's not MUCH better than nothing, like someone buying you a lottery ticket. Probably worthless. But you dont' throw it out either.

To Ruutu, for bringing much needed feistiness, with a side order of quirkiness, I had planned to give his stay here the thumbs up. But Andrew Peters thinks I’d be better off patting him on the back.

Mapping Things Out for The Big Rig

2011-02-17T10:29:00.004-05:00

I have to admit I was a little surprised to hear in the emails today how many people believe this should be Chris Phillips’ last season in Ottawa. Many don’t even want him back under a pay cut scenario.

Yes, the first overall pick in the 1996 draft has had a bad, bad season. But so have fellow core veterans Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson and very few fans are dismissing them this way. I definitely think Phillips still has enough game, youth and experience that he can be an assset. But I would agree his current 3.5 million dollar salary is probably a little steep.

Between now and the deadline, I would handle the Phillips situation this way. Knowing he wants to stay, I would tell him, if you don’t waive your no-trade, we will not be re-signing you. If you do waive it, we'll bring you back for the rebuild. We really want you mentoring the kids on D.

So give us a list of playoff teams you’d be willing to play for. Again, after the season, we'll bring you back. It’ll be a one year deal - no disrespect - but we have to make sure last season was just an aberration. We’ll pay you $1 million PLUS $100K for every playoff team you put on your list (max salary of 2.6 million).

If Phillips rallies next season, then great. Still lots of miles left on the odometer. If not, we’ll call the deal severance, shake hands and part company. Phillips has been great for this team. If he thinks he can turn his game around for less money, plus help with the rebuild, then he deserves at least the opportunity to do that. He’s definitely earned that. And the Sens still get a little something-somethin’ back at the deadline.

Chris Kelly Traded to Boston

2011-02-16T08:34:00.007-05:00

The Senators pulled off step 2 of their rebuilding plan last night. After a 4-3 loss to the Islanders, the Sens announced that forward Chris Kelly had been traded to Boston for the Bruins' 2nd round selection this summer, probably about 55th overall. The B's still have a second-rounder, from Minnesota, which will be around 46th. Once again, it's the kind of move you need to make while rebuilding.

As with Mike Fisher, the Sens move out a very likeable vet who is overpaid for what they bring to the table. The Sens asked themselves, can we replace these players for less money? The answer is yes. That's not to diminish their quality as people. It's business. In both deals Ottawa takes on no extra salary. So, again, they can use the Fisher and Kelly money - the cap relief - to replace both players via free agency or down the road with a coming-of-age prospect.

The Sens also now have 2 first rounders and 2 second rounders this summer. They hope the picks all pan out and eventually join slightly older kids like Robin Lehner, Erik Karlsson, David Rundblad and Jared Cowen. They'll join the 27 and under keepers - Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, Nick Foligno, Peter Regin, Zack Smith, Jesse Winchester and Bobby Butler.

The question is, do they use their cap relief to sign players now, to keep fans interested next season? Or do they stay young, bottom out again next season and wait until the kids are ready in 2-5 years?

Here's the burning question. While fans generally support a rebuild, do they support the many long frustrating winter nights that go with it? We'll probably get a good sense of it here as springtime approaches. Tomorrow I'll discuss how long it's likely to take before the Senators contend again.

These two deals represent a huge change in the culture of the Sens dressing room. This is going to be brutal. Between this year's trades and expiring contracts, I bet they won't have more than 10 players remaining from this season's opening night roster. I think it's good thing. Even beyond the losing, I sense a fatigue with this group. Fans are ready for new blood. Likeable as they may be, the old guard brought all this on themselves.

Changing Gears in Toronto

2011-02-15T15:54:00.002-05:00

For years, most hockey people agreed the best way to rebuild a franchise is through the draft. These days, that’s only partially true. You rebuild through the draft, through cap relief and patience. The Senators are expected to do just that. A perfect example is the Mike Fisher deal. They got a first round pick and cap relief that allows for spending on a better, younger model.

Meanwhile, they’re getting a fine lesson on how not to do rebuild from their friends down the 401. With the trading of 24 year old forward Kris Versteeg yesterday, Toronto GM Brian Burke has pretty much admitted he screwed up. The Phil Kessel deal and his method of rebuilding was a bad idea.

September 18th, 2009, 10 months into his tenure as GM, Burke gave up 3 excellent draft picks to Boston for the grumpy Phil Kessel. Kessel quickly signed a five-year, $27 million contract. The Leafs gave Boston their first (Tyler Seguin) and second round (Jared Knight) Entry Draft selections in 2010, as well as a first round Entry Draft pick in 2011. This was in clear violation of the 3 golden rules of rebuilding.

Until recently, Burke maintained he’d do it all again if he had to. He said he was sitting 10 feet away when the Senators drafted Alexandre Daigle. He said he was 10 feet away when the Thrashers took Patrik Stefan. His message was there are no guarantees in the draft, mistakes are often made, even with the early picks, thus it made sense to him to give those picks up for a more proven player.
Kessel, his proven player, now hasn’t scored in 14 straight games and made it pretty clear two weeks ago, despite the ensuing damage control, that he’s unhappy in Toronto.

Burke’s deal yesterday signalled a change in philosophy. Burke has shifted his focus back on the draft, all but admitting the last 2 years were a waste of time. It was mistake to deal his picks and it’s possible he gave them up for an overrated player. Time will tell. But he’s now knocking over a crappy foundation and starting again.

Versteeg to the Flyers for a first and a third. Philly looks awesome right now so that will certainly be a very late first round pick, 25th to 30th overall. In my opinion, the Leafs will do well to turn a pick that late into a player as good as Versteeg. Personality wise, Versteeg is the exact opposite of the cranky Kessel. In 2009, Versteeg was a runner-up for the Calder Trophy Plus he’s a Cup winner a solid playoff guy with 26 pts in 39 games.

He’s on pace for 54 points, currently just 1 point behind Kessel. Versteeg may not be a franchise player but he’s the kind of player you use as a building block. I fully believe he’ll be even better once he’s not playing for Ron Wilson, the coach NHL Players would least like to play for.

That said, it’s the kind of move you need to make while rebuilding. If they want, they can replace Versteeg in free agency this summer because they got cap relief. They didn’t take on salary. Plus they have a pick that should become a solid player one day. It hurts now but it will make Toronto better in two years.

Hopefully the Sens’ GM, whomever he may be, will use the Brian Burke mess as a cautionary tale. It lays out perfectly what not to do in your next 2 seasons.
By the way, kudos to me for the most civil blog entry I’ve ever written about the Leafs. The hate tends to fade when both teams are lousy.

Mario Steps Up Again

2011-02-13T20:11:00.006-05:00

Mario Lemieux is biting his lip no more. Lemeiux is so incensed over the NHL’s handling of the crazy Penguins-Islanders brawl Friday night, he’s questioning whether he wants to be part of the league anymore.

First up, that’s hardly a threat. I really don’t care if Mario Lemieux is an NHL owner or not. I would have cared if he were 29 years old, still ripping it up as a player, and threatening to leave then. Now? I don’t care if an organ grinder and his monkey own the Penguins.

However, when a legend talks, people listen. And that's good, particularly in this case.

Just as I admired Boston’s Andrew Ference for stepping up and calling out a teammate for an ugly hit, I think it’s important and awesome that key people in the game, like Mario, start calling this his stuff what it is. Unacceptable.

Lemieux didn’t just rip the league in the heat of the moment. He issued a well thought out press release. "Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be," said Lemieux, the Penguins co-owner. "But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn't hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

"The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed. We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players," the Hockey Hall of Famer said in his statement. "We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.

"If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it."

I know I’ve said on the air recently that I’m tired of taking the “something’s gotta be done" stance. I was just getting tired of complaining about what appeared to be a low priority issue for the league. The players allow their PA brothers to maim them and stay silent. They don’t seem to care. So why should we? Maim away, right? It’s their life.

Well, when one of my oldest friends heard my take, he tuned me up with the following email. His son plays elite level bantam hockey in Michigan.

I am outraged by the mentality of the NHL over head shots, from the very top all the way down to fringe players like Tom Kostopolous. It sickens me. The “hits to the head” issue became personal to me in November when I watched Rowan being hooked up to an EKG, minutes before being wheeled into another room for a CT scan, after being hit from behind into the boards. Maybe your take is the best, if I look at NHL players as merely pawns in a game, I won’t get so upset when I watch.

But last night, (my 14 year old son) had a game against the best team in the US. One of their big defensemen nailed one of our forwards in the head with a vicious, predatory open ice elbow. Their player was escorted to the penalty box to serve a two minute minor penalty while our player struggled to try to stand. He was unable to. He was eventually helped off the ice and rushed to the hospital for a CT scan.

Thankfully, no damage was detected, however this morning he has a horrible headache and will likely miss weeks of hockey. Time will tell how long he will be forced to sit out, and time will tell how much long term damage he will sustain to his brain. We've now had 4 of our 17 players, or about 25% of our roster, miss time due to illegal hits to the head. These kids are 14 years old. It is unacceptable, it is an epidemic, and it is effecting these players’ young brains. It has to stop, and it begins with the NHL. It is reprehensible that the league isn’t coming down harder on these predatory hits.

Touche. THAT’S the biggest reason we should care. Most NHL players shouldn't be role models but the reality is they are. And it's monkey, see monkey do. If NHL players don't give a crap about the life/health of the person across from them then neither will some of our kids.

Lamenting the Ones That Get Away

2011-02-12T13:46:00.003-05:00

For the first time since their expansion days, it looks like the Senators will be one of the stars of the NHL amateur entry draft this June. At the moment, they have two first round selections. They will almost certainly get a good pick with their first selection. Nashville’s pick, acquired in the Mike Fisher deal, is more of a crap shoot. It could be anywhere from 10th to 30th.

The reality is drafting is an inexact science. Every team will regret at least something about their draft day five years after its over. “How did we all miss out on that guy?”

Let’s look at the draft years from 2003-2007. When the Senators announced their top picks, there was always a better option still on the board. In some cases, way better. I’m not picking on the Senators. Every scouting staff overlooks future greats. All of them. I merely present Ottawa’s list of regret strictly because the names on them are the most familiar.

2003 – Patrick Eaves (29). Still on the board: Shea Weber (49)
2004 – Andrej Meszaros (23). Still on the board: Mike Green (29)
2005 – Brian Lee (9). S.O.B: Kopitar (11), Marc Staal (12), Paul Stastny (44), Kris Letang (62)
2006 – Nick Foligno (28). S.O.B: Milan Lucic (50)
2007 – Jim O’Brien (29). S.O.B: P.K. Subban (43)

I could pull a list like this for every NHL team. Scouting is hard. By the way, only the O’Brien pick belongs to Bryan Murray. Subban is about the only name to get excited about that was drafted after O’Brien.

The last time Bryan Murray had two first round selections was 2003, as GM of the Ducks. He had the 19th selection and the 28th. Tough to do anything special with that, right?. Well, his selections were Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. If you re-did that draft, knowing then what you know now, those two would be top 5 selections. Easily.

His other first rounders all look excellent. Erik Karlsson, Jared Cowen and swapping out for David Rundblad. I know he appears to be on the way out, but I might be inclined to let Murray take one last run at the draft table.

Welcome To Nashville, Mr. Underwood

2011-02-10T15:12:00.007-05:00

The renovations have officially begun in Ottawa. The Senators traded away Mike Fisher today, one of the most popular players in franchise history. Predictably, Fisher landed in Nashville, home of country music. His wife, Carrie Underwood, has been kicking up a little dust there over the last few years.

In return, the Senators get Nashville's first round selection in this year's draft. If the Preds finish poorly, the pick could be as high as top ten. If they do well, the first rounder is a late rounder. To compensate for that possibility, the Sens worked in a conditional pick. If the Preds win a playoff round, they also give up a third rounder next year. If they win two rounds, the Sens get a second rounder.

Here's why it's a good deal for the Sens.

1) They get a very good draft pick. In fact, the West is so tight, if the Predators slump a little, it could turn into a top ten pick overall. It's also a pick they could flip for a more NHL-ready prospect. Or they could flip it to Boston with Chris Phillips for Toronto's top pick. Two top 5 picks is awfully enticing.

2) They get cap relief. Fisher's 4.2 million dollar cap hit for each of the next two years is history. So it's not just a draft pick. Think of that cap relief as a coupon, good for one 4 million dollar free agent this summer.

3) Fisher may only be 30 but his body is closer to 40. Smart money says he'll break down well before his time.

4) The Sens already have enough of the ingredients that Fisher brings. Great character, great hustle, a great grinder. But not enough finish to be an elite second line centre. Zack Smith is going to be Fisher in a year or two at 25 per cent the cost.

Before you label his wife "Yoko" Underwood, consider that Fisher means more to Nashville than any team in the league. I doubt Bryan Murray was going to find another team willing to give up more than Nashville did. Mr. Underwood is going to bring in a ton of interest in Music City. Funny he's not the first Predator to hook up with an American Idol country singer. Jordin Tootoo and Kellie Pickler were an item for a time.

It's tough to see a good soldier fall like this but it's time for change. Time for new blood. Unfortunately, some blood is going to have to spill on the current roster first.

Kids Hockey - Keeping it in Perspective

2011-02-10T10:14:00.004-05:00

I'm at an age where many of the adults I socialize with are knee deep in minor hockey, as both parents and coaches. It is absolutely astonishing to hear how much drama goes on in competitive hockey, both boys and girls. I hear and witness crazy stories all the time. With playoffs looming, I thought it was worth re-posting a terrific speech by University of Minnesota mens' hockey coach Don Lucia. He puts it all in perspective. In kids' hockey, winning and losing simply doesn't matter.

Along the same lines, here's a great open letter to hockey coaches, which parents can learn from too. It comes from Jay Bylsma, father of Penguins head coach Dany Bylsma.

So You’re Going to Coach My Grandchild? A message to coaches from Jay M. Bylsma

I’m so grateful that you’ve volunteered to be the coach of my grandson Bryan's hockey team. I don’t really care if you know much about hockey, or whether you have a winning record. I don’t know or care if you’ve ever coached a kid that made it the NHL, or Division I college hockey, or even high school. But I know that every one of the kids you coach will have a life to lead after hockey. You will coach far more doctors and lawyers than professional hockey players.

So I’m more interested in what kind of a role model you are and your ability to teach Bryan life lessons than whether you can teach him the left wing lock or backwards crossovers.

Let me explain why I don’t care if you have a winning record. Think back over all the games you played in organized sports as a kid - any and all the sports. Can you remember any of the scores of any of those games or even if you won or lost? If you’re like me you can’t remember many - if even one. But I can remember every coach I ever had. Mr. Sterkenberg, Mr. Naerebout, Mr. VanderMey, and others. I can even picture them in my mind. Images of good men who taught me (whether they knew it or not) sportsmanship, integrity, to play by the rules, and to have fun. They made a lasting impression on me, just as you will have a lasting impression on my little Bryan.

What kind of a lasting impression will you have? For example, if you pick your team based on talent and ability, you will show Bryan that talent and ability are the criteria that a person needs to be successful. If you pick your team based on the associations you have – that is, your GM’s kid gets to play, your brother-in-law’s kid is on the power play - each regardless of ability – you will show Bryan that you get ahead in life by who you know, accomplishment and achievement don’t count for as much as connections.

If you tell the kids, “Every one plays equally, everyone plays equally” and then only some kids get on the power play and play in the third period, you influence kids about the meaning of honesty and deception.

If you say disparaging remarks about the other team, the other coach, or the officials, you demean the game and and you teach Bryan that it’s okay - perhaps even manly - to be disrespectful and pejorative.

If you need to put ringers on your team to be competitive in an out-of-town tournament, you are influencing your players about your standard of honesty and the importance of winning at the cost of your integrity.

Sadly, some coaches have taken the fun out of the game for the children by exerting too much pressure, being too critical, being demeaning, and being too vocal in an inappropriate way. Their life lessons are less than wholesome and sometimes destructive.

If my grandson is a good player, I hope you won’t aggrandize him or over use him but help him be a team player. If he’s a poor player, I hope you won’t demean him but give him his fair share of ice time and help him become a better player. I hope you will remember he’s just a child and your career as a coach isn’t riding on his back. I hope you will remember that a word of encouragement after a mistake is worth more than a pile of praise after a success.

Jay M. Bylsma

It's high time that more coaches and parents took this kind of attitude to the rink every night.

Magic Number Seven

2011-02-08T15:36:00.008-05:00

Ugh. Make it ten straight losses. The Ottawa Senators' 2010-11 season has become unimaginably awful. In preseason, I recall scoffing at pundits who picked the Sens as low as 10th in the East. At the moment, they're a good bet for 15th place, dead last. In fact, in our online poll today, 65 per cent of you believe they'll indeed finish dead last overall in the NHL.

So all you Sens fans could use a little somethin'-somethin' right now, right? Everyone knows now that they'll not only get a great young player in the draft but quite possibly the best 18 year in the world. But there's already some pretty impressive youth on the way.

So check this video out. It's this season's highlights of David Rundblad, who has 38pts in 46 games in the Swedish elite league. Rundblad is the player they traded for at last year's draft. He looks really, really good. He has the hands of Erik Karlsson but actually plays a physical game too. Warning: Some of the body checks contained in this video will leave some Senator fans salivating. Watch it, Senator fan. Trust me. You need this.

Kessel Unhappy in Toronto

2011-02-07T14:54:00.005-05:00

Many Toronto Maple Leaf fans remain frustrated their GM surrendered two straight first round draft picks to Boston for Phil Kessel. I heard from many of them, all ticked off at me through emails this morning. I suggested that, based on his comments yesterday, it sure sounds like Kessel wants out of Toronto.

Kessel seems to be settling in as a 30 goal player, who’ll get you 55-60 points. He’s 84th in NHL scoring right now. He hasn’t scored in 10 games and is a minus 22. His head coach, Ron Wilson demoted him to a line with Joey Crabb and Darryl Boyce, neither of whom would be described as having a nose for the net. (Actually, Boyce recently didn’t have a nose at all, getting part of it ripped off when it got caught in the photographer hole in the glass last week (if you're into photos of nasal gore, then click here).

Kessel is not media-friendly and he’s had to deal with the annoyance/pressure of being in hockey’s biggest fishbowl. He also has to deal with the pressure of expectation since the Leafs gave up so, SO much to bring him in. Now he's not playing well and appears to be feuding with his head coach. Yesterday Kessel sounded off, saying, “It might not be working out here. Maybe it’s time for a change here.” He also said he and coach Ron Wilson never talk.

Kessel clarified/revised his comments today, saying he was only talking about his new linemates. Let’s say that’s true, which I don’t believe for a second. How do you suppose his teammates feel about that? Uh-huh, so you don’t want out of Toronto, Phil? It’s just that you hate playing with us as your linemates? Whew. Thank goodness. I feel SO much better. Nice save, Phil.

Kessel had one whole practice with his new linemates and now says it’s time for a change? Yes, this trio has been together for way too long. Almost 60 full minutes and Kessel has already diagnosed that it’s time for a change at long last. Awesome.

Of course, he wants more than a change of line. He and the team are clearly in damage control today. I believe Kessel, at that moment, did want out. Why not? It’s a pressure cooker and a bad team. I believe he doesn’t like his coach. Hey, according to last week’s NHLPA poll, most players don’t. This isn’t shocking. His demotion to a weak line made him furious.

However, I also believe people can change their minds about things. A good night’s sleep, a new day and things look a little better. I fully believe Kessel picked up the paper today and went, “Damn. What did I say that for?” But let’s be sure we call this what it was. It was a frustrated kid, hitting the boiling point and sounding off. He said what he said but maybe he truly feels differently today.

This is not a Dany Heatley story, although it might become that. At the moment, it’s a Jason Spezza story. A good offensive player with zero commitment to defence, who’s become very unhappy with his team. However you slice it, it’s not good for business.

The Senators Face Facts

2011-01-31T15:17:00.009-05:00

After some incredible down time in sunny Mexico last week, I really thought I'd be returning to our fair, frozen burg to blog about big changes at Scotiabank Place. Would coach Cory Clouston be asked to go away? Would 68 year old GM Bryan Murray be asked to announce his retirement? Would both scenarios play out?

Not so much.

Owner Eugene Melnyk was clear on the Senators immediate future. The white flag is waving. He's going to stay the course, off-road and bumpy as it may be. “At this time, it makes no sense to make managerial or coaching changes,” said Melnyk. “We’ll let the season play itself out and look forward to building for the future.”

Melnyk's composure is quite remarkable. If you set aside his insane dough, he is an extremely emotional hockey fan. I witnessed it up close at Bert's Bar in Barbados a couple of years ago. This is why I expected him to react as billionaire hockey nuts usually do. By making people pay.

I suspect what's helping him keep it together is his great hockey distraction in Mississauga. His junior team, the Mighty Mississauga Saint Michael's Major Majors (of Anaheim) will be hosting the Memorial Cup this May. The Majors also happen to be ranked as the 2nd best junior team in the nation at 37-8-2, behind only Saint John.

If the Majors win the Memorial Cup, then the emotional hockey fan in Melnyk will feel a deep affection for Dave Cameron, the team's coach and GM. He might even feel indebted. That's why Cameron is the betting favourite to become the Senators' next head coach. If it ends in disappointment, as it did for Cameron in the World Junior Final this year, then Melnyk might have second thoughts.

I have many doubts about Cameron. He's been an OHL or AHL coach since 1997 and has won only 3 playoff rounds, all coming in the last 2 seasons with the Majors. The 3-0third period collpase in Buffalo did nothing to inspire me. Heck, Craig Hartsburg won a World Junior title as coach and we know how that panned ut for the Sens.

As for GM, there appears to be growing momentum for our resident TGOR hockey expert, TSN's Pierre Maguire. Pierre is a very good broadcaster and does his hockey homework like no one else. The majority of Sens fans I talk to like Pierre and are excited by the idea. So it's very possible Melnyk, our billionaire hockey fan, is in that same camp.

To me, that hire would be a big leap of faith. Pierre has certainly been able to pick the brains of many great hockey people, most notably Scotty Bowman. He may well be a star-in-waiting, the league's next GM Monster. I just wish the resume was there.

Playing percentages, you're simply more likely to have success with the proven than the unproven. With only a brief stint as assistant GM of a bad Hartford team, Pierre goes in the latter category. Maybe I'm just being selfish. If Pierre got the gig, then we'd have to listen to more of Jungle. And no one wants that.

This is such a crucial hire for the Senators. They cannot make a mistake with it. Their best hope may lie in whether Bruins' GM Peter Chiarelli truly wants to come home to claim the gig he wanted 5 years ago. If he does then the Sens should jump at it. Yes, Chiarelli has a contract. But so did Rick Dudley when the Sens effectively dealt him to Tampa for Rob Zamuner.

If the Sens make a deadline deal with Boston that sees them getting "future considerations" in return then it's good bet those considerations will be Boston's willingness to let Chiarelli come home this summer.

Bring On Nabokov!

2011-01-21T13:27:00.003-05:00

One of the key mandates of every General Manager’s job is to upgrade at every position where and when possible. 35 year old Evgeni Nabokov isn’t the best goalie in the world. In fact, he might not even be top 15 anymore. But if the Sens claim him off waivers from Detroit today, he would represent a huge upgrade over the current situation.

The Red Wings signed the free agent yesterday after Nabokov bailed, as so many do, on the KHL. Now he must clear waivers and if a team behind the Wings in the standings claim him, he’s theirs. If there are multiple claims, the team lowest in the standings gets him. There are only 3 teams behind the Sens right now.

Certainly Nabokov won’t solve the scoring crisis. Not directly. But maybe he’ll help settle the troops down and help them get their mojo back. They’re not great but they’re not as unskilled around the net as they’re currently showing.

There will be those who don’t want the Sens to catch fire. They just want the best draft pick possible here. Tank the season! Well, sure, it may cost them a draft position or two. But we still have three months of hockey left here. The playoffs may not be in the cards but they still have 34 games left. That’s about one week of our lives, a great distraction from the daily grind during the drudgery of winter. Decent goaltending that could last beyond this season is well worth a couple of draft positions, at least to me.

Nabokov is less than a year removed from getting to the NHL final 4. His numbers have been great through his whole career. At half a million dollars, he’s a steal. 35 isn’t young but look at Dwayne Roloson. He’s still contributing into his 40’s. Maybe Nabokov can do that. Maybe not. But he’s probably got 2 or 3 years left. That’s as long as I’d expect a 27 year free agent signing to stick around.

Nabokov is more than band aid solution for Ottawa’s goaltending mess. He’s a tourniquet on an gushing open wound.

Steve is on vacation until January 31st.

Ottawa CFL Update

2011-01-19T18:03:00.003-05:00

Okay, let’s go. We’ve had a CFL team for almost three years now. Let’s move it, already. The league told us, if we build it, they will come. Three years later, jack squat. Imagine if Kevin Costner had waited three years to plow down his cornfield? Field of Dreams would have been a long dull movie. He wouldn’t have met Shoeless Joe Jackson. I’m starting to worry that we won’t ever meet the next Russ Jackson or Tony Gabriel.

It sometimes comes as a surprise to people when I tell them Ottawa currently has a CFL team. No lie. It’s been granted, ready to kick off, once/if we get around to building a stadium. To that end, you’d surely like to see a little more hustle out there. Too much lollygagging. I bet that’s partly why some city councillors, major players in this thing, were cut from the team in October.

We got the team on March 25th, 2008. Now almost 3 years later, it would appear the CFL is trying to nudge the process along. The league announced today the CFL expansion draft would be held at the end of the 2012 season. The hope is that we’ll have our excrement together in time to kick off the 2013 season.

The draft news is all good. We get first pick in next year’s Canadian draft and again in 2013. The expansion draft rules are also favourable, with far more unprotected talent than was made available to the defunct Renegades. Best of all, teams can only protect one quarterback. Getting the best number two quarterback in the CFL is huge. If they choose well, Ottawa won’t have to muddle through with a Dan Crowley type. Watching him gave me hives.

So now you’re chomping at the bit, ready to build, right? Well, here’s your timeline. Of course, the stadium plans were approved in June. At least they voted to "proceed with them", defining and refining.

The plan promised to, among other things, revitalize Frank Clair stadium (what’s left of it), turning it into a 24,000 seat facility (pictured above). South Siders may not like it but they will actually be connected to North Siders in the new facility by way of a concourse. We get really touchy feely in the end zones that, according to current plans, will now be berns of grass for picnic and blanket seating. Why do I think Clive Doucet wrangled that option?

The work will be handled by a company called Cannon Design, the group that built the spectacular Richmond Speed Skating Oval for last year’s Winter Olympics.

5 months later, they approved an integrated site plan. It, too, must meet certain conditions before final approval sometime next year. So it's more refining and defining. Once that’s completed and approved, the sod turning ceremony will be in June of this year, barring some last second refining and defining.

As for the nickname, Hunt said in July it’s extremely unlikely they’ll go with Rough Riders. Although it’s interesting a stadium photo, pictured above, one they handed out in November, featured the name Rough Riders in the end zone. Very interesting.

Failing that, I’ve got it down to two names. The Ottawa Refiners. Or the Ottawa Definers.

Swede Thing

2011-01-18T16:36:00.005-05:00

Unless the Senators season takes a dramatic turn for the better, they have an excellent shot at being a lottery team. By that, I mean they could finish bottom five and get an excellent, early pick, maybe even number one overall.

Two of the top 5 picks are Swedish and that sets up an intriguing notion. When you look at the lineup and farm system, it seems like the most important players they have moving forward are from Sweden. Daniel Alfredsson remains the leader, mentoring the emerging Erik Karlsson. Goalie Robin Lehner and defenceman David Rundblad both have a chance to crack the lineup this fall.

This summer, Kitchener Rangers' Swedish forward Gabriel Landeskog might very well be on the board when the Sens step up to the podium on draft day. At 18, 6 feet 200 pounds, described by some as a Swedish Wendel Clark (by "some" I mean my co-host, JR, who's half asleep, digesting haggis, on the Team 1200 couch right now) .

So why not create a solid core of skilled Swedes? When good free agent Swedes are looking for a place to play, Ottawa, aka Stockholm West, would be near the top of the list for all of them. Especially with a player like Alfredsson, hopefully taking on some type of management role whan he retires.

If all things are equal, why not corner the market on a certain nationality, then supplement with North Americans. It seems to have worked with Detroit.

Why Zdeno Chara Left Ottawa?

2011-01-17T14:34:00.006-05:00

Senators Flashback: July 1st 2006.

Zdeno Chara officially leaves Ottawa and signs with Boston. A future Norris trophy winner, gone with no compensation. The Sens had tried to negotiate with Chara but he and his agent were being inexplicably difficult.

In February 2006, former GM John Muckler asked his agent what it would take to get an extension done. His agent basically said, make us an offer. We'll see how it stacks up with the rest. Wade Redden offered him $500,000 per season to stay, to keep the team together.

Chara didn't have much of a playoff earlier that year, nursing a hand injury. So keeping Redden over Chara wasn't as outrageous as it seems now. But now we may have an explanation as to why Chara, who seemed to really like Ottawa, had such little interest in signing here.

Chara is tight with teammate Marion Hossa, a fellow Slovak. Apparently, according to a source quoted in Wayne Scanlan's column in today's Ottawa Citizen, Chara was livid that Muckler had taken his friend out at the knees a year earlier. Hossa had signed a big new contract with the Sens, assuming that Ottawa was where he would be for the next three years. But the next day, Muckler shipped him off to Atlanta for Dany Heatley. That led to every half decent player in the league demanding no trade clauses in their contract. As a result, according to the source, an angry Chara vowed not to re-sign with Ottawa.

So, had Muckler not made that deal, Hossa might still be here, we wouldn't have had any of the Heatley nonsense and Chara might have re-signed here. Oh, what might have been. Uh, don't worry, Milan Michalek...no pressure.

5 Steps to Senators Success

2011-01-17T11:13:00.011-05:00

As the Ottawa Senators’ disappointing season continues, there’s been no shortage of diagnoses and suggested remedies. Local newspapers are handing out poor grades as if the players were school children. Our talk shows point out the many ways the team is brutal. The wind of change is about to blow.

But let’s set aside the futures of Cory Clouston and Bryan Murray for a moment and take stock of the Senators' talent pool. While some want to trade the entire roster to Siberia, I still think there’s plenty to salvage from this roster. In fact, I think the club can return to contention with just five steps.

That’s right. Five. Maybe it's not achieveable in just one calendar year – curse you, salary cap. But that’s what it will take.

Steps 1 and 2. Two scoring wingers to play with a healthy Jason Spezza. I have not been Jason Spezza’s biggest fan but the Sens’ 1-8 record in his absence speaks for itself.

In 2007, the Sens won the East with only one scoring line. In 20 playoff games that year, not one Senator had more than 10 points, except for the big three. But the non-scorers were all quality characters who’d go through a wall for you. I believe that’s still the case today. They simply cannot do anything without a scoring line like they had in '07. They must properly replace Dany Heatley and, not too long from now, Daniel Alfredsson.

As I sat and watched the 3-1 loss last night, I saw a team working hard, giving limited chances to the Washington Capitals through two periods. For their efforts, the Sens led just 1-0 after 40. In better days, the Senators would score three or four in a game like that, breaking their opponent’s will.

Naturally, scoring will also make the defence better. The blueline could then return to playing with confidence, knowing the team can survive a mistake or two. As it is now, they have no room for error, leading to the Sens’ D consistently handling the puck like it’s a landmine. That said, my Step 3 is a mean, physical, shot blocking defenceman. Yes, they miss what Anton Volchenkov used to bring, although I don’t think Volchenkov will be physically capable of doing it for much longer.

Step 4. A Proven Goalie. The free agent crown jewel? Ilya Bryzgalov. The Coyotes said this week re-signing him is a priority. But if talks should bog down, the Sens should jump on the 30 year old July 1st at 12:01am. Bryzgalov is in the midst of his 4th straight season as a legitimate star goalie in the league. Martin Gerber and Pascal Leclaire were both one season wonders when the Sens scooped them up.

The fall back position? Florida’s Tomas Vokoun. He’s grumbling right now about losing starts to backup Scott Clemmensen, which won’t help the Panthers re-sign him. Just 35 years old, he’s still rolling with a .920 save percentage this season. By the time he’s deemed too old, you’d hope that Robin Lehner is ready for prime time. Just to be on the safe side, I’ll go ahead and draft another goalie this summer with the second rounder I’ll acquire for someone at the deadline.

Step 5. Dump the current centurion. I'm deadly serious.

They brought New Sen guy in right after the Stanley Cup final berth. New Sen guy may be way more impressive but he's done nothing. He's unlucky and useless. He looks a little arrogant too, like, "Hey, look at me. I'm a handsome superhero! Check out my sassy cape. I'm gonna save the day! Remember me in 300? Blah blah blah." The guy thinks he's too cool for school. Old Sens guy isn't pretentious. Sure, he won't look you in the eye but he's a simple, hard-working, no-frills gladiator who takes nothing for granted. He'd kick new Sen guy's ass.

Do all this (at least the first four steps), remove the obvious overpaid deadwood ASAP and you've got yourself a contender again.

Clouston's Green Mile

2011-01-13T17:42:00.004-05:00

If there is an NHL head coach most under fire right now, it has to be Ottawa’s Cory Clouston. Clouston runs the 27th best team in the league. His team is playing poorly at every position, losers of 6 straight. Perhaps the worst sin of all? The Sens are now in the rear view mirror of the Leafs, their loathsome rival. No one thought the Sens would be true contenders this season but no one thought it could get this bad.

The Senators are frustrated. They’re playing with fear instead of fire. It’s not a game right now. It’s a job. Somehow, they have to resurrect a little levity in their game. It’s a billion dollar industry but it’s still a game. No one’s good at games when they aren’t having fun. Trouble is, Clouston isn’t really a coach that nurtures fun. He's about work, execution and consequence. He's tough.

But Clouston wasn’t always this way. He was happy-go-lucky in his days with the University of Alberta, where he helped that school win the 1992 CIS mens’ hockey title. Bob Stauffer, now on Edmonton Oilers’ radio, was play by play man for that championship. He remembers Clouston well from those days. It sounds like Ottawa wouldn’t recognize the person Clouston was then.

“Of all the guys that played on that team,” Stauffer said in his blog at NHL.com, “Clouston might have been the last player I figured would go on to be an NHL Head Coach.”

“He was well-liked by his teammates but did not appear as serious or as driven as some of the other Golden Bears at that time. Clouston was the type of player who would bop around to Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun” as I recall in the pre-game warm-up; and a guy who once dropped a litany of words comedian George Carlin said you can’t say on TV in a live radio interview on CJSR after the Bears had claimed the Canada West crown that year.”

Interesting. It’s unclear why Clouston had such a drastic change in personality. Perhaps he determined that “hard-nosed” coaches have the most success. Until this season, he’s been right. Maybe another miracle January is coming but more likely we’re seeing the final days of his coaching career in Ottawa. Clouston certainly hasn’t had many breaks. He’s had injuries to key personnel and his GM has stocked the club with far too many mistakes.

Memories of Stu

2011-01-07T08:29:00.008-05:00

I think there's a part of everyone that wants to be in radio, even people who are petrified by any sort of public speaking. There are still a few good radio jobs left and I'm blessed to have one of them. Some people approach me sometimes and ask how I got into the radio business. There was nothing special, really. School, a bunch of terrible jobs at ugly hours, eating a lot of Kraft Dinner, and then a few lucky breaks.

Other people sometimes wonder how Stuntman Stu, our old show-mate, got into radio. That's a story that's a little more interesting. Stu came to me one day on the street and started reeling off promos for Family Guy, Sundays on Fox. It was crazy.

I've attached a photo of the day that Stu won me over...

The 2011 NHL Winter Classic...ish

2011-01-02T13:15:00.002-05:00

While I was on vacation this week, I was surprised to hear some Team 1200 hosts so passionately against the NHL’s Winter Classic, referring to it as gimmicky and stupid. I enjoy the thing. I made a point to watch it. I cannot say that for very many non-Senator matchups. No, it’s wasn’t the greatest thing in hockey but it was something different and fun in the insanely long, sometimes monotonous NHL regular season.

The conditions certainly weren’t great, just as they won’t be in the NFL today or in MLB in April. The rain caused problems for both sides equally. I remain shocked the puck didn’t stick to the ice more. Anyone who’s ever tried to play a game after the Zamboni has dumped too much water on the ice will know what I’m talking about. The puck often comes to a dead stop in those conditions.

I know, I know. Not a great game. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, the two faces of the game – the guys in the magazine spreads and TV commercials – both went without a point and registered a minus-1 rating.

It’s hard to say why I enjoy it. Could be a memory thing. I played so much outdoor hockey as a kid - shinny on the Jock River and on outdoor rinks in and around Venosta, Quebec. I remember having to toss off the winter jacket while sweating through all-day games, negotiating the bumpy ice and snow build up, sometimes using snow boots for goal posts. I recall the sight and feel of each breath, the frozen runny nose, and cold fingers battling frozen laces while seated in a snowbank. Even amidst the wealth, fame and bright lights, the Winter Classic brings at least a little of that back.

I’m not sure the second one in Calgary next month will conjure up anything at all. Just as I don’t want a second Christmas, which I’m sure is in the works in a boardroom somewhere, I don’t need a second Winter Classic. Having said that, I’ll just be indifferent about next month’s sequel. I won’t hate it.

If I was truly going to get a hate on for certain NHL games, it would be for Columbus-Nashville tonight. Or Phoenix-Minnesota. Those are the games and matchups that offend me. Let’s cancel those duds because of rain. I’m sure it’s raining somewhere today.

Hockey's Predatory Hits

2010-12-30T17:25:00.006-05:00

Canada’s Zack Kassian was handed a 2 game suspension for an open ice check on defenceman Petr Senkerik during Canada's 7-2 victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday night. It was definitely a late hit, which makes it dirty. But it was also something more. It was predatory. I generally don’t like how frequently that word is used by analysts describing big hits where guys get completely lit up.

Thing is, every check can potentially be labelled predatory. You line up an opponent for a check, you assume he’ll have his head up, doing what his Atom coach taught him. If his head is up, it’s a good, clean check. If the guy is a dufus and doesn’t watch where he’s going then the same check is inappropriately described as all vicious and evil - a predatory hit.

One of hockey’s golden rules is “Keep your head up”. It’s not an optional rule. It’s mandatory. Always. It’s as basic and crucial as looking both ways before you cross the street. If you skip either of these golden rules, expect to be unconscious very soon.

However, all that said, this one was definitely predatory. Watch the video here.

My opinion of the hit is definitely coloured by the fact Kassian has done the same thing a number of times in junior. OHL commissioner David Branch gave Kassian 20 games for the exact thing almost a year ago. That was after Kassian's check on Barrie’s Matt Kennedy. Kennedy suffered a concussion, had a three-stitch cut and needed three staples in the back of his head which slammed on the ice. Watch how Kassian stalks his prey exactly like he did Tuesday.

It’s almost like Kassian is running a drill he learned in practice. He spots a puck carrier on the far wing, skates parallel on the other wing then swoops in to destroy the player if he makes any kind of inside move at the blueline. Kassian intentionally tries to hide in his opponent’s blind spot.

In both cases, he’s clearly stalking his prey like something out of a national geographic wildlife film. So while Tuesday’s check may have been all shoulder, it was definitely predatory. Kassian is lucky OHL history doesn’t play into IIHF standards. He’d be gone for the tournament.

Kassian obviously doesn’t care. This is the way he’s been taught to play. In his draft year, he led the CHL in penalty minutes per game. His favourite player is Todd Bertuzzi, who might also have had a small run-in with hockey discipline. Can’t recall.

Thing is, suspensions obviously aren’t teaching these guys a lesson. Is this disrespect for the welfare of an opponent becoming a bigger problem in hockey? How comfortable would you be sending your teenager to play amateur hockey against players like Kassian? What can be done? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

By the way, note to the Senators. In a couple of years, you’ll be facing the Buffalo Sabres with both Patrick Kaleta and Zack Kassian on their roster. Wow. Head on a swivel, boys.

Picking the Locke

2010-12-29T09:00:00.006-05:00

In the absence of Jason Spezza, the Senators have opted to call up Zack Smith from the minors. The plan is to give Spezza's minutes to forwards on the existing roster. Meanwhile, Sens farmhand Corey Locke must be wondering what in the world he has to do to get an NHL look.

Locke currently has 41 pts in 31GP, 2nd in the AHL. As an OHL’er, Locke had 63 goals and 151 points in 2004. He's put up big points at every level, every year. Doesn’t a guy like that deserve a shot, particularly from a team starved for offence? He’s never been given a chance by anyone in the NHL. 4 career games. All with 4th line minutes.

Hey, Locke might indeed be a bust. But what if he’s a hidden diamond in the rough? You’ll never know if no one ever bothers to look. What do the Sens have to lose? If he fails to score, that will merely put him in good company in Ottawa.

The Winter Classic is a great event. However, I wonder if the Steelers will think so. For the first time in the event’s history, the host stadium’s main tenant is going to need the facility straight away. In the past, the Red Sox and Cubs certainly didn’t need their park in January. The Bills have forgotten what football in January looks like. At 11-4, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be hosting a playoff game the weekend of January 8th or 15th.

Between now and that playoff game, the weather will be well above freezing, near +9C for Saturday, leaving the Winter Classic very much in question. So the field will be covered with a heavy 200’x 80’ NHL rink, with the sod thawing underneath – perfect conditions for mold. I’m not a grass expert but that sounds like a bad way to get a field ready for an NFL Playoff game.

Semantics of the day. The Calgary Flames fired GM Darryl Sutter. When you “ask someone to resign” you have fired them. Why is the media universally going with the “Sutter steps down” headline?

Stat of the day: Sidney Crosby now has more points (24) in the month of December than any Senator (Karlsson - 23) has accumulated all season.

The Tao of Spezza

2010-12-28T12:52:00.005-05:00

There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Maybe,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

“Maybe,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“Maybe,” said the farmer.

The point of the story is, sometimes good luck and bad luck get all mixed up. Such is the case, in my opinion, with the Jason Spezza injury.

The Senators announced yesterday that their 8 million dollar a year centre would be out indefinitely with a right shoulder injury. Spezza suffered the injury on a hit by Pittsburgh's Kris Letang during the Senators' 3-1 victory over the Penguins on Sunday night at Scotiabank Place.

Spezza is tied for 126th in NHL scoring. What has always made his many shortcomings acceptable was his point production. Without point production, as is the case this year, how big a void does he really leave?

Look at Spezza’s situation. He’s guaranteed top line minutes, the best linemates and heavy power play time, even if he’s ineffective for months. He never has to deal with the pressure of being benched or demoted. Not even a hint of it. He seems to have a pass no matter what. He usually takes that pass and drops it for a breakaway in the other direction. Hey-ohhhh!

The team's patience and Spezza's ice time perks both come because he’s paid to be the golden boy for the next 4 years. It’s been clear to me for a long time that he’s not. I don’t think Spezza is awful. Give him a 50 goal-a-year linemate or an Alfie-in-his-prime and he'll produce points. Without them, he is what he is this season. A guy who'll get you 50 points. There's value in that but not at 8 mill.

If they’re given Spezza’s same incredible privileges, Peter Regin, Chris Kelly or even Corey Locke could step in and at least replicate Spezza’s impact this season. They too could be 126th in NHL scoring with 20 points over the next 32 games. The bonus is, they’ll skate hard, back check a little, throw the odd body check, take care of the puck in dangerous areas and do it all for 7 million dollars a year less.

I once asked Cam Neely why he was able to double his point production after Vancouver traded him to Boston. Without blinking he said, “Ice time. Nothing else.”

Spezza has had every ice time privilege imaginable this year and he’s failed to achieve even close to an appropriate point level, particularly for a guy making his dough.

So, as tough as it is for Spezza, was the injury really such bad luck for the Ottawa Senators? Maybe.

A Giant Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-24T14:07:00.003-05:00

Maybe the Senators need to take a page out of the Belfast Giants' book this Christmas. The Giants play in the UK Elite League. Their most recognizable player is Ottawa's Brad Smyth who had a cup of coffee with the Senators in 2002-03. This club will never be accused of taking themselves too seriously.

There are many ways of saying Merry Christmas. This is one way. See you all in the new year!

Barrhaven Rebuttal

2010-12-18T20:20:00.004-05:00

As I am the self proclaimed mayor of Barrhaven, many people have felt compelled to send me a little video that's gone viral, at least locally. For those about to hit "send", please know this. I've seen it. I'm not opening the file anymore. It's two little animated animals chatting about whether or not Barrhaven is a good spot for a party. The alcoholic bear in blue overalls doesn't seem to think so. Here's the original that I've received over 100 times.

So, as a means of protest and protecting my burg from such a savage, unprovoked assault, the TGOR Nation blog presents, the Barrhaven Rebuttal.

Should Auld Annoyance be Forgot

2010-12-15T16:29:00.005-05:00

With the Senators’ season off to a rough start, we get no shortage of TGOR emails demanding General Manager Bryan Murray be fired. I don’t know if that’s the answer or not. I do know that Murray’s dismissal right now would do very little for this year’s group. If you did fire him, you’d have to have someone good to replace him. They’d need to find a quality GM like the ones in Pittsburgh, Montreal, Boston and Atlanta. Those guys are good and their teams are rolling this season.

Here’s the crazy thing. All 4 men were once Sens’ executives. Peter Chiarelli was the Sens’ assistant GM, regarded as one of the bright young minds in hockey. In 2006, the Sens let him bolt for Boston but Chiarelli truly wanted to be GM here in his hometown. The Sens chose instead to keep 73 year old John Muckler for one more season. Muckler’s trading and drafting record here is now looked upon as dark says indeed.

Penguin GM Ray Shero was also a former assistant GM in Ottawa. He's got a Cup ring. Montreal’s Pierre Gauthier and Atlanta’s Rick Dudley were both Senator GM’s. They both left during a weird era when the Sens allowed their general managers to just tear up their contracts and leave for other organizations (Gauthier to Anaheim, Dudley to Tampa).

In the case of Dudley, the Sens at least got some compensation from Tampa. You might be interested to learn that Tampa first offered Darcy Tucker to Ottawa as compensation. The Sens didn’t bite. They countered with a demand for 1998 Olympian Rob Zamuner. Tampa agreed. That was in 1999, before Tucker wound up in Toronto. The battle of Ontario could have looked very, very different through the 2000’s.

So there you have it. As the Sens begin thinking about their future GM they have to accept the fact that future GM's have been falling out of this organization like apples off a tree. And they now run 4 of the top 6 teams in the conference. How do you like them apples?

Cheech is On

2010-12-14T12:05:00.009-05:00

Jonathan Cheechoo has been one of the NHL’s great enigmas…ever.

In 2006, Cheechoo’s stats were staggering, every bit as impressive as the likes of Crosby and Ovechkin. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s annual goal-scoring leader. He led the NHL in game-winning goals (11 — Sharks record), home ice goals (31) and divisional goals (29) and T-2nd in power play goals (24 — Sharks record). He was the first player to record five or more hat tricks in one season since Mario Lemieux had six in 1995-96… Set the Sharks franchise record for game-winning goals in a season. He broke Owen Nolan’s team mark for most shots in a single season (317).

Within 2 years, his game eroded horribly. 4 years later, he’s out of the NHL. Everyone knows the tale of his fallen star. No one knows exactly why it fell.

After a disastrous run here in Ottawa, San Jose, the team he started with, took a chance he still had something left in the tank this season. The rest of the hockey world believed it was over. He wasn’t a quick skater to start with and double hernia surgery cost him half a step he didn’t have to give.

The Sharks gave him a chance with Worcester of the AHL, hoping he could find at least a little of his 2006 magic. At the very least, they gave him a chance to resdiscover his love of hockey again after his brutal experience in Ottawa. The Sens quickly soured on Cheechoo, demoting him to third and fourth line play. To be sure, Cheechoo wasn’t producing at all. Once he was relegated to bottom six forward minutes, his chances of reclaiming his scoring touch were nil.

But this was a guy three years removed from a Rocket Richard win. By comparison, Alexei Kovalev has never come close to winning that award. Kovalev has been disinterested and/or unproductive. Yet, unlike Cheechoo, the Senators continually give Kovalev nothing but patience, top line minutes and power play time. It must be frustrating for Cheechoo, one of the nicest guys in the game, to see that.

The good news is, there appears to be life out there for Cheechoo. He is forcing the Sharks take notice in the AHL this season, now 4th in league scoring with 11 goals and 30 points in 28 games.

Sharks GM Doug Wilson had this to say to the San Jose Mercury News on Saturday, criticizing the Senators in the process. “I think he just needs to play and enjoy the game of hockey. The last couple of years, I think, were difficult. Personally, I think he was treated unfairly in Ottawa. Sometimes you have to put a person in a role to succeed and give him a chance.

“He’s getting the chance in Worcester. He’s helping our team win games. He’s helping the young guys realize you play the game because you love it. He’s a positive experience for us. Can he get it back? We’ll see. Time will tell.”

Cheechoo is only 30. Anyone who hangs around the top of the AHL scoring race eventually gets a chance somewhere, especially if they have Cheechoo's track record. In any event, it's impossible not to root for Cheechoo and his wife Ashley (who works with kids with autism). Couldn't find two nicer people.

If he does get back, I'd immediately put him on a line with Devin Setoguchi (Gooch) and Logan Couture (Cooch). The world NEEDS Gooch, Cheech and Cooch to play together. Behold, the legendary Goo-Chee-Coo line.

The Doctor Is In

2010-12-08T21:54:00.003-05:00

I think it’s safe to say that Eugene Melnyk and/or Cyril Leeder are out in the woodshed, sharpening the axe for someone right now. If you subscribe to the theory that the Senators just aren’t that good then the axe is being sharpened for GM Bryan Murray. It’s his creation and he spent a lot of money on it. It’s failing badly.

If you subscribe to the theory that the Senators are much better than this then the axe is being sharpened for head coach Cory Clouston. Clouston admits he’s not a players’ coach. Maybe whatever it was that soured Dany Heatley on this team has now crept into the attitude of others.

Only the Devils have more losses (17) than the Senators (15) this season. Toronto and Edmonton, the league’s supposed laughing stocks, both now have better winning percentages than Ottawa. The Sens are scoring 2.13 goals per game. That puts them on pace for 174 goals this season. They scored 202 in their expansion season. Did you hear that? They’re on pace for 28 fewer goals than they had IN THEIR EXPANSION SEASON!!

At this pace, to reach the 88 point mark (the mark that got you 8th place last season) the Sens must finish with 62 points in their final 53 games. They’d need a record of 28-19-6, for example. Not impossible but based on the way they’re playing right now, not probable either.

The good news is, in the words of the great Jeff Spicoli, I can fix this wreck. My old man's a television repairman. He's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.

Step 1. I sit down with Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher, Chris Phillips and Chris Kelly. I get to the root of the problem. Is it coaching? Is it personnel or chemistry? Are there too many injuries?

Step 2. I take action based on step 1. If it’s coaching, Clouston is out. If it’s personnel, Murray is gone. If it’s injuries, then everybody get back on the bikes after the game. Funny how many games the Sens have collapsed in the third this season – maybe it’s time to get back on the post game bike.

Step 3. Take an early shot at clearing cap space. I would quietly float Jason Spezza’s name out there. If they can manage to get a stud prospect back at the deadline, all the better. Don’t take this to mean I hate Spezza. He’ll get 70-80 points. In clumps. He had 4pts November 4th versus the Islanders then 3 pts November 9th versus Atlanta. Right there, that represents half his point total this season. He’s had 3pts in the 14 games since.

It’s simple as this. For point production alone, I love the guy at a cap hit of 5 million max. Due to the shortcomings – turnovers and low compete level - I don’t love him at 7 million. That extra 2 mill is big. That’s more money than half the Senators currently make.

But fear not, Spezza fans. Finding a Cup contender with $7M in cap room is nearly impossible. Getting a prospect back is even less likely. And I doubt he’d be seen by many teams as the missing piece. Not at that price. He’s probably not going anywhere. I’d float Filip Kuba’s name out there too.

Step 4. Use the first round selection, probably a top 10 pick, on the best available North American scorer who plays with edge. No offence, Euros. Some of you are awesome at playoff time. Just like some 16 year old boys are excellent drivers. But like the car insurance companies, I’m still playing the percentages here. 13 of the top 15 scorers in last spring’s playoffs were North American.

Step 5. Say goodbye to Alexei Kovalev, Pascal Leclaire, Chris Campoli, Jarkko Ruutu and Ryan Shannon. Also say goodbye to Chris Phillips if he’s demanding a raise. Assuming Phillips is content to stay at the status quo, that frees up just over 12 million dollars.

Step 6. Go free agent shopping with dough saved in steps 3 and 5 or, better yet, find a team or two in cap hell and “help” them relieve themselves the way Atlanta did with Chicago last summer.

Step 7 Pray that defencemen David Rundblad and Jared Cowen are ready to play this fall.

Step 8. Pray that Robin Lehner is ready to push or beat out Brian Elliott.

I’m against blowing up the team. The owner frightened me the last time that idea was suggested. “You want me to blow myself up? What the…?”.

There is a decent core of players here. If you have cap room, you can get good fast. But you cannot make mistakes, investing in duds. With smart moves, I believe they can contend again in the spring of 2012.

Vote for the Condors!

2010-12-07T15:22:00.003-05:00

While pro sports can certainly provide some awe inspiring moments, it's often the less heralded tales that knock your socks off. The Capital City Condors are one such story. Now in their third season, the Condors are made up of kids with autism and down syndrome as well as other deisgnations. Jim Perkins decided several years ago that, instead of just watching their brothers and sisters play, these kids deserved a place to play too. The Condors have grown from 3 kids in 2008 to the current 40 strong, with a sizeable waiting list.

Perkins says, "Some of the kids sleep in their jersey Friday nights to be sure they're ready for the big game Saturday."

The kids got a great surprise from Sens defenceman Matt Carkner a couple of weeks ago. Carkner and his wife have become really involved with the team, donating new equipment bags and track suits for each player. Appropriate that Ian Mendes cover the story as he's been active with the club from the very beginning. Very cool stuff.

The Condors are currently a semi-finalist in the Aviva Community Fund Challenge, hoping to get enough votes to get through to the final round, where judges will then decide on the most worthwhile programs. They stand to win a sizeable donation and can do so with your help.

Please register to vote at www.avivacommunityfund.org, then search for idea #5439!
Voting ends December 12th! Voters are welcome to vote daily.

The Kids Are Alright

2010-11-23T16:47:00.006-05:00

The Senators have been to the playoffs in 12 of the last 13 seasons. A record to be proud of. However, the reason they've been scuffling along these last few seasons has been their inability to rebuild. This post isn't about blaming anyone. That's opinion. The facts are, even by the time they went to the Cup Final in 2007, their prospect cupboard was covered in dust and cobwebs.

Their draft record between 2002 and 2007 is awful. There were a small handful or decent choices in those years (out of 47 selections I can only get remotely excited about five - Foligno, Meszaros, Regin, Eaves and Elliott) but, in my book, not a single impact player. Ottawa shouldn't have bothered showing up to the draft in 2002, 2005 and 2007. They were big league putrid.

During the same decade, they've allowed key players - Chara, Havlat, Heatley, Redden, Vermette, Volchenkov - who once formed the core of their team to get away, getting very little in return (I know Redden wasn't a big loss by the time he was gone but good managers recognize eroding talent and act swiftly, not let them limp to the finish line)

The good news is, the Sens draft record has (except for 2007) been much better since Bryan Murray took over. Murray had the 19th and 28th selection in Anaheim's 2003 draft. He came away with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. While I do question a few of his trades, Murray's drafting ability is solid.

Let's check on a few of the kids.

David Rundblad, the defenceman the Sens acquired from St Louis on draft day for Ottawa’s 1st round pick. Rundblad is playing again this season for Skelleftea HC in the Swedish Elite League. Last season he had 13 points in 47 games. This year, in just 22 games, he’s already surpassed that with 16.

Corey Locke and Bobby Butler have been on fire with Binghamton in the AHL. Locke leads all AHL scorers with 27 points while Butler, his linemate, is ranked 6th with 21. Still only 26, it’s hard to believe Locke won’t get a chance in the NHL someday soon. Two years ago, Cory Clouston gave a chance to Ryan Shannon, also a small point-a-game AHL guy. Why not Locke? He couldn’t be any less effective than Nick Foligno has been (if you’re not hitting, you’d better be scoring and vice versa).

The manual says you don't rush goatender Robin Lehner. He's currently going through the standard growing pains of a first year pro. He has every element you want in a goalie. Size, quickness and confidence. The Sens current goaltending situation makes it unlikely that the Sens will be able to keep Lehner down on the farm. He's back in Bingo's net after missing two weeks with an injury.

Jared Cowen, the Sens top pick from two years ago is Spokane’s captain, likely to play for Canada at the World Juniors next month. He’s found his offensive stride with 15 points in just 19 games, already half way to his total from all of last season.

This year the Sens made only 4 selections, with none coming in the first or second. Murray still left no Stone unturned. (Hey-O!) Mark Stone is starting to shine - diamonds in the rough eventually do that. The Sens’ 6th rounder this year is tearing it up in Brandon with 32 points in 25 games, good for 7th in WHL scoring.

In a salary cap world, you can patch some holes through free agency. But you almost always have to overspend to win the auction. To be successful, you need smart scouting to help you build a solid development system. Thanks to their renewed commitment (or just being better at it now) the Senators will soon be able to reap the rewards from theirs.

Talking to Teens About Suicide

2010-11-17T09:58:00.004-05:00

It’s a very emotional day for the Ottawa Senators as they try to help the Richardsons through an unthinkably difficult time. It's a story that has shocked and saddened the entire city. But, heartbreakingly, it's not a rare story. More teens die every year from suicide than they do from disease. This tragic story obviously emerges from the others due to the Richardson family's fame, popularity and NHL ties.

In the days that follow today’s memorial, many shocked parents will be asking themselves the question, “Could my child be at risk too?” Here’s CHEO psychologist Dr. Ian Manion on ways you can talk to your teen about suicide.

No Replay for You!

2010-11-09T16:33:00.003-05:00

The NHL's 30 General Managers have shot down the idea of a coach's challenge on controversial plays. The concern is that it will slow down the game and that some coaches will issue frivolous challenges to stall another team's momentum in the game.

The league didn't worry much about pace of play when they jammed 9 official TV timeouts into each game. What's better than watching players milling about, ready to play, simply standing around waiting for a red light to turn off? Obviously, what they meant to say today was, they're worried about slowing down the game for things that don't line their pockets with cash.

I'm only talking about giving each coach one challenge per game. They'd have to use it wisely at a crucial point in the game. If they use it, for whatever reason, on a play that isn't close then the replay delay won't last 30 seconds. On close plays that could decide games, I have no problem stopping down for 2-3 minutes if the referee appears to have blown the call.

Instead, the league would rather let referees revel in wrongness. The league seems completely unaware that everyone in North America has their own replay booth at home now - crystal clear HD that you can freeze frame and rewind over and over. The fans are all getting the crucial calls right. They're infuriated when the refs slaughter those crucial moments. How is frustrating your customers good for the game?

One replay challenge per game to each coach. Challenge anything. Controversial goals. Controversial penalties. Whatever. Just get it right.

Wade Phillips Daughter

2010-11-09T09:48:00.003-05:00

Wade Phillips is out of a job today, fired as head coach fo the Dallas Cowboys. Yet all we could think about today was his daughter Tracy, a model, actress and burlesque dancer. I mentioned she was very attractive. I was challenged on this. My vow was to post a video of her burlesque abilities but, here in the family friendly world of the TGOR nation blog, it was deemed inappropriate by the man.

So here is a simple photo of Tracy that I hope the man isn't offended by. :)

Panic! at the Sens Start

2010-10-19T19:38:00.006-04:00

I like to flip out hysterically as much as the next guy. It's what separates us from the animals. But the Sens' 1-4-1 start is nothing to panic about. I'll admit I hear a noise in the engine right now but I'm sure it's just a loose pebble. It'll probably be fine in a sec after we go over a few bumps.

In 2006, the Sens started the year 2-4. They had but one power play goal in their first 6 games. They were murdered by Toronto in their second game of the year. They had a goaltending duo no one was sure about (the duo then was something called Gerber-Emery). The city worried about losing key players the year before (Havlat and Chara.

All those same story lines are happening right now, 4 years later. In '06, we freaked out the same way we are right now. That was the same season the Sens made their only Cup final appearance. We could have saved our panic for something productive.

Of course, I cannot guarantee things will get better. Maybe the Sens will go on to great things again this season. Maybe they'll be rotting garbage. I can only guarantee that 6 games is a blip, not necessarily indicative of anything right now.

If you have judged the Sens to be hockey bile, based on such a tiny sampling size, then you must judge that Toronto's Clarke Macarthur will actually score the 82 goals he's currently on pace for this season. And that I will rip up the Barrhaven over 40 league this season (I scored one off my neck last week.)

It could get better. It could get ugly. But give it 20 games before you fully commit to spontaneous combustion.

Engelland Wipes the Grin off Colton's Face

2010-10-14T07:19:00.002-04:00

Devils Run Out of Cap Money

2010-10-12T14:19:00.005-04:00

On Monday’s Columbus Day tilt against the Penguins, the New Jersey Devils iced a team of 9 forwards and 6 defencemen - a grand total of 15 skaters. The Penguins lineup consisted of 12 forwards and 6 defensemen, a standard 18 skater NHL roster. Not surprisingly, the Penguins won the game 3 to 1.

According to article 16.4 of the collective bargaining agreement, "Except in case of emergency, there shall be no reduction of the required minimum Playing Rosters of the Clubs, below eighteen (18) skaters and two (2) goaltenders."

The Devils had injuries to two players - forward Brian Rolston and defenceman Anton Volchenkov – while suspended, many-named forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond was placed on waivers. However, it would be difficult to categorize these as emergencies, given that the injuries and suspensions occurred on Saturday. Therefore, the Devils had plenty of time before Monday’s game to call up replacements from their farm team in Albany.

The only “emergency” is GM Lou Lamoriello’s complete mismanagement of the team’s salary cap. Simply put, Sweet Lou was unable to ice a full roster because the extra players would have pushed his team over the NHL’s $59.4 million salary cap.

At this time there are no indications that the NHL will be doling out any punishment to the Devils. The simple question is, why? As stated, this is clearly a circumvention of the CBA. More importantly, it's a competitive balance issue that could have ramifications for playoff positions this season.

Look at it this way. The Pittsburgh Penguins got to face a 15 man NHL team the same day the Senators faced Washington, an 18 man NHL team. How is that fair? The league always complains when teams don't dress their stars in early April, resting them for the playoffs. Where is the outcry today? The last time I checked, points earned in October are worth the same as points earned in April.

Senators 5 Blue Team 0

2010-09-22T10:02:00.004-04:00

For Sens' fans, it was the perfect way to open the pre season.

They went into enemy territory without their bazookas - Alfie, Spezza, Gonchar, Fisher, Michalek, Kovalev, Regin, Karlsson or Phillips. Yet they still dominated their arch rivals. On Coca Cola Zero night, the home side Blue Team belched up a zero on the scoreboard, falling 5-0 to Ottawa.

The highlight of the evening had to be the colossal embarrassment of Dion Phaneuf, the freshly anointed team captain. One on one, Nick Foligno danced around Phaneuf like his feet were encased in concrete. Elisha Cuthbert doesn’t undress Phaneuf that quickly and efficiently. Phaneuf then chased him with all the urgency of a sleepwalker. The play was rich with symbolism as Foligno routinely tucked it upstairs. First time wearing the C and the home side is booing him.

In the world's biggest, craziest hockey market, why would they give a guy like that the captaincy? His game is sputtering and he doesn't like people very much. Sounds like captain's material to me! I think they'll realize within a couple of years that Kris Versteeg is far more equipped to be a captain than Phaneuf.

Sainz, Sainz, Everywhere Sainz

2010-09-15T16:24:00.008-04:00

Ines Sainz is back in the news. Sainz has gained moderate fame the last few years as the knockout young woman who covers the NFL for Azteca Television in Mexico. She’s never really there to check on football issues. She’s there because she’s beautiful and flaunts it. This brings out the “playful” side of players in interviews, mostly because they’re attracted to her.

Sainz is blessed with a spectacular body and comes to work dressed for attention, not as someone who wants to be taken seriously as a reporter. Serious reporters don’t show up for work with tape measures to measure the size of NFL players’ body parts, as pictured here.

Sainz may or may not have been uncomfortable Saturday in the Jets' locker room, where a few players may or may not have let loose with some catcalls as she waited to interview Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez. An investigation is underway to figure out exactly what was said but, if it truly made Sainz uncomfortable, it had to be badly over the line. With her appearance and personal dress code she hears comments from men constantly.

But it doesn’t sound like she’s uncomfortable at all. She doesn’t even seem to have heard the catcalls in this case. Watch this interview from Fox Sports. She seems okay with everything. At least I think she does. Beyond the accent, her voice has an Estelle Castanza quality so she’ s a little hard to figure out. She flip flops a couple of times too (figuratively, not anatomically). It would appear that another female reporter intervened, taking issue with what was being said to Sainz.

So if Sainz, the apparent victim, didn’t hear anything, isn’t offended, isn’t pressing charges and is carrying on with her life as normal, then what the hell are we talking about? We’re talking about a salacious sounding story, or the perception of one, that's compelling, even if the perception is completely inaccurate.

If some Jet players crossed the line, they should be punished accordingly. Everyone deserves respect, no matter what they’re wearing. But the victim here says she feels no disrespect or sexual harassment, even after she was told what was said. So it doesn’t matter if others were offended, not unless they were a target too.

Fixing the NHL Again

2010-08-18T22:21:00.005-04:00

The NHL’s research and development camp this week is toying with some new ideas. The hope is to make the game safer, fairer and more entertaining.

Some of the ideas are, frankly...what's the expression? Oh yeah. Stupid. The league has many problems. Why go after issues that no one is talking about? Issues like:

1) Having three faceoff dots, one in each zone, down the centre of the rink.

2) Having the second referee located off the playing surface.

3) In overtime, having three minutes of 4 on 4, followed by three minutes of 3 on 3 and finally three minutes of 2 on 2. I can't tell you how often I hear fans screaming for 2 on 2 hockey.

4) If a player is deemed to have committed a face-off violation, he will be required to move back and keep his skates behind a "penalty line" (1' foot further back) to take the faceoff.

5) Not allowing a team to change lines after it commits an offside.

6) Narrowing the shallowness of the net to create more ice behind the net and enable more wrap-around attempts.

7) Increasing the size of the crease proportionally in all directions by 3 inches.

I certainly think it's a worthwhile exercise to think about different ideas. I just don't think any of the above are particularly good or necessary.

The only issue on the table that needs to be implemented immediately is the altering or removal of the touch up icing rule. No one finds the “avoid an icing call” race for the puck entertaining. It’s dangerous and pointless.

I'm also interested in the idea to call icing on shorthanded teams fire the puck down the ice to waste time. When you think about it, the current scenario doesn’t make much sense. You penalize a player then change the rules to make it easier to kill off the punishment.

The camp has gotten the wheels turning in my brain. Here are some changes, not being discussed this week, that I’d like to see:

1) Kill the fourth line. Go with 15 skaters – 9 forwards and 6 defence. The standard 4 lines and 80-82 games has been around this league for a long time. But then the league introduced 9 resting periods per game, each two minutes long - also known as TV timeouts. Do they still need four lines? The PA won't like it but we're going to have a long lockout in two years anyway. Might as well throw that in. It eliminates costs, the weakest players and knuckle dragging, obsolete, one dimensional fighters. It also means we see better hockey.

2) Eliminate changing on the fly. Changing on the fly doesn’t make the game better, it makes it robotic. 30-45 seconds and off. 30-45 seconds and off. 30-45 seconds and off, always coming at you in fresh-legged waves, dumping it in and changing. Stay out there. Finish off plays. You dumped it in so you chase it in. Sure, guys will get tired. But fatigue leads to mistakes. Mistakes are interesting, usually creating scoring chances. The NBA gets by somehow without changing on the fly. Are they better athletes?

3) Eliminate points for losers - the NHL's version of the CFL rouge - a point for failure. Give out 2 points for a win. Zero points for a loss. End of story.

4) Be sensible with all equipment. Reduce injuries by taking the concrete out of shoulder and elbow pads. Increase scoring by designing goalie equipment strictly for protection. Viagara would double their profits if they could enhance size the way goalie equipment manufactureres do.

5) One referee. Officiating will always be questionable. At least with one, you only have to read one man's mind. Players and fans will then have a better sense of what will and will not be called.

6) Eliminate the shootout. We're all schooled in this country that it's a TEAM game. Team FIRST. Shootouts have nothing to do with that. Without them, Columbus could have been in the Western playoff hunt. They went to 12 shootouts last season , winning only twice. 12 times they played their opponent to a draw then were asked to stop playing the team game of hockey and go to a skills competition. It's no less absurd than the NFL deciding games with a field goal contest. Just play 3 on 3 until it ends.

7) A new punishment for flipping the puck over the glass. That makes as much sense as a 2 minute penalty for icing. In fact, icing is almost always a far more intentional delay of game. Find some other, smaller form of penance.

8) Get black and white with stick fouls. If your stick makes any contact with an opponent's body, it's a penalty. You're either trying to obstruct or slash. Compete hard for the puck but do it with your stick on the ice.

9) Eliminate restrictions on goalies playing the puck. Just treat them like any other puck carrier. If goalies want to handle the puck, they can be legally bodychecked like any other player. Why shouldn't puck carrying goalies have to keep their head up like anyone else? They're far less vulnerable than a defenceman skating back into his own end with a forechecker on his behind. The trapezoid is a great example of overthinking.

This change creates more offence. With goalies worried about getting knocked down and leaving an empty net behind, the defence has one less puck handler back there. The argument will be that you must have to rules in place to protect star goalies. I'd counter by saying that skittish teams could make their own rule. Stay in your freaking net or make damn sure you have time to get out there and make a play.

10) Video replay. Give each coach one challenge per game, to challenge anything. Crucial penalty, goal, whatever. Divers beware.

11) Pick a uniform and stick with it. Go ask a Habs, Yankees, Cowboys or Celtics fan about it. The most beloved franchises all have heritage and the uniforms are part of that. And it's not just the winners either. The Blackhawks and Red Wings went decades without a title but if you'd tried to change their unis at any point in the last 50 years, they'd take a swing at you.

12) Ice girls in every rink. D'uh.

Sens' 2010-11 Opening Night Roster

2010-08-13T11:44:00.004-04:00

The hockey world is quiet. A little TOO quiet. Well, that's August for you. It'll get good again when NHL training camps open next month. However, the storylines will be a little thin at Sens' camp. I feel like I know what's going to happen already.

10 of the 12 forward jobs are already posted, locked in, ready to roll. They'll go to Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Alexei Kovalev, Milan Michalek, Mike Fisher, Nick Foligno, Peter Regin, Chris Neil, Chris Kelly and Jarkko Ruutu. Then it's a free-for-all for the last 2 gigs up front.

These two jobs will go to players who are fast, smart and physical - machines constantly set to the agitator cycle. Contracts aside, I think Jesse Winchester and Zack Smith best fit that bill.

They'll be pushed, in no particular order. by (last year's resume in brackets):

Ryan Shannon (2009-2010 Senators)
Bobby Butler (2009-2010 NCAA goal scoring leader)
Mike Hoffman (2009-2010 QMJHL MVP)
Colin Greening (2009-2010 co-captain at Cornell)
Erik Condra (2009-2010 Binghamton - 41pts in 68GP)
Roman Wick (2010 Swiss Olympian)
Corey Locke (2009-10 Hartford AHL - 85pts 76GP)

Past bubble guys like Josh Hennessey and Martin St Pierre are off to Europe. Hennessey is off to Switzerland to play for Lugano, where Randy Robitaille starred last year. St. Pierre will try his hand in the KHL.

On defence, Matt Carkner and Chris Campoli will try to hold off Jared Cowen and Patrick Wiercoch. I think both will be successful. Cowan is trying to rally from knee surgery and a current bout with mono. So it'll be Sergei Gonchar, Erik Karlsson, Chris Phillips, Filip Kuba, Campoli and Carkner.

In goal, well, everyone just says a little prayer…

Damn, I put on a little weight this summer.

2010-08-11T08:48:00.002-04:00

Thanks to the iPhone app Fat booth.

Spezza Tries to Shoot Straight

2010-07-20T15:05:00.006-04:00

Jason Spezza addressed the media at his golf tournament today. Spezza tried to explain why he recently sounded so non-commital about his future in Ottawa.

His future here became very much in question when he was asked if he had asked for a trade. His response was, "I don't know..." Asked if he wanted to be here, his heart came leaping out of his chest warmly declaring, "I have a contract here..." Spezza has since found clarity on the matter saying he wants to be here. Listen to his comments here.

He handled the questions beautifully in yesterday's do-over. He'd had time to rehearse his answers this time, acknowledging that he and Bryan Murray both could have handled the matter better, keeping it more private.

I think most Sens fans want him to be here as well. They just expect more from a guy taking up so much of the club's cap room. Whether he can live up to being an 8 million dollar man, the 10th best paid player in the league this season (with a 7 million dollar cap hit) remains very in question. Until he does, there will always be fan discontent with the subject of trade debates never far behind.