Ottawa Senators - Sens HQ

We may have Randy Robitaille.

2007-10-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

We have signed Robitaille to a one year deal and now just have to wait for him to cleat waivers. If he does, Ottawa will have a decent depth signing. Robitaille's offensive numbers over the last few years are similar to Dean Mcammond, but he is apparently not the greatest defensive player.

I can't honestly say I know much about his game other than that he is a journeyman who has ended up in the RSL. Ottawa has had a good track record with these type's of players recently, so hopefully it turns out well.

The real question is what implication does this have on the team? Will Schubert go back to D? Is Richardson going to sit in the press box? Will Foligno be sent down? Or does this mean Dean won't be back for a while? Hopefully it is not an indicator of Mcammond's health, as he is a crucial part of this teams depth.

Leaf Update

2007-10-16T14:46:00.000-04:00

The Leafs managed to blow three leads last night! THREE! The game winner went to McCabe, who blasted a shot into his own net with seconds left in OT. The amazing Mats Sundin was on for all 5 goals against.

If I don't blog about it, it didn't happen.

2007-10-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

That is sound logic right? RIGHT?! So ignoring a game against the Hurricanes which may or may not have happened (why on earth does that team always stifle us...in the past I mean....cause as far as I know this was no the case in the alleged game with supposedly took place at some point in time on the date of the 11th apparently), I will look instead at what was easily the most entertaining game of the year:

Senators vs Rangers - Round 2

Note: This picture is actually from Round 1.

Ah, what an entertaining game. It truly was a shame it wasn't on TV here in Ottawa. In lieu of listening on the radio, some friends and I decided to head down to Marshy's to take advantage of the projector, all you can eat wings, pool tables, bubble hockey, and great atmosphere (man, they should be paying me for this). As always, it was packed with tons of Sens fans decked out in team colours, there to cheer on the team as loudly as they can.

Once we got settled in and ordered our wings (I got stuck with honey garlic because my girlfriend wanted to have some - note to self: don't bring girlfriend to all you can eat wing night), the game began. First period was very exciting - constant end-to-end action - but it produced no goals. The team looked as good as the last game against the Rags, which was an encouraging sign.

After a quick game of pool (I won, just so you all know how great I am), it was on to period two. This is where the fun started. If you went to the bathroom for an extended noodle draining you would have missed it all. 3 goals in 52 seconds. A new franchise record. A thrilled crowd at Marshy's. More importantly a comfortable lead to go into the third period with.

Aside from the hockey being played, there were also two great fights in this game. One featured McGrattan and Orr, and the consensus at Marshy's seemed to be that the decision went to McGrattan. He started off slow, but definitely finished much stronger than Orr did.

But that isn't the fight everyone is talking about. No, that honour goes to Luke Richardson. He managed to KO Dubinsky in one punch. Richardson stood there taking a few glancing punches waiting for his time, and then WHAM, smacked him right on the jaw. Dubinsky had to be helped to his feet and then assisted off the ice.

The rest of the game can be summarized with two words: Gerber Clinic. Martin Gerber was a beast in this game. During an extended 5 on 3 he not only repeatedly stopped cross-crease one timers, he also managed to clear the puck himself by picking it up in his blocker hand and throwing it out of the end Favre style.

Gerber's shutout bid was ruined by a garbage goal which was the result of a huge scramble in the crease. Gerber was dragged out of position by Hossa and this allowed Jagr to poke the puck passed him. It was a shame that a goal that clearly was not good (hell, even the MSG announcers agreed) ruined what was a well earned shutout.

The Sens ended up with a 3-1 win and looked impressive throughout. I would go as far as saying their best performance of the year despite all their goals coming in less than a minute.

Gerber is really starting to turn heads, and this game helped significantly. The question of who will be the number one when Ray Emery comes back is getting pretty tricky. There are heated debates among fans and it is becoming a big story in the media. The question really comes down to do you value the present or the past? In the past Emery has been better for this team, in the present Gerber has. Granted, Emery hasn't gotten a start yet (aside from the pre-season where he played part of a game and didn't look too sharp) but that is hardly Gerber's fault.

To me, the clear answer is to ride Gerber until he falters. There is no reason to put in Emery if we are winning games with Gerber. While Emery has looked good in his AHL conditioning stint according to reports, he will still be coming back after a long break with virtually no NHL game experience. Gerber on the other hand has gone 20-1-1 in his last 22 starts and we know he is NHL ready at the moment.

Either way, this team is looking good in the crease, and an insurance policy is never a bad thing to have.

Looks like there won't be much Senators hockey for a while. After having the most compacted schedule to start the year, we will only have 3 games in 18 days. Don't worry, I'll find something to write about.

Once again, the Senators win.

2007-10-10T21:41:00.000-04:00

Nice try, he still scored.

The Sens once again won and are now a perfect 5-0-0. Despite this, I can still complain. Never pleased? Maybe. But I think it has more to do with the fact that this team just isn’t playing their best hockey. I can’t really say they are playing bad hockey – I just know they can play better. There are times where it just seems they aren’t trying and then they will turn it on for 5 minutes and get 2 goals.

Brian Elliott was awesome. In to give Gerber some relief the rookie kept Atlanta to just one goal. He made some big saves on the doorstep and looked very technically sound. It was nice to have a goalie in there that doesn’t give out a big juicy rebound.

Elliott in his other starring role.

For those who did not see the game (it was available on Sopcast), here is a summary:

Chris Kelly gets an early goal on a partial break. Shoots from the circle and gets it underneatKL’s blocker.
*Whistle* Announcement: Offside Ottawa.
*Whistle* Announcement: Icing Atlanta.
*Whistle* Announcement: Offside Atlanta.
*Whistle* Announcement: High stick Ottawa.
Kovalchuk gets the puck off of a bad turnover and roofs it. In off the post from the slot…no hope.
*Whistle* Announcement: Offside Ottawa.
*Whistle* Announcement: Offside Atlanta.
*Whistle* Announcement: Offside Atlanta.
Vermette gets a super long “pass” from Phillips and takes a slapper from the circle. Top shelf far side. Beauty.
Whistle* Announcement: Icing Ottawa.
Joe Corvo takes the weakest point shot I have ever seen on a PP and it somehow goes in.
*Whistle* Announcement: Offside Atlanta.
*Whistle* Announcement: Offside Ottawa.

Alright – I have a confession. This entire summary was all a clever ploy to show you all just how much I hated the Atlanta arena announcer/announcements. Like honestly….I half expected to hear “Just so you all know, you are currently at a hockey game”, or “The city you are located in is called Atlanta”. Thanks for holding my hand mommy. I guess Atlanta is going for the NBC approach.

Overall, can’t really complain much. Not the best outing by the Sens, but a good one. They won the game. Go us.

Leaf Update

2007-10-10T07:57:00.000-04:00

Despite a valiant effort, the Leafs lost 7 FREAKIN 1 to the Canes.

Senators top Devils, remain unbeaten

2007-10-08T17:47:00.000-04:00

Getty Images

A 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Thanksgiving kept Ottawa undefeated. We are now 4-0, a much better start than last year. But man oh man this team better pick it up. We dominated most of the first and then it seems everyone started thinking about that turkey waiting at home.

Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson were amazing again, combining for 8 points and scoring 2 of Ottawa's 4 goals. The other two came from Kelly and Redden. We almost let the game slip away though. They just could not get the puck out of their end in the 3rd period, and it cost them a goal. With the Devils within one and pressing hard, Heatley made a beast play to get it out and allow Alfie to score on the open net. He literally bowled over the defencemen on the point and took the puck with him.

Gerber was solid again. Neither goal can really be put on him. The first was a defensive collapse, allowing Asham to walk right out and sweep it around Gerber. The second was an exhibition of perfect hand eye coordination as Parise knocked the puck out of mid air on a rebound.

Other than that the game was mildly entertaining, which is more than you usually expect from a Devils game.

The best news of all? Gerber has a new mask. It is finally here, though he didn't wear it today. At least we know for sure now that this isn't some form of silent protest. Even though he wants out, Gerber is still a team guy.

Sens face Devils undefeated

2007-10-08T08:33:00.000-04:00

Today the Senators host the New Jersey Devils in a special Thanksgiving matinée at 3pm. The Senators come into the match undefeated having beaten the Maple Leafs twice and the powerful New York Rangers.

On our side we have Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson who have been red hot to start the year. Alfie looks like he is in 05-06 offensive form, when he got 43 goals and 103 points. Heatley is once again scoring goals and setting up his line mates. If Heatley gets 49 goals and 99 points it's considered a disappointing season - how awesome is it to have a player like that?

Martin Gerber is having a great start filling in for injured Ray Emery. Gerber has gone 3-0 to start the season, but if you go into the pre-season, and even into last year, he hasn't lost a game in regulation in forever. This may not be the most popular opinion - but I am a big fan of Gerber. Always have been actually. I would be fine with having him as our starter. He got such a bad wrap last year when the entire team was playing horribly in front of him.

The other advantage to keeping Gerber as our starter is that Ray Emery's trade value is through the roof right now. There may not be a market for Gerber, but I'm sure there is one for Emery. With all that being said, I would rather keep both for this season. Having two starting goalies is a great problem to have.

Jason Spezza really needs to pick up his play for this game. He looked so dominant in the pre-season and has disappeared now that the games matter. I wonder if it's a case of confidence, which seems ludicrous talking about Spezza - often perceived as a cocky individual - but it seems like he is afraid to carry it like he did in the pre-season. Instead he is back to rushing impossible passes.

Chris Phillips looked better last game, which is great news because we badly need him to be in top form if we want to have a successful season. I've said it for years, but this guy is the foundation on our back end - always has been. He may not be the most skilled player back there, but he has always been the most important in my opinion. I wouldn't trade him for Chara or Redden.

Hoping for a good game today. The Senators exposed Martin Brodeur last year in the playoffs by shooting high glove side. I would be shocked if we don't see more of that today.

Senators beat the Rangers 2-0

2007-10-08T08:24:00.000-04:00

I'm a little late on this one. I would give a complete summary, but I was a little too drunk during the game. Some things I do remember:

Gerber was great again. Can't argue with a shutout - especially against a team like the Rangers.
Mike Fisher's hard work led to a goal by Meszaros. There's a surprise. When does Fisher NOT work his ass off to get results?
Our defence looked somewhat competent this game - a nice change.
Alfie rules.
Neil is back in form. Great hits.

Paul Stastny nets 5 points against the Sharks

2007-10-08T08:17:00.000-04:00

Wow, this guy is something special. Last year he sets the rookie mark for most consecutive games with a point, and this yeah he manages 5 points in his second game. As of now, Stastny has been in on 71.5% of his teams scoring. If this keeps up he will either have one of the most amazing years in hockey history, or the Avalanche will have one of the worst offensive years ever.

Heatley, Toronto games, and stuff.

2007-10-05T01:03:00.001-04:00

Well as everyone knows - we have Heatley for 6 years. $7.5 million per year is to me a bargain. This is a player that would likely get the max on the open market - so count me happy. Locking him up through his most productive years is amazing. We are talking about a guy who could have over 400 goals with the Senators by the time his contract his done. I'd be happy if he retires as a Sen when he is 40.

With the singing out of the way, Heatley went out and got 3 points against the Leafs, including a game tying and game winning goal. Wow. The Leaf killer strikes again. The rest of the game was pretty forgettable though. Not great hockey - at all.

Spezza regressed to his 05-06 form - lots of turn overs and attempts at impossible passes. This is somewhat odd, especially considering the excellent pre season he had. He has the ability to control games and looked like he would be doing that this year, but the first two games were not encouraging.

In the second game Ottawa was again outplayed, but they certainly looked better. There were moments of effort which was encouraging I suppose. Nothing amazing though. Alfredsson definitely looked much better which is a very good sign. He managed to pot two goals, both of which were gorgeous. His roof-daddy on Toskala to win the game was pure sniper skill. Unbelievable. It shut up every Leaf fan in the arena (not that there were many compared to years past).

Heatley also had a strong second game and now has 5 points in just 2 games. Guess he likes knowing that he only needs to work 6 more years to be set for life.

The best news to come out of these two games aside from the 4 points is Martin Gerber. He has continued his stellar play from the pre season. Aside from some rebound issues he has looked great. He was the main reason we were able to win both of these games, managing to make 41 saves tonight!

Overall it has been an exciting two days. Heatley is ours, we beat the Leafs twice, and our backup looks better than a lot of starters.

Hopefully our effort picks up though.

If Heatley doesn't sign...

2007-10-02T16:15:00.000-04:00

So as we near the deadline set by Heatley and his agent, I'm sure we are all starting to wonder what will happen if he doesn't sign. Trade? Apparently Murray threatened Heatley with that. Mid-season deal? This seems possible....the deadline is likely just a bargaining tool. Heatley walks? Unfortunately this seems possible as well.

The widespread belief is that $1 million separates the two camps right now - hardly a lot of money for a player of Heatley's caliber. If it were me in charge I would just throw Heatley the 8 million, but I suppose Murray has his own plans. Having Fisher on the hook for over $4 million certainly makes it a little more difficult. If he had been signed in the $3.5 million range you can be damn sure Heatley would have gotten his 8 a few days ago.

So the question may soon be do we trade Heatley or let him walk. Put me in the let him walk group. Trading away arguably our best offensive player and likely top 5 forward in the world before the playoffs when we are a cup contender would be ridiculous. I really can't see anything that we could get back that would improve our team enough this year - if only for the reason that Spezza loves playing with Heatley.

One thing I know for sure...this may turn out to be FAR more annoying than the year of "Redden or Chara?".

Sens Finish Pre-Season 7-0

2007-10-01T06:59:00.000-04:00

Say what you will about it being the pre-season, it is nice to come out of it with a record like that. It tells us a few things about our team, and while they need to be taken with a grain of salt, it is nice to know.

First - our future is not as bleak as it may have previously seemed. No, we do not have any legitimate first liners coming through the system, but If we can hang onto Spezza, Heatley, or both, we should have a good supporting cast for them in the years to come. Nikulin, Zubov, Foligno, and Lee all looked good in the pre-season. These guys likely won't be stars, but we already have those.

Second - even if it is meaningless games against weakened opponents, it showed that the players on this team do want to win. I was worried about a finals hangover, but after the pre-season I'm not. Even though we didn't play our best hockey every game we did manage to find a way to win them all. If we manage to get winning results on nights where the team isn't great in the regular season it could be one hell of a year.

But like I said, take this all with a grain of salt, it is just the pre-season. Two days until we beat the Leafs!

Sabres season preview

2007-10-01T04:26:00.000-04:00

Typical Buffalo Sabres Fans.

The Sabres will suck this year. I would say they would be less whiney and dive less because the weird little troll is gone...but with Roy taking up a bigger role that probably would not be true.

Downie gets 20, THN proves again they suck.

2007-09-28T22:17:00.000-04:00

Downie got 20 games. Deserved in my opinion. People are comparing this to a lot of hits, but the vicious nature of this one coupled with the fact that it involves multiple no-nos sets it apart for me.

God I hope he dresses against Ottawa.

On to THN. My god...STOP RANKING THINGS! You guys SUCK at it. Honestly, you are terrible. In their latest issue THN ranked players by position. The most glaring error is that Heatley is ranked as a RW despite the fact that he has played LW for two years. Say what you want about what his natural position is (which is actually debateable), he is for all intents and purposes a left winger right now.

Now I'm only going to look at a few of the glaring errors in detail, but let me just list a few I disagree with first:

Dipetrio the 8th best goalie in the league, Lundqvist 9th.
Ryan Miller the 4th best goalie in the league (who wrote this?)
Cam Ward the 13th best goalie in the league (please...)
Patrick Elias, Ryan Smyth, Zach Parise all ahead of Kovalchuk and Vanek for left wingers.
Olli Jokinen the 14th best centre (Should be higher)
Sergei Federov the 19th best centre (Should not be in the top 20)
Dion Phaneuf the 3rd best defensemen in the league while Zubov is 9th.

Now onto anything Ottawa related.

Dany Heatley is rated second among RW, behind Iginla. This, to me, is wrong. Aside from the fact he should be considered a LW, Healtey has been much more impressive overall. Since the time Heatley has come into the league, Iginla has amassed 397 points in 390 games for a PPG of 1.02. Heatley in the same time has amassed 389 points in 354 games for a PPG of 1.1. Heatley has also managed to hit 100 points (a milestone that Iginla never has), and he has hit 50 goals and 100 points twice.

In the past two seasons Heatley has been a second and first team all star, while Iginla has been neither. Iginla has been notoriously inconsistent from year to year as well.

What justification is there for Iginla being higher rated? He had good linemates last season but still could not put up numbers in Heatley's range. If it is intangibles, they are being weighed far too heavily in Iginla's favour.

Even more ludicrous is Jason Spezza being ranked the 7th best centre in the league behind ERIC STAAL and CHRIS DRURY! I'm not even going to put forward an argument for this one, I think it speaks for itself.

This Just In: Downie Admits he is a Homo

2007-09-27T18:16:00.001-04:00

Well, it seems some players just still need to cross the line. And before I discuss this at all I am getting a few things out of the way:

Downie on Deaner: Charge - Y, Jump - Y, Late - N, Elbow - Y, Boarding - Y
Armstrong on Koivu: Charge - N, Jump - N, Late - N, Elbow 0 N, Boarding - N
Neil on Drury: Charge - N, Jump - N, Late - N, Elbow - N, Boarding - N

And just for the record, the Downie hit was 0.2 seconds later than the Drury hit...and that still isn't late. So go whine somewhere else anyone from Buffalo.

Alright, now onto the hit. Cheap, dirty, Downie. It just goes together. This kind of play is disgusting, but what is even worse is the fans supporting it. Fans saying it's good hockey, hell I have even seen Ottawa fans saying they wish he was on our team.

Sorry, but this is where I draw the line. Intentionally trying to injure with blatantly illegal hits is not the way to win - especially in the preseason.

Every team in the league was sent a video before this hit saying that headshots would be more heavily penalized and telling the dangers of them. Heres hoping that gives the NHL justification to really throw the book at this kid.

You know it's a bad hit when even Leaf players and the Flyers GM are coming out and saying it was dirty.

Foligno and Lee shine in pre-season action

2007-09-18T21:38:00.001-04:00

Well Ottawa finally opened up their pre-season tonight in London, Ontario with a 4-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. As expected, most of the established players were scratched, including Heatley, Spezza, Alfie, Phillips, Volchenkov, and Emery.

This did allow some of our prospects to shine though. Lee looked like a rock on the blue line. He made some great passes, had some great shots, and aside from a few brain cramps looked good. Lee looked good enough to surpass Richardson in the depth charts, at least on this night.

On offence, Foligno and Zubov looked good. Zubov started the night off with an early goal, and continued to have chances through the night. Foligno managed to pot a goal and two assists, looking perfectly in place alongside Kelly and Eaves.

The nicest surprise of all had to be Martin Gerber. He was an all-star tonight. His positioning was stellar, and his reactionary saves were incredible. He faced over 50 shots and managed to get a shutout.

I really hope we do not get rid of Gerber early on in the season. I have been a supporter of his since day one, and if Emery falters or goes down Gerber will be extremely valuable.

Sens Ink Fisher for 5 years, $4.2m

2007-09-17T19:09:00.000-04:00

Wow...

This has really crushed me. To me, Fisher was the 3rd priority to sign - behind Spezza and Heatley. The guy is great at what he does, don't get me wrong...but he is a 3rd line centre. He is injury prone. He is not a big offensive threat. Just..wow.

4.2 million seems VERY steep to me. I would walk away after 3.5, and even that I wouldn't be thrilled with. Now the Sens are in a hard spot to resign Heatley and Spezza, not to mention Redden (though that is good news...). It will take some miraculous maneuvering by Murray to keep both Spezza and Heatley and leave himself some room to have a decent supporting cast in the future, but if both Redden and Gerber are gone it is possible.

I can just see this signing hurting Ottawa in the long run. It is a LOT of money to invest in a 3rd line player, especially if the salary cap goes down at any point in the next 5 years. I would much rather have Comrie at 3.3m.

Label me dissapointed.

A new dynasty in Montreal?

2007-09-16T15:35:00.001-04:00

Not starting this year anyways.

The Habs are most likely looking at another year on the outside looking in. Little has improved for the team this year, and it may be a long long year.

The Canadiens still are lacking a true offensive threat. Their leading scorer last year was Koivu, and he only amassed 75 points. They lost their second leading scorer in Sheldon Souray, and beyond that there is not much.

Ryder and Koivu should lead the charge this year, and I am sure all Habs fans are hoping Kovalev becomes a consistent threat. The "loss" of Samsonov is viewed by many as a positive, and it will most likely be a positive for the team, but they still have the Kovalev problem.

The addition of Smolinski will add some secondary scoring, but he can be prone to moments of invisibility, or even worse, massive brain cramps. He will not give the Habs what they need up front: a legitimate star.

On defence the Habs were lucky to get rid of Souray. Sure his offence will be missed, but the only ones missing his defence will be opposing teams. The addition of Brisebois is an odd one to me. The much maligned D-man is back to where it all started after only two years abroad, and will probably receive all the criticism that he used to.

In goal, the Habs have the muvh overrated Huet leading the way with Halak and Price fighting for the final spot. Price is getting praise worth of Patrick Roy already, but he has not proved anything at the NHL level yet. The Canadiens will be decent in goal, but nothing spectacular. It will take a truly Herculean effort in nets to get them near the postseason.

Sens record vs the Habs: 6-1-1

Told you so!

2007-09-04T22:41:00.000-04:00

Alright...I know its just over half over....but we have ALREADY won! And I am taking this opportunity to tell you all that I told you so. Over on the HF boards there were a lot of people disagreeing with me...saying that the series would be tight and Canada might even lose...

I maintained it was going to be a complete joke...and tonight's 8-1 drubbing proved it further.

Hell...I was even right about people not caring! A Toronto star poll found that 74% of the ~1000 people weren't even watching (See here). God this whole thing just tarnishes the memory of the original and makes me upset...

The Big Bad Bruins?

2007-09-01T22:34:00.000-04:00

Alright, time for another Northeast opponent: The Boston Bruins.

The Bruins, in my oppinion, could surprise a few people this year. Their offence should be quite dangerous. They have one of the better 1-2 punches at centre with Savard and Bergeron, and a proven goal scorer in Murray. Add to this mix Schaefer who will give them around 50 points (more if he manages to stick on the second or first line), a developing Phil Kessel who shouldn't miss any time this year, and you're looking at a scary offensive unit.

On top of this, Brandon Bochenski is a player who has some potential as a second or third liner if developed properly. We have seen what he can do here in Ottawa, and even though he disappointed some, he did show that he should be an NHL regular. He should at least be a valuable plug for the Bruins.

Defensively, the Bruins don't look to shabby either. Anchored by Chara who should bounce back after last year (though it wasn't nearly as bad a year as many Sens fans make it out to be), and also featuring Ference and Ward, they should be solid if not spectacular.

And of course, the Bruins now feature Fernandez, acquired from the Wild. I'm really not sure what this will do for them. Fernandez was very middle of the pack last year, posting 22 wins with a 2.55 GAA and .911 save percentage. Better numbers than Thomas yes, but not a significant improvement. Fernandez was playing on the Wild, a more defensively minded team playing in a division featuring the offensively challenged Oilers and Canucks.

The move the Northeast could expose Fernandez, as he will be facing offensive powerhouses like Ottawa, Toronto, and Buffalo. Even Montreal isn't a slouch when it comes to offence. On the other hand, Fernandez could shine and pull the Bruins into the playoffs.

I think they finish 11th...and Ottawa's record against them? 4-3-1

Are the Leafs a threat?

2007-08-25T04:50:00.000-04:00

Well, after two years of missing the playoffs I think we can finally expect to see the Toronto Maple Leafs in at the big show. They have added to what was already one of the league's best offensive cores with the addition of Jason Blake. Even if he does not live up to his 40 goal campaign last year he will help them out with 30 or more, and the further development of youngsters like Wellwood and Steen could spell danger for defencemen in the Northeast.

On top of this, the Leafs have received an upgrade in goal. How big of an upgrade is debatable, but Toskala should at the very least push Raycroft. I wouldn't be surprised to see split duties in Toronto. Despite all the flack he received Raycroft did still manage 37 wins last year, an impressive feat no matter how you spin it.

Despite my obvious bias against the Leafs, I have to say I am happy about this for a few reasons. The first being that it will probably bring the battle of Ontario back to life after a few years spent in a comatose state. The Leafs will have some bite this year, and having closer games will only make it that much better when we win.

The Leafs in the playoffs will also allow Ottawa to do something I think they badly need to do - BEAT THE LEAFS. I really dont know if the players or fans need this monkey off their back more (probably the fans), but I would bet money that the players would love the opportunity to play the Leafs in the playoffs for some redemption.

I know this seems like I am digging up some past demons that Sens fans always tell Leaf fans to let go, but I do think it is something we would all like out of the way, and I think it is worthwhile to examine our primary competition this year: the Northeast.

Because of that, I will be taking a very quick and very opinionated look at each of our Northeast opponents over the next little while. Hey, there isn't much else to talk about is there?

Oh I almost forgot....Ottawa's record against the Leafs this year: 5-2-1

Why are hockey games always so messed up?

2007-08-23T22:20:00.001-04:00

This is just a quick post....and I am making an assumption here...but from this photo that was released June 7th, it looks like NHL 08 will have Gerber as the starter for Ottawa. I just can't imagine them having a photo of a backup released (even if it is a backup). Why are these games always so out of touch with what is actually happening in hockey? Just an example....in my NHL 07 dynasty Eric Daze was second in points with 104.....DAZE!

This may just me being tired and being upset at EA Sports for all the bugs in NHL 07, but who knows.

Summit Series Lite

2007-08-23T11:05:00.000-04:00

Well, my question today pertains to the new Summit Series set to begin next week. What's that you say? You had no idea there was a Summit Series starting next week? No kidding.

Does anyone really care about this? This will essentially be a glorified WJHC featuring THE dominate junior team in the last few years against a team that has kinda mailed it in on the international stage.

This is no longer men fighting it out on the ice for what they believe in - a literal cold war, it's boys having 8 scrimmages before their seasons begin, at which point some will join each other in the same leagues.

The mystique of the Soviets is gone now, we have seen all of the players on the Russian team play, they play in our hometowns on our CHL teams and are drafted by our franchise of choice. There is no smug attitude that we will walk all over them, and the surprise that follows when we find out they are in fact a very worthy opponent.

All of that is lost in this Summit Series lite. It is not an embodiment of the times, it does not represent Us against Them, instead it is a series of friendly games between future stars.

This is one of the only times I can remember not being excited for an international hockey event at the junior level or above. Don't get me wrong, I am still going to watch (though that may consist of snagging the 9am games on my PVR...that is just way to early for a student in his last week before classes) but I certainly will not be very emotionally invested.

Will you be watching?

Senators Unveil New Jerseys and Logo

2007-08-23T01:48:00.001-04:00

While many have known of the new logo for weeks, and some have noticed the new jerseys in screen shots from NHL 08 and 2k8, it is now official; the Senators will be rocking a re-designed 3d logo, a brand new (or very very old) shoulder patch, and a completely modern look.

The new home (L) and away (R) jerseys.

The new throwback shoulder patch on both the home and away jersey.

My first reaction was that they were, for lack of a better word, simple. But the more I looked at them and though about it, the more I began to like them. The red "swoosh" jersey and the new black jersey were pretty busy by NHL standards, and both had a somewhat gimmicky feel to them.

These jersey are very clean cut and modern looking, but at the same time remind me of the Senators history more than any others they have worn before. The Patch is an obvious throwback, but the striping on the pants and socks is another.

Each side of the pants features a vertical white and red stripe, something that helps make the waist not look so bland due to the loss of a horizontal stripe on the jersey. The pants also feature the primary logo on the left leg.

The new socks feature red and black (away) or black and white (home) horizontal stripes that slope into vertical stripes on the sides of the leg. This helps with continuity of the vertical stripes on the pants while not compromising the classic horizontal striping on the front of the sock. The socks appear to be made of a different material than previous socks, something that was suspected.

From L to R: Chris Neil, Brian McGrattan, Jason Spezza, and Chris Kelly model the new uniforms.

The fact that both jerseys are the same is something we have not had in Ottawa for a long time, and is something I welcome with open arms.

The round logo many of you may have seen floating around (and pictured below) will be used on Senator merchandise. If I had any money to bet I would put it on this logo being at centre ice as well.

Secondary logo.

Anyone wishing to get their hands on one these new jerseys ASAP can fill out an order form located here.

Photos taken from Scarlett Ice.

First try at this

2007-08-23T01:43:00.000-04:00

Alright, basically I am just looking for a place to state my opinions and rants as a Sens fanatic.

I am hoping to fill this blog with a lot of insight into the Sens on-ice activity, but also give the perspective of a fan that lives in Ottawa. I want to bring the experience I had at the arena and translate it into words for those who don't get a chance to go. I want to be able to provide a different perspective than you get from the Citizen, Sun, or Team 1200. Basically, I want to have a diary of a 21 year old male Sens fan living in Ottawa. Everything from breaking news to what Alfie ate for breakfast this morning.

That is the hope, the vision, the...dare I say dream....nah, not dream, let's stick with vision.