“I’m just worried about our team moving forward and the city of Ottawa and us bringing a championship here and winning,” Spezza said when asked about the pending trade of Heatley to the Edmonton Oilers – a deal that won’t happen unless the two-time 50-goal scorer waives the no-movement clause in his contract. “That’s the focus for our players and if Heater wants to be here with that, then we’d accept him back.

“He’s (been) a great teammate when he was here and if doesn’t want to be here, then he’s got to let us move on.”

Continue reading "A Little Optimism From Ottawa"

It’s hard to imagine a situation much worse than this, nor timing more impeccably wrong. But there were options for Heatley. There’s till time to let both him and Murray walk away with some sense of hope, and for his parents to breathe a little easier.

I’ve had a fried brain over this for a good while now, and it was bound to come out, scrambled in my head as it’s been. It’s become far too personal.

Continue reading "This Needed No Scars, But Heatley Can Still Heal It"

A few last thoughts for the day, for the Senators, for what faces the media, and just for the fun of it.

Continue reading "From my Time at the Draft"

Continue reading "NHL Draft - Day Two"

Continue reading "KK at the Draft Floor"

It’s the story no one might care about, but the story that I’ll take to heart anyway.

Continue reading "What You Won’t Find On Any Draft Breakdown"

Continue reading "NHL Draft-mas Eve"

But TSN confirmed. Let the speculation and chatter begin.

Continue reading "Senators’ Off-Season Already Heating Up"

The Leader-Post has learned through sources close to the situation that the WHL club has found its new/old head coach—Curtis Hunt. A media conference is slated for either today or Tuesday at the Brandt Centre to announce the three-year contract, which hasn’t yet been signed—but the sides have agreed to terms.

Pats GM Brent Parker couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
....
Parker made a formal offer on the weekend and the deal was subsequently consummated—according to another source—after Hunt officially parted company with the Ottawa Senators, informing them that he wouldn’t return next season as the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Binghamton.

Not at all surprising, and he can’t be blamed for his choice, especially after the runaround he’s been through. Binghamton has been clamoring for the playoffs longer than Ottawa, and for signs that the farm club is on Ottawa’s radar. With a fresh start, the direction the Murrays take will be especially telling of what’s in store for the Binghamton Senators, and their rocky relationship as the Senators’ AHL affiliate.

The Leader-Post has learned through sources that the Regina Pats’ search for a new head coach has been trimmed to two finalists: Ex-Pats bench boss Curtis Hunt and former Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach Michael Dyck.

An announcement on the successful candidate is expected sometime next week.
....
The Regina product, who’s heavily weighing family considerations, has an offer on the table to remain in Binghamton.
....
Hunt has discussed other coaching vacancies with an unnamed AHL club as well as the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins, who reportedly have him on their shortlist.

For the uninitiated, as much as it hurts Senators fans to say it, the club’s management of its AHL affiliate has been less than stellar, from management down on through coaching and right to the players. Painful, even, whenever another story of the success in Grand River rears its head to show what is possible. With the big club looking to set itself straight this summer, it still remains to be seen whether or not the same attention will be paid where it may well be needed most.

What has happened already is that Pandora’s box has effectively been opened, and howling out of it have come a million questions that need to be answered. Answered not just by Balsillie, Moyes, and the NHL, answers that affect not only this potential sale, but answered by a host of stakeholders, answers affecting the future of the League as a whole.

Continue reading "Waiting To Move Forward, In And From Phoenix"

The Hamilton Bulldogs are making plans to play at Copps Coliseum this coming season.
....
Long term, however, is another matter and Andlauer is drawing up a contingency plan to leave.

The Bulldogs have been HECFI’s major tenant at Copps Coliseum for 13 seasons. They’re about to enter the final year of a five-year lease. That lease, however, gives HECFI the right to turf them out if an NHL team moves permanently to Hamilton.
....
He’s very disappointed, however, that he hasn’t received so much as a courtesy call from Mayor Fred Eisenberger or any official from the City of Hamilton. He says that shows great disrespect for everything the Bulldogs have done for the community.

Just a small sampling of the many groups with a vested interest in the issue, more thoughts to come from me on Wednesday.

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the club has signed defenceman Erik Karlsson to an entry-level contract.
....
The native of Landsbro, Sweden, recently completed his second season with the Frolunda HC Indians of the Swedish Elite League, recording five goals, five assists and 10 penalty minutes in 45 games. Karlsson also added a goal and two assists in 11 playoff games.
....
Karlsson represented Sweden during the 2009 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship held in Ottawa, winning a silver medal. He was selected the tournament’s best defenceman and named to the all-star team. He was tied for the tournament lead in defenceman scoring with two goals and seven assists in six games.

Not at all surprising (it’s a three-year deal), but his still small size (5’11, 165lbs) means that he might not make the jump to Ottawa, or even North America, for another season, depending on his summer progress. It will be nice to have his slick skills on the powerplay when he does arrive, giving us a pair of young right shots, Lee being the other.

You may think you’ve heard it all, that Jim tried twice with the Penguins and Predators and failed (Pittsburgh Penguins, Predators, Phoenix, talk about alliteration in takeover targets). Truth is, this may be his best shot yet, as the one most resembling the current bleak state of the economy.

He’s been a dog sitting on a porch, chasing every car that comes by until they pass him by. Always chasing, never catching, and never knowing what he’ll do when he finally catches one. I’ll let you know whose words those are when Jim’s PR gets back to me, but regardless it’s about time we find out just what the ol’ dog might do.

Continue reading "Balsillie: There May Be No One To Stop Him This Time"

I know it’s been two days now since Carolina evened their series in Boston, but yesterday’s cause was defending 5-on-5 overtime. Those who watched the game appeared to be treated to the Canes taking a 3-0 lead not once, but twice.

You can’t help but find a hint of something there between those two statements, whether you label it irony, contradiction, or just some kind of philosophical mismatch, and certainly one that needs attention.

Continue reading "Canes’ No Goal Points Out NHL’s Tech Gap"

That was Anaheim’s 4-3 win in Detroit yesterday, just over a minute into the third overtime period.

Don’t be fooled though; that represents exactly what hockey should be, whether it’s over in 60 minutes or still filled with smouldering hate after 120.

Continue reading "Do Or Die, But Keep Overtime The Same"

Playoff series have always been filled with motivation, excitement, and bad blood by the end. This season it’s gone into overdrive, and left, right, and centre, every one has been a promising player in the mind, even when a brief on-ice pause may have been in effect (see Washington’s play against New York last night, periods one and two).

For 14 teams’ fans, April brought much of the excitement to a close, another 8 now joining them, but the storylines have managed to put up quite a fight in the meantime.

Continue reading "These Playoffs A Compelling Lot"

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the club has signed right-winger Ryan Shannon to a one-year contract.

Shannon appeared in 35 games for the Senators this season, posting National Hockey League career highs with eight goals and 12 assists. He recorded five multi-point games, including his first career two-goal game on Feb. 17 in Ottawa’s 3-2 overtime loss at Colorado.

It was bound to happen, and represents a good first step for the offseason.

Updated

Continue reading "Senators Re-Sign Shannon"