07-08 is just around the corner... attended pre-season game last night

So the short summer is finally over and the Sens are ready to embark on a new adventure. Where the hockey gods will take them this year, no one can know... but we can be assured of suspense and drama, that's for sure.

There are a few changes at ScotiaBank Place this year. The highlight, I guess, is the removal of some of the advertising spots on the second ring in each end of the rink. Replacing them is another length of the same kind of electronic display found on the first ring, mostly used for A/V presentations and some advertising during play. Removed were the old "black and white" indicator boards above sections 308 and 322 - ad space replaced them.

With all the talk about ad space, I have to wonder why so much of it was removed (though the electronic board can do a great job at providing more dynamic advertising opportunities)... and whether it was removed because selling it is proving to be tough this year. Two sides of each of the eight revolving signs on the main scoreboard were blacked out, as were I'm sure dozens of signs throughout the rest of the arena. It looked odd - but maybe contracts are signed with stipulations that they'll come into effect on opening night. We'll see.

The Lone Star will have one or more concession stands - what they'll offer should be interesting to see! And finally, the "Silver 7 Brewhouse" or whatever the facility is over behind sections 320-324 (or thereabouts) I think has been re-branded as a Local Heroes or something like that.

On to the team itself... I had a hard time getting to like the white away jerseys while watching highlights the other day. Watching the red home sweaters last night was odd at first, but by the end of the game, it was less about the players' clothing and more about the 5-4 win after being down 3-1! The only thing about the jerseys that I don't like is that I can't help but have the feeling that there's more about marketing (as opposed to the safety factor the NHL is trying to sell) - I have a dozen or so jerseys I've bought in the fifteen years the Sens have been around and I won't be rushing out to replace them.

Does this season bring us hope of returning to the finals? Sure... but let's remember - two years ago we were "sure" to get there and we didn't even get close. Does anyone remember how likely a trip to see Stanley was back in November 2006?

Let's enjoy the ride and see where we're taken. It should be a dandy trip!