Another goal for Mr. Heatley! It's great to see that we have him signed through to 2014! Here's hoping he keeps showing that determination and exerting the same effort level in the weeks, months and seasons to come.
Just watching the game on SportsNet - nice to see that Gerber actually does have a painted mask out there. While I'd like to see him wear it, the way he's been playing, I'd be shocked to see him make a change as long as he keeps playing the way he is. The ironic thing is that if Emery comes back sooner than later, Gerber's finally made himself look good to potential suitors and he might not have a long period of time to wear that new mask! ...or might the Sens decide that they don't want to make any pre-Christmas deals, regardless of how Emery performs when he finally comes back!?
In the meantime, who cares - the team's clicking just nicely and as we get close to the half-way mark towards the end of the first 10 game segment, it's proving to be one enjoyable ride!!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Havlat hurt again!?!
Man... as every month goes by, I'm happy the Ottawa Senators let Martin Havlat go the free agency route when the time came. Chicago's six million dollar man hurt himself last night again, supposedly while throwing a punch in a scrum in the third period.
The guy has played 74 games in the last two seasons and hasn't played more than 68 games since his second season in the NHL, back in 2001-02. Now he hurts himself in game one of 2007-08.
Havlat has talent, don't get me wrong - coming back from his serious injury in his last season with the Senators, he scored four goals. Impressive. What's not impressive about our old #9 is durability. It's too bad - I loved watching him play and I own a jersey with his name and number on it.
The problem is, he fancies himself as being a superstar, probably in the Pavel Bure, John Leclair or Dany Heatley category. He likely sees himself as a potential 50 goal scorer in the NHL. He probably can be - only he has to stick around long enough to make those shots and pot those goals.
I don't think the Ottawa Senators missed a beat when Havlat left... after all, he barely played in the last season where he wore the team's colours. We've been to the Cup finals and have run the table thus far in 2007-08. Will the Sens win 82 games? Maybe not!
But they've got a solid core of players who should see action through the majority of the games - and that's more than Havlat can say for himself. I hope he gets himself in order and strengthens up and becomes a great player over his career. In order to do that, though, he's got lots of work to do.
The guy has played 74 games in the last two seasons and hasn't played more than 68 games since his second season in the NHL, back in 2001-02. Now he hurts himself in game one of 2007-08.
Havlat has talent, don't get me wrong - coming back from his serious injury in his last season with the Senators, he scored four goals. Impressive. What's not impressive about our old #9 is durability. It's too bad - I loved watching him play and I own a jersey with his name and number on it.
The problem is, he fancies himself as being a superstar, probably in the Pavel Bure, John Leclair or Dany Heatley category. He likely sees himself as a potential 50 goal scorer in the NHL. He probably can be - only he has to stick around long enough to make those shots and pot those goals.
I don't think the Ottawa Senators missed a beat when Havlat left... after all, he barely played in the last season where he wore the team's colours. We've been to the Cup finals and have run the table thus far in 2007-08. Will the Sens win 82 games? Maybe not!
But they've got a solid core of players who should see action through the majority of the games - and that's more than Havlat can say for himself. I hope he gets himself in order and strengthens up and becomes a great player over his career. In order to do that, though, he's got lots of work to do.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Opening night... another journey begins!
So here we are, minutes away from the drop of the puck for the 2007-2008 season. It wasn't so long ago we sat, eagerly anticipating the Ottawa Senators' first game in franchise history against the Montreal Canadiens. Much has happened since that night... spectacular regular season wins and losses, adrenaline pumping playoff series wins and crushing defeats.
Last year, we got to ride the wave right to the bitter end - and it was a bitter end.
I just watched TSN's intro to the season - the standings are zeroed out and players come on one by one proclaiming that they believe this will be their season, that everyone's in first place (except for Anaheim and Los Angeles, I guess!) and that tonight, anything and everything is possible.
It's tough to watch and think about what's happened to recent Stanley Cup finalist teams... Edmonton and Carolina didn't make the playoffs last year, nor did the pre-lockout finalists. Anaheim has lost some key players in the weeks that have gone by since they got to skate around with the Cup, but Ottawa has strengthened itself somewhat - inking Dany Heatley to a multi-year contract extension is a key move that secures Ottawa's future... and this season especially.
Ray Emery's on the shelf while his injury that never goes away heals. How he managed to play most of last season with it being hurt and now having to sit there and wait and wait must be tough.
But isn't this both Martin Gerber and the Sens organization's dream come true? If the team's goal was to move Gerber but nobody wanted to take him because of his performance to start 2006-2007 and his salary, this is a perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities in the coming days and weeks. Once Emery comes back, and if he proves himself, someone will see Gerber's an OK player and will take him and his salary off the Senators' books. If and when that happens, a couple more moves will be possible for GM Bryan Murray.
"WE BELIEVE" - nice slogan or motto, TSN. Here's to a new season - and who knows... we never thought at this time last year that we'd make it where we did. Now we know we can do it - let's go, boys!
GO SENS GO!!!!
Last year, we got to ride the wave right to the bitter end - and it was a bitter end.
I just watched TSN's intro to the season - the standings are zeroed out and players come on one by one proclaiming that they believe this will be their season, that everyone's in first place (except for Anaheim and Los Angeles, I guess!) and that tonight, anything and everything is possible.
It's tough to watch and think about what's happened to recent Stanley Cup finalist teams... Edmonton and Carolina didn't make the playoffs last year, nor did the pre-lockout finalists. Anaheim has lost some key players in the weeks that have gone by since they got to skate around with the Cup, but Ottawa has strengthened itself somewhat - inking Dany Heatley to a multi-year contract extension is a key move that secures Ottawa's future... and this season especially.
Ray Emery's on the shelf while his injury that never goes away heals. How he managed to play most of last season with it being hurt and now having to sit there and wait and wait must be tough.
But isn't this both Martin Gerber and the Sens organization's dream come true? If the team's goal was to move Gerber but nobody wanted to take him because of his performance to start 2006-2007 and his salary, this is a perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities in the coming days and weeks. Once Emery comes back, and if he proves himself, someone will see Gerber's an OK player and will take him and his salary off the Senators' books. If and when that happens, a couple more moves will be possible for GM Bryan Murray.
"WE BELIEVE" - nice slogan or motto, TSN. Here's to a new season - and who knows... we never thought at this time last year that we'd make it where we did. Now we know we can do it - let's go, boys!
GO SENS GO!!!!
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