The underground economy of sports blogs

I want to bring to light something that I find extremely unfair and all-too-common among large-audience (dare I say 'corporate') sports blogs today: exploitation of high-quality writers.

Since beginning to blog on this site in 2007, I have received various offers to exchange links, trade blogs, and write on other sites as a means of growing the influence of this website. I have even contributed to many websites without asking for anything in return. I like to think my opinion is valid and should be read by as many people as possible.

But much of this changed when I started paying rent. The value of my skills (as a writer or blogger) is now determined by the return that I make on it. Money that I need to pay for groceries, rent, entertainment, cable television and internet (so that I can watch the Sens!).

An email from an $8-million company

Yesterday, I received an email from Bleacher Report (BR) asking if I would like to be a featured columnist for their Ottawa Senators section and sit-in on a conference call that would likely involve players and/or management from the team.

"Great!" I said. "That sounds like a fantastic opportunity. But I don't work for free. Would you be open to negotiating a freelance fee for my work?"

"Not at this time," was their response. BR's representative did not indicate at what time they would be open to paying for my work.

I have received dozens of such emails, from various for-profit sports blog organizations, since this blog was created.

Why sports bloggers should be paid

At community newspapers across Ottawa, anyone with a bit of flare for interviews and language can write an article and be paid. In the past, I've written for community newspapers and been paid anywhere from $75 to $120 for my services. Seems fair for a person who has been educated in this field to be paid a reasonable amount for the time (4-8 hours) contributed to an article.

It's a simple equation. Newspaper gets money from advertisers to be delivered to readers eyeballs; readers pick up newspaper to see articles; newspaper pays writer for article. 

I think it's unfair--and insulting--to ask any person who is trained and proven in their field to work for free. And I don't think that it's unreasonable to ask Bleacher Report for a stipend in exchange for my contribution to their website, their viewership, their ad revenue, and their organizational value.

Over the past few years, Bleacher Report has received more than $8-million in funding from various investors, according to Tech Crunch. And I doubt that the editor that contacted me was working pro bono - so why should I work without pay? Who will pay my rent while BR receives an additional 1,000 readers because of my contribution?

It's an insult

I understand that Bleacher Report is a platform that is meant to empower sports fans and give them an easy-to-use outlet for their opinions. It's a great concept. One that was obviously good enough to grow into a mult-million dollar business. So why not give writers (especially featured columnists) some credit? They can certainly afford it.

I write this not to smear BR or to discourage bloggers who are passionate enough to write on their own accord--obviously, I could myself among you. I write this to empower those who fuel the engines that make others thousands of dollars each week.

Sports bloggers, you are more than a fan with an opinion. You are a writer! A freelance writer! You should be paid (and paid well!). Not exploited. Not asked to work for free.

So when a similar email arrives in your inbox, I ask you to simply request what you deserve: Some money in your pocket so that you can keep paying rent, buying groceries, paying for cable and watching the game.

Anything less than pay for work is an insult to your intelligence and skills.

Panthers fans on suicide watch = Sens win tonight

Here's my prediction for tonight's Sens game against the Florida Panthers.

Senators 3-0 Panthers

The Panthers are among the worst teams in the league. They've managed to score the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference, and Thomas Vokun has a GAA of 3.60 (don't even ask about Clemmenson). The Sens will be getting Filip Kuba back from the flu, and while Pascal Leclaire may not play because of illness, Brian Elliott played well against the Bruins. Should be a standard win for Ottawa.

Here's what a blogger on the Panthers' official website has to say about the team's season so far...

But even being the eternal optimist that I am, it’s getting harder and harder to come to grips with the reality of the hole we’re digging ourselves into. I know it’s still relatively early and there is a lot of hockey left to be played. But as the past has shown us, a poor start is often difficult to overcome; and barring a huge shake-up, a really poor start is nearly impossible to overcome.
...
After so many years of losing, the fans of this team need, no, DESERVE a winner...But at the moment, I think most of us would just settle for a little hope. However, hope has been pretty hard to come by lately. Dropping six of our first nine games is taking its toll on our fans. It’s not just the poor start that has us in a bad way; it’s the poor start combined with the futility of the last decade. I think it’s come to the point where Panthers fans actually expect this team to lose.
...
It’s tough being a loyal, die-hard fan of a team that perennially disappoints. And it’s equally tough to look at the schedule ahead and not see any relief in sight. We currently look up at 28 teams in the league, so there are not going to be any easy games in the near future. It’s almost like we play as if we’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like we’re passing the time until the other team comes back and takes our win away…

Someone find this guy and keep him away from sharp objects, tall buildings, toasters and bathtubs.

What is the REAL Sens Army?

I was somewhat offended and almost shocked when I began to see stickers and posters around downtown, near Scotiabank Place, and on the bus for an organization that called itself the the 'Real Sens Army' or 'RSA'. Their distinctive(ly evil-looking) centurion helmet said alot about the organization: we're Sens fans, and we're more badass than you.

I went to their Facebook group to see what was up with these guys. I got the email of Leonidas of Ottawa (he keeps up the pseudonym because he can't be responsible for where every one of those stickers lands up), and he happily answered all my questions.

Describe your group and its goal.

The RSA was started a couple years ago by a small group of diehard Sens fans who wanted more out of their team’s fans. We were tired of the lack of enthusiasm we met when going to Sens games. People in Ottawa like to pretend that there’s nothing wrong with our fans and that they’re “Loud & Proud”. The truth is, they’re not. There are only a few people who are willing to paint their faces, waive a flag, stand up and yell and do what it takes to be louder than the opposing teams fans (which we have a lot of here in Ottawa). And that’s where the RSA comes in.

We want to make Scotiabank Place an unwelcoming place for opposing teams and their fans. There’s absolutely no reason why Alfie should be booed in our own arena. There’s no reason why we should hear an eruption of cheering when the opposing team scores. This kind of thing just doesn’t happen in Toronto or Montreal. The RSA wants to change the culture of “Sens Army”. We want to unite the diehard fans and take our building back from Leafs, Habs and our own fair-weather fans. We want to be the loudest, scariest, diehard fans in the league and based on the people I’ve met through the RSA, we definitely have the potential to do so.

It seems like the group was a product of frustration with other Sens fans. Is that true? What makes the "real" Sens Army different from the "normal" Sens Army?

We are frustrated with the lack of enthusiasm the average Sens fan has, but we don’t blame them. They’ve never known any better. Our team is still very young in comparison to Toronto and Montreal’s, so our fan culture isn’t as evolved. Our fans still don’t know that complete silence, interrupted by a few GO SENS GO chants simply isn’t enough. There’s so much more to being a fan than simply showing up for the game. Fans in Montreal and Toronto understand this concept, a concept we’re trying to bring to “Sens Army”. The passion they have those 2 cities is what you’d call being a real fan, hence the name Real Sens Army.

Is your group meant to be all-inclusive? Or is it just for die-hard fans?

Our group has certain criteria, but is not exclusive. To be an RSA member, you have to be 100% committed to our team and our city. You have to have pride in your team, whether they’re first in the conference or dead last. Keep wearing that Sens jersey whether it’s round 3 of the playoffs or the middle of January. As the team says, be Forever RED. That’s what it is to be part of the RSA.

Your facebook description seems to focus on 100-level people quite a bit. What have you got against them?

The reason we make mention of them is quite simple: they’re boring. Having spent many games seated in the 100 level, I know this first hand. Whenever a game is on TV, the fans shown are the ones in 100 level seats. It might sound a little stupid, but I’ve never seen a Sens fan on TV going crazy when Alfie scores a big goal. All I ever see are people barely clapping. Sadly, the only fans you do see with a bit of excitement on TV are the infants! When you watch a Leafs game, people are banging on the boards, with their beer flying out of their cup, waving flags, proudly showing off their jerseys, in a sea of blue... You’d think they won the Stanley Cup after every goal. We simply do not have this 100 level energy in Ottawa. I can’t imagine what people in other hockey markets in Canada think when they see our fans. Frankly it’s embarrassing for us diehard fans and hopefully, at some point, the 100 level will be as fun and electric as some 300 level sections are already.

What else have you got to say?

To those who might not like the idea of a group like the RSA, just listen to the points were trying to make. We’re not trying to tell people how to be a fan or why they aren’t real fans. We simply believe we can change Sens culture, make it stronger and make Scotiabank Place a better environment for our own fans. If we all do our part, we’ll be the envy of every other fan base in Canada in no time! GO SENS GO!

Come (blog) together, Sens Army

The Ottawa Senators season-opening game is less than a week away--October 3, at 7 p.m. to be exact. I'm pretty psyched.

Everyone's getting ready in their own way. For instance, I'm setting up a bat-signal-like device that will indicate to television-less friends that they can come over to my place and watch the game.

Of course, this blog is never far from my mind when it comes to the Sens...

I would like to set up a live-blog to collect everyone's comments during the game and kick off this season with the largest online gathering of Sens fans in recent memory.

The idea is to get as many fans and blogs on board as possible. Get everyone in the same room and share our views for the upcoming season, and freak out IN ALL CAPS when Alex Kovalev scores his first regular-season goal.

For bloggers: I'll supply the code, you put it on your site and make your readers aware that we'll be having one big party this year, rather than separate ones.

For blog-readers: Save the date, and keep in mind that Sens Army is coming together as one this year to talk about our team. You'll find the same discussion everywhere, so go to your favourite blog during the game and hunker down for a crazy-good time.

I've already got the good people at Silver Seven Sens on board (unofficially) and I'm rallying the other troops. All Sens blogs, large and small, are welcome to participate.

Send me an email benkmyers (at) gmail.com for more information, or to add your blog to a list of participants.

Sens' College prospects reviewed on Hockey's Future

Hockey's Future reviewed the status of Ottawa prospects currently playing in the NCAA last week, and--by and large--they're a lot of alright.

The most glowing review went to 2008 second-round pick Patrick Wiercioch, who (as of Feb. 6, 2009) has scored 10 goals and 13 assists in 24 games this season for the University of Denver Pioneers. HF had this to say about the offensive defenceman:

Wiercioch’s size is impressive, standing 6’4. He still needs to fill out his 180 lb frame, but when he does, it will make the transition to the pro ranks smoother. While Wiercioch has ample size, he lacks the mean streak that is present in large defensemen such as Chris Pronger, and Zdeno Chara, but that is not Wiercioch’s game. He is a smooth, offensive-minded rearguard who can hold his own in the defensive zone.

Aided by his solid skating ability, Wiercioch already looks to be a steal for the Senators. His impressive play resulted in an invite to Team Canada’s World Junior selection camp in December. While he did not make the cut for the actual tournament, the selection alone was impressive for a player who was not on the radar for many until this season.

All in all, HF reviewed the development of seven players in college; Here are snippets, but read the actual article if you want more depth.

• Eric Gryba (D): "After this season finishes, whether or not Gryba will turn pro remains to be seen. With Binghamton’s depth on the blueline, another year at Boston might be best to ensure he gets ample ice time."
• Mark Borowiecki (D): "Borowiecki is a long-term project to be sure, and will probably play at least two more seasons before the Senators sign him, if at all."
• Ben Blood (D): "Since he does not seem to excel either offensively nor defensively, and is not well rounded, Blood’s future is fuzzy at best."
• Louie Caporusso (F): "With 20 goals in 28 games, he is among the top goal scorers in the NCAA, blowing past his 12 goals in 33 games last season."
• Eric Condra (RW): "Condra is currently projected as a solid, third-line energy forward with some scoring touch. [...] Expect Condra to join Binghamton after the Fighting Irish’s season comes to an end and be signed to an NHL deal by Ottawa."
• Colin Greening (C): "At the age of 22 (23 in March) he would seem to have reached his ceiling in the NCAA, as he is unlikely to grow more as a player while competing against opponents who are up to four years his junior."

Thoughts on the Hartsburg firing from the pundits

With the news that the Senators have fired Craig Hartsburg, making him their second first-year coach canned at the mid-way point of the season in as many seasons (following in John Paddock's footsteps), seems to have all the media and blogosphere pundits decrying the Senators' decision (be sure to check out Ben's thoughts on the issue here).

Here's a few excerpts from the bigger websites, starting with Stu Hackell's Slapshot blog:

What’s that popular definition of insanity attributed to Albert Einstein? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? For the second year in a row, Senators G.M. Bryan Murray has axed his first-year coach in February. Craig Hartsburg was dismissed Monday morning after the Caps and Alex Ovechkin dismantled the Sens 7-4 the day before.

[...]

Hartsburg, who signed a three-year deal in June, is replaced by Cory Clouston, coach of the Sens’ A.H.L. team, the Binghamton Senators.

[...]

This doesn’t look good for Murray and his long-term future as manager of the club. Jeez, that couldn’t mean that Eugene Melnyk is going to be, uh, blowing up the organization, could it?

... and James Mirtle, from his From the Rink blog:

I personally don't see any way you stick with Murray after all of the failures since that run to the finals in 2007. The team has essentially been dismantled, save for the big three, and has a long road of rebuilding ahead.

There are no free-agent solutions for what ails Ottawa.

Scapegoating is a good description of what's gone on, and it's something that's plagued both the coaches and goalies in the organization. Ray Emery and John Paddock were run out of town last season only to watch this current group of underachievers (including the GM) continue to underachieve to an even greater extent. Gerber wasn't good this season, but he was also the backup netminder, making only 14 starts and posting an .899 save percentage that is miles better than what netminders like Chris Osgood, Vesa Toskala, Mathieu Garon and Manny Legace have managed this season.

... and Greg Wyshynski from his Puck Daddy blog:

It's said every coach is hired to one day be fired; that was never more evident than when Craig Hartsburg was given the Ottawa Senators' bench last summer.

He was a completely pedestrian choice, hired because he was a disciplinarian for an egomaniacal roster; or because of his Canadian junior hockey fame; or because Florida Panthers Coach Peter DeBoer wanted too much job-security and money as the frontrunner.

So while DeBoer is being touted as a Jack Adams candidate while turning the Panthers into playoff contenders, Hartsburg was fired today by the Senators after going 17-27-7 for 41 points -- third-worst in the NHL. If his job was to light a fire under every player not named Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson or Jason Spezza, he failed; hell, according to one Columbus Blue Jackets player, Spezza basically quit, too. The team was an unmitigated disaster, and when Hartsburg wasn't exacerbating its problems he was also helpless to fix them.

... and Adam Proteau of The Hockey News on his aptly-titled Adam Proteau Blog:

The move was less than a shock, considering Ottawa has been languishing at the bottom of the NHL standings for months. But it doesn’t speak to the real problem with the Sens – namely, the holy trinity of salary cap killers that is Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson.

[...]

If owner Eugene Melnyk and Ottawa GM Bryan Murray need to see an example of cap management done right, they ought to look to the Calgary Flames, who, like the Sens, pay out big bucks to three of their players. The big difference is that in Calgary, one of those three (Jarome Iginla) plays forward, one (Dion Phaneuf) plays defense, and one (Miikka Kiprusoff) plays in net.

In other words, the Flames have a balance and symmetry to their on-ice and financial plans that serves the overall needs of the organization well.

The Sens have nothing of the sort – and that pronounced imbalance played a major role in costing Hartsburg his job.

... and Jeff Marek's blog on CBC.ca:

After 48 games the Ottawa Senators’ brass decided they had seen enough, lost enough and needed to do something to shake up the organization. The solution? Fire head coach Craig Hartsburg.

As Scott Morrison said on Hockey Night Online Monday … it’s Groundhog Day, indeed.

[...]

Prediction: Ottawa rides out the rest of the season, win lose or shootout and come July 1 completely overhauls this once-mighty squad. One of the best never to have won the Stanley Cup is about to get a complete makeover. Who coaches and who manages? There has been talk going back to the world junior tournament that Pat Quinn and Bob Nicholson could come in as a combo package. We’ll have to wait and see about that one.

... and Sports Illustrated's Michael Farber's Inside the NHL blog:

Instead of getting ahead of the market, Murray locked himself into talents who are not bedrock players despite their offensive numbers (Heatley and Spezza) and left the Senators with a defense that is not adept at moving the puck or joining the rush. He also has too many players, including Fisher (seven goals) and Antoine Vermette (six), who'd be more attractive if they were making at least $1 million less per year than they are now. Like Paddock, an admirable man and former Ottawa assistant coach who was favored by the players, and Hartsburg, previously a moderately successful NHL head coach, Murray simply backed the wrong people.

Maybe Clouston can provide the good housecleaning the Senators need in his first NHL job, but it's a long shot. A better bet last summer might have been the one man seemingly capable of shoveling these Augean Stables -- John Tortorella -- but, according to sources, the former coach of the 2004 Cup champion Lightning never received an interview. Now, the abrasive Tortorella can be a pebble in the shoe of his players, which might have made for a stylistic mismatch, but Murray should have at least heard some of his ideas before anointing Hartsburg.

Would Ottawa have taken to an American as a coach? If he won, guaranteed.

For a team that has been an annual playoff participant for more than a decade, the coaching switch probably comes too late. Unless Murray can change the culture of the team -- or Melnyk identifies a GM he thinks can do it -- the foundering Senators will continue to fade.

... and The Hockey News' Ken Campbell's Campbell's Cuts blog:

Pretty tough to argue with that logic when it comes to the Ottawa Senators firing Craig Hartsburg just 48 games into his tenure in Canada’s capital. If there were a coaches’ union, you can bet it would be processing the paperwork right now for a grievance against the Senators for firing their coach without just cause.

What the Senators did today is what drives coaches bonkers and it should. But what it will also do is drive any prime coaching candidates away from Ottawa if they have a choice between the Senators and almost any other organization in the league.

Is there anyone out there who believes that any of the stink from this mess in Ottawa should be sticking to Hartsburg at the moment? Hartsburg is a quality coach who has succeeded at every level of hockey and it’s amazing that over the course of 48 games, he somehow worked in a way that merited him being fired.

... and me, personally? Thank you for asking.

Bryan Murray, once again, made the wrong choice when deciding who should coach this team. That much is clear. And he's made some highly suspect personnel decisions, obviously, with the albatross-contracts to Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, Mike Fisher, and even Chris Kelly. Can he fix it? Shit, I hope so, or else this rebuilding will be pretty damned long. Should he be given the chance to fix his own mistakes? I certainly think so, but many people have different opinions of that--and their opinions are certainly valid.

And, with regards to the Cory Clouston hiring: I say we give the guy at least one game, maybe a few, to prove just what he can do in the NHL. The Sens are pretty much a write-off this season, anyway, so let's give it some time.

Only one constant in Bingo this year: Success

About a week ago, Bingo beat writer and blogger Michael Sharp documented the adversity through which the Binghamton Senators have, somehow, successfully navigated to get off to their best start in franchise history: Then 21-12-6 (48 points), now 23-13-6 (52 points). He offered a list of some of the things the team has overcome (directly quoting Sharp):

• "Brad Isbister, sold to B-Sens fans as a potential top-six forward here, opts to head to Switzerland, rather than report in training camp.
• "Second-year center Alexander Nikulin, last season's third-leading scorer, and another top-six guy entering the season, threatens to return home to Russia if he is not traded. Eventually, he gets his wish, getting shipped to the Phoenix organization the same day he walks out on the B-Sens.
• "Second-year center Cody Bass, while playing on recall with Ottawa, is lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
• "Rookie forward Kaspars Daugavins chooses to return to juniors in late December. He had just three points in 23 games, but he'd been playing on a line with Josh Hennessy and Ryan Shannon just before his decision.
• "This first half has featured 14 call-ups to Ottawa, most recently goaltender Brian Elliott, an all-star and arguably the team's first-half MVP. It doesn't appear he's returning any time soon.
• "Eight players have missed at least eight straight games with an injury down here. That doesn't include Shannon, who missed time with a concussion while on recall with Ottawa.
• "Brendan Bell and Brian Lee, two top-four defensemen for Binghamton, appear to be sticking in Ottawa. Bell has been there since Nov. 16. Lee has already logged 18 games with the big club.
• "The schedule was ridiculous in November, with two stretches of seven games in 10 days. One stretch included a lengthy trip to Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. And both came amidst a period of heavy injuries and call-ups."

Although it's not confirmed, it sure looks like Elliott will be in Ottawa for the rest of the season, and one of Bell or Lee will more than likely stick around, as well. Binghamton coach Cory Clouston has taken his fair share of criticism, but he's got to be commended for keeping this team rolling. And Sens GM Bryan Murray and Assistant GM Tim Murray both have to be commended for, at least to date, re-stocking the Senators minor-league pro depth.

I've met a few Habs fans who were alright

In response to Blood Red Army

You might not believe me, but there are actually some Habs fans who aren't so bad. Most of them seem to be a bit crazy, though, and are absurdly defensive of the Euro-Habs' honour. And maybe a few of them are crazy enough to set police cars on fire when they win a single playoff series. But I've actually got a few friends who are Habs fans, a couple of whom actually appreciate the comedy behind the No Habs No! campaign.

Really, though, I've got to give kudos to the ongoing hilarity at Four Habs Fans, a fan blog regarding--you guessed it--the Canadiens. The most hilarious have been their series of "guest blogs" from baby Jaro, Jaroslav Halak. Here's part of his most recent post, a game review of the 5-4 shootout win against Ottawa that doubles as a movie review of E.T. (apparently Brian Elliott's last name as well as Ottawa playing like aliens reminded Jaro of the "big guy with long neck"):

"Thees jast great game for me but teem pley like crep. But all hole game I look at Otawa and they make me sad in my heart. Like if my heart have litel eyes and litel heart teers come out of eyes in my heart and I cry inside. Otawa you so diferent now! Before, last yeer, I go to Otawa and have very soft poo in my ass becase so nervous otawa so good! Otawa you before like King Kong of hackey and stupide teem like Mentreal like Empire Building and you climb all on us teem I cry on bus every time to Otawa becase I know Otawa you Kong and me litel great Jaro like butterfly with eating deesorder.

"But Otawa, you change! You no Kong! You like alien, like agly alien in the space outside from the planet of erth! Hahahahahaha! Otawa so like alien."

Awesome. Maybe Greg Wyshynski is right, and a lot of their other content is "vulgar, nasty, and tasteless", but the Great Jaro posts were so amazing that I've looked past the poor taste and installed Four Habs Fans on the Sens Army Blog blogroll--the first, and perhaps only, Habs blog to get that honour.

The Ottawa Boo-Bird (Boobirdicus canadensis)

Sens Army is bitter these days.

Alexei Yashin started Ottawa's bitterness with his tremendously self-involved mid-contract renegotiation demands, and Sens fans let him know just how well-liked he was when he returned to the lineup, and every time he returned with the New York Islanders after that. Nowadays, other players are feeling (or hearing) Sens Army's anger, from Zdeno Chara (after walking away from a team that helped him develop from a sideshow attraction on Long Island to an elite defenceman) to Wade Redden (who, after receiving a standing ovation for all the good he did in town, had the boos rain down on him for [we assume] refusing to waive his no-trade clause twice and then walking away in the off-season) and, now, Joe Corvo (who demanded a trade because he wasn't a fan of Ottawa's small-town atmosphere and incredibly invasive hockey interest). And that's just with former Senators, there are plenty of others (Chris Pronger, Sidney Crosby, and lots more, I'm sure).

And the attendants to Scotiabank Place have no qualms booing current players, when they appear unmotivated or have an impotent powerplay opportunity. It's been happening a lot recently, and, after spending so much money to get in to the building, fans have a right to do so.

The 6th Sens blogger Graeme Nichols thinks booing Redden is a reflection of Ottawa fans "smartening up". SENS Town blogger Steve thinks it's high time Sens Army lets Corvo know that he didn't have it so bad.

This post is really just a observational thing, really. And I'd be interested to know who Sens Army enjoys booing the most, and how they feel about booing former heroes Redden and Corvo.

The weirdest thing about the failed road trip

"The weirdest thing about these two weeks wasn't that Jason Spezza was actually better than a point per game (3G, 4A, 7P, 6GP), or that the Senators finally appear prepared to waive Martin Gerber (two years too late, some would say), or even that a second line of Antoine Vermette (1G, 4A), Chris Kelly (2G, 1A), and Jesse Winchester (0G, 2A) was actually able to produce three secondary-scoring goals. It's that the Senators have somehow still not made a single trade, let alone a significant one, since the beginning of this travesty of a season. And, with apparent eagerness to start giving players away, the Senators are counting down the days until the John Tavares/Victor Hedman sweepstakes."

That's what I said on my other blog, the Northeast Division section of NHL Full Access. Thoughts?

Ruutu "just a rat running around": Ovechkin

I was just looking at some archived headlines I'd bookmarked, and came across a guest column from Tarik El-Bashir's Washington Post blog featuring an interview with Alex Ovechkin. It was the infamous column where Ovechkin described his pillow fights with teammate Alex Semin, but the newest incarnation of Alex the Great also had some... unkind things to say about Sens pest Jarkko Ruutu. He said Ruutu is the "most unpleasant" player he's ever played against:

"Probably (the ex-Penguin, now a Senator) Jarkko Ruutu. He is the dirtiest player and does everything in an underhanded way. Just a rat running around..."

That's just prime. I guess he's doing his job. But really, he is the least pleasant to play against? I didn't think he was the league's elite pest, but if the league's best player thinks he's the league biggest pest, I guess that says a lot.

Voices on the Alfredsson incident

After Daniel Alfredsson was knocked out of the game versus Dallas a few days ago, I posted a column on el capitano and the need for his teammates to stand up for him--and other players--when they're victims of cheapshots. Whether intentional or unintentional, or legal or illegal, I think there's definite value in terms of team dynamics when one teammate sees another stick up for him.

A couple of days later, former Senators and league enforcer Andre Roy agreed with me. A number of commenters agreed with me, as well, although some didn't--which is fair. Another member of the Senslogosphere disagreed with me, too, in Graeme Nichols over on The 6th Sens. He wrote, in fact, two posts about: The initial one, expressing his disappointment that fans such as myself were still sore over the lack of "retributive justice" after the hit despite the team getting the full two points, and a second one in response to a comment I made on the first one. Here's an excerpt of his second post:

Envision the Senators falling short of the Playoffs by one point? It might not seem like it at the time, since Ottawa stinks right now, but the two points against Dallas could wind up being worthwhile. When you way the potential consequences of the future, retribution should never win out over a potential playoff birth. Well, unless you're Eugene Melnyk and believe that this team will finish as a top four seed in the East. Otherwise, this team can ill-afford to lose any points.

That's the beauty of the balance of the blogosphere; a variety of voices, with equal rights and platforms to express them.

My only question, though: Why couldn't the Sens get retribution on the scoreboard, in terms of the two points, as well as in the retributive-justice department?

P.S. Funny comment I heard about the incident: Everyone knows how far into the doghouse (Craig Hartsburg's, the media's, and a lot of fans') Jason Spezza is; imagine he jumped Jere Lehtinen right after that hit? It's like drawing a get-out-of-doghouse-free card.

P.P.S. Oh yeah, happy holidays, too. My Christmas wasn't as Sens-tastic as last year's was, but it was great nonetheless.

The Rumour Mill: It's a-churning

Despite the fact that the holiday roster-freeze is almost in full effect, the Sens seem to be the centrepiece of a whole lot of trade rumours that are going on now.

Let's talk about the most commonly-cited (a seldom correct) rumour-monger: Eklund. In the past couple of weeks, he's linked the Sens to deals with Jay Bouwmeester, Cory Murphy, Tom Preissing, Vesa Toskala, Brendan Shanahan, and Mats Sundin. The 6th Sens thinks he might be compensating for the lack of a designated Sens blogger, which is probably more reasonable than a lot of the names on that list.

The Bouwmeester possibility is intriguing, and would be pretty nice. Although his offensive numbers aren't incredible, he's really fast, big, and is one of the best skaters in the league. He can pass, too, and would look good with Filip Kuba on the first powerplay unit.

Still, the most intriguing possibility seems to be the Sundin sweepstakes. We've kept the Sundin talk low here at Sens Army, but Bryan Murray's persistence in signing the Swedish centre came up today in the Ottawa Sun (the ever-reliable trade-breaker that released the Evgeni Malkin-to-Los Angeles deal that never happened), so I figure why not discuss it. First off, I don't think Sundin is coming to Ottawa. He's got to know we'd like his help, but the Sens aren't in a good position in the standings, don't have a lot of cap room (although Murray said he'd make room), and are among the biggest rivals of his beloved Maple Leafs. You could make a lot of the same arguments about the Montréal Canadiens. He might not want to deal with the travel schedule of a Western Conference team like the Vancouver Canucks, but they've been the strongest contenders and the Sun said their 2-year, $20M offer is still on the table. After them are the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers, but who knows with them.

Still, even if it is unlikely, imagine Sundin alongside Daniel Alfredsson; wouldn't that make Peter Forsberg want to play with his Swedish brethren? 21-13-11. Make it happen, Murray.

Sens need some All-Star love

I'm going to have to give new entry to the Sens blogosphere Sens Town some credit a positive mention (Pos-Mens) for proposing that Sens fans vote for the Ottawa representation in the All-Star Game, namely Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson, and Chris Phillips (really?).

Think of it as an extension of the No Habs No! Campaign, as the Montréal Canadiens representation at the game looks like it will be pretty ridiculous. Although Sidney Crosby has now taken over first place in forward voting, so it's no longer a Habs sweep, Mike Komisarek and Andrei Markov are set-up as the far-and-away leaders on defence. And they are followed not-so-closely by Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, both Pittsburgh Penguins, neither of whom have played a game this season, neither of whom are expected to be healthy in time for the All-Star Game. (No, there's nothing wrong with the All-Star voting system.)

And while we're at it, why not a write-in campaign for Alex Auld? He's probably the most important Senator so far this season, although Alfredsson could give him a run for his money. As of 11:55 on Sunday night, Auld has an incredible 2,625 votes to his name. And while we're at it, let's write-in Filip Kuba, who had 3,179 votes as of Sunday night, as thanks for all his offensive output this season (where would our powerplay be without him?).

Over at The 6th Sens, they're proposing a Vote For Kelly campaign, noting the similarity Chris Kelly has to that loveable student president, Pedro of Napolean Dynamite fame. It's all in the moustache, but I think that rather than split the vote, let's just go with the Big Three for All-Star honours.

No Habs No! on Puck Daddy

I got an e-mail from Greg Wyshynski, Yahoo! Sports' blogosphere-renowned Puck Daddy, for an interview about Sens Army Blog's new and ongoing No Habs No! campaign. What is No Habs No!, you ask? It's a reward-system designed to encourage players to score a game-winning goal against Montreal this season by sending them a hand-written letter and $1.00 in local currency as a way of saying thank you. The result was one of today's posts on the blog, "Fans put price on Montreal misery, offer bounties for Habs defeats". The interview was a lot of fun, and thanks to Wyshynski for contacting me. Here's a short excerpt, and it's a good idea to check out Puck Daddy to read the whole thing:

Each "bounty" will be sent in local currency of the player's team. "Someone in the USA will receive an American dollar [in quarters or a dollar bill]; anyone from Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton will receive a Loonie; anyone from Ottawa will receive a collector's edition Canadian dollar bill; and anyone from the Leafs will receive a Canadian Tire dollar," said Raaymakers. "I considered sending the equivalent of one U.S. dollar in the currency of the scorer's birthplace, but I couldn't get ₩1,468 in South Korean won to send to Richard Park."

[...]

[Wyshynski] Finally, what would your reaction be if the Habs were to win the Stanley Cup in their 100th season?

[ME] If the Habs won the Cup this year, it would be a storybook ending. But I don't like storybooks, I like non-fiction.

In all seriousness, though, Ottawa is so close to Montréal that if the Sens win the Cup, I'm sure someone would bring it to the island so that Habs fans could pretend they won it in their centenary.

Maybe we could start the parade in Montréal. Too soon?

There have been a bunch of comments from Puck Daddy readers on the post, so it's only fair if I address some of them:

• "Man, that's golden. I wish I would've thought of something like that" - banginpanger.blogspot.com
  
  Thanks, friend, even if you are a Buffalo Sabres blogger.
  
  
• "Seriously, any anti-Habs campaign is a step in the right direction... even if it is from a Sens fan... " - Josh T
  
  I think you mean especially if it is from a Sens fan. Also, this isn't a team-specific campaign... fans from any NHL team who hate the Habs are free to support the No Habs No! campaign.
  
  
• "As a sens fan, I'm guessing he thought about doing this for the leafs, but it was just going to cost too much money." - Liner
  
  BAM! Leafs suck.
  
  
• "One look at that stationery and handwriting and it's safe to guess his return address includes a cell block reference." - m_forbes37
  
  That's between me, my lawyer, and the Habs fan I attacked outside of Marshy's.
  
  
• "The ransom-note font is a nice touch" - sirhoth
  
  Thanks, although that is seriously my handwriting. If it looks like a death-threat letter that Jeff Friesen received in 2003 after he scored the game (and series) -winning goal in the 2003 Eastern Conference Final or Chris Pronger received after elbowing Dean McAmmond in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
  
  
• "I wonder what [Blake] Wheeler, [Richard] Park, and [Tomas] Fleischmann thought when they got the letter and money." - okuwt
  
  I really, really hope to find out. If I receive any contact from one of the players who receive my letter, I'll be sure to make it available on the blog.

So, we've received $5 from a donor who requests anonymity, but supports the work that we're doing in the No Habs No! campaign strongly. Anyone else who'd like to offer a donation to support the campaign, check out the 'donate' button at the bottom of the page, or send a PayPal donation to sensarmyblog@gmail.com. And, if you're interested, feel free to post any special requests for potential game-winners you'd like the donation to support.

Richardson retires, will likely move into coaching

After going unclaimed on waivers, Luke Richardson has decided that it's time to hang up the skates for good, and is expected to move forward in some coaching capacity with the Ottawa Senators. Although nothing has been confirmed, Richardson has had conversation with Sens GM Bryan Murray about the move, and it seems like a certainty that he'll get some bench-boss job with Ottawa. (I called it.)

I'm certain there are going to be fans who think that Richardson should have called it a career before this season started--and even those who thing last year was one too many--but he's done well for the Senators. He did more than was expected last season, and the Sens had nothing to lose when they invited for a tryout and then, after a solid tryout (he outplayed Alex Picard, Brian Lee, Brendan Bell, and Christoph Schubert in training camp) re-signed him to a two-way contract. It's not even like he cost the Sens very much, as his cap hit will come down from the $500k NHL salary he signed, and it gave the Senators the opportunity to bring a knowledgeable long-time NHL veteran into the organization, possibly for years to come.

I can see Richardson stepping into one of two roles: Either as an 'eye-in-the-sky', watching the game from the press box and calling down with things he's noticed from above. Or he'll be a defensive coach with developing defensive prospects, which the Senators suddenly have quite a few of--Picard, Lee, Tomas Kudelka, Mattias Karlsson, Ben Blood, Eric Gryba, Erik Karlsson, Patrick Wiercoch, and Mark Borowiecki. Sure, some of those projects are probably finished (cough*KUDELKA*cough) and some won't work out, but having someone with the experience Richardson has sure won't hurt their development.

Jeremy Milks over at Black Aces was the first to ask what would happen to Richardson's moustache, grown in solidarity with his fellow players to ease the tension during their losing streak, now that he's retired. I, for one, think he should keep it. Not only because he looks awesome (read: hilarious), but also because he's expected to be a player's coach, so it's only fitting that he acts like on of the players.

Whatever happens to Richardson or the Richardstache, I wish him (and it) the best of luck.

Prospects' places on the Sens, according to King 5

An interesting (and very random) article on the Sens' prospects, and whether they could help the team right now, was posted on King5.com--a television news network in Seattle, Washington--last weekend. It only focussed on Brian Elliott, Brian Lee, and Erik Karlsson, but it was a pretty good read nonetheless. The gist of the post is that Ottawa has a few assets to trade, but our farm system isn't nearly as deep as others in the league.

Here's some of what they said about Elliott:

"You can't get much luckier than the Ottawa Senators did when they selected Brian Elliott with the second last pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft. Elliott played for the University of Wisconsin and spent his first two seasons as the team's backup goaltender. However, he made the most of the few starts he got and when he finally earned the starting job in the 2005-06 season, he did not disappoint. Elliott led his team with a 25-5-3 record and a stunning 1.55 GAA and .938 save percentage in 35 games. Elliott showed his breakout season was no fluke with a 2.10 GAA and .923 save percentage in 36 games for Wisconsin in 2006-07. Elliott struggled early on in 2007-08 as he adjusted to the AHL. However, he still bounced back and managed to finish the season with a 2.81 GAA and .915 save percentage in 44 games while splitting time with Jeff Glass. This season, Elliott has emerged as the AHL's Binghamton Senators' clear starting goaltender with a 2.81 GAA and .913 save percentage in his first 14 games."

The Rumour Mill: You're having a fire sale?!?!

Given the Senators' tough--or terrible--record to start the season, a lot of people have been calling for trades. The calls tail off a bit after a win, but always come back with a vengeance if the team loses the next game. Which is part of living in a hockey-mad city filled with hockey-mad fans and hockey-mad media members.

There are the obvious "tradeable assets": Antoine Vermette, Christoph Schubert, Dean McAmmond (although his name has dropped off recently), and prospects, names whose presence aren't really surprising. The rumour-mongers really ramped things up when they brought in Mike Fisher and his no-movement clause, and Jason Spezza and his career point-per-game numbers. All of these players, whether justified or not, have been criticized for lacking production, hustle, or both.

Just when you think you've heard it all, though, the Bleacher Report publishes an article suggesting that it's time to part ways with Daniel Alfredsson in order to begin a youth-movement rebuilding project. Yes, Alfredsson, the player who just weeks ago signed a contract extension (including a no-trade clause) after the team owner said he wanted him to be a career Senator, who is probably the most popular player in Senators history, who is definitely the most productive player in Senators history, who has been one of few bright spots for the Senators over the last calendar year.

Now, to be fair, Bleacher Report is not suggesting that Alfredsson is a problem for the Senators. Quite the opposite, in fact; thanks to his effectiveness, the author suggests that his value is very high for a contender looking to go over the top, and that the move would shake up the team. And they say that trading Spezza or Dany Heatley would be a mistake as they're younger and coming into their prime.

To me, it's a ridiculous suggestion. It seems obvious that the front office is not even considering the possibility of thinking about accepting any offers for the captain. I mean... Bryan Murray just tore up his old contract and negotiated a new one that would pay him more, just to guarantee he would stay in the city for the rest of his career. And Alfredsson's value in Ottawa, thanks in large part to intangibles, is likely higher here than it would be anywhere else--meaning that the Senators would almost definitely lose any trade they made with him.

So, in honour of this and other stupid trade suggestions, I present you with a stupid recreation of a stupid acting audition by a stupid character on a stupid television show. (Note: For our purposes, 'stupid' is synonymous with 'hilarious'.)



(Another note: For those of unfamiliar with the show, the above YouTube video is an homage to a scene featuring Tobias Funke on the show Arrested Development. Highly recommended.)

Zubov sent back down, despite awesomeness

Well, I suppose 'awesomeness' might be a little strong, but I'll definitely give him credit for solidness. He may not have scored a point in four games, but Ilya Zubov had some pretty good chances and would have notched an assist if Antoine Vermette wasn't in the slump of slumps recently. The Chelyabinsk, Russia native still managed five shots in his four games, really held his own on the powerplay, and was a big part of the pressure the Bingo Line (aka the '87 Line, with Cody Bass and Nick Foligno) was able to exert in their two games together. Given more chances, he could definitely have gotten some points for the Senators, but the B-Sens need his help much more--they haven't scored a goal in three games now.

So, according to Binghamton Senators beat writer Michael Sharp, Zubov is on his way back to Binghamton, at least for now. It may be temporary until the Sens play on Thursday, but more likely Bryan Murray (or Craig Hartsburg) decided that he'd be utilized more effectively and in a proper offensive role in Bingo. At least Murray knows that he's got a capable young kid down on the farm, just in case he wants to trade a forward for a defenceman. (cough*VERMETTE*cough Just joking, I think Vermette is working his ass off, but maybe he does need a change of scenery. And he definitely needs to hit the net once in a while.)

Keep your chin up, Zubov. And please, although I don't think you're the type to walk out on your contract, don't go back to Russia to play in the KHL.

Is this year worst than last?

According to James Mirtle's statistics on From The Rink, it is--in the most important measures, anyway, including the projected points based on the season to date. Ottawa is projected to have the most significant drop in points, with 26 fewer points in the final standings (68, compared to 94 in 2007-08). Ottawa is also projected to have the most significant drop-off in goals against, with 67 fewer goals-for (pro-rated at 191 this season, compared to 258 in 2007-08).

On the bright side, though, goals-against numbers are significantly better. Ottawa's projection is to have 37 fewer goals-against this season compared to last season, which is fifth-largest improvement in the league (behind only Minnesota, Los Angeles, Boston, and Tampa Bay).

And goaltending has been much stronger, as well; thank you, Alex Auld. Ottawa's save percentage is setting up for a 1.47 per cent improvement over 2007-08, jumping up from .902 to .916--good for fourth-best in the league.

What does all this mean? Well, given the fact that the season is barely 1/5 over, not a lot. Not a lot at all. But it's still interesting to look into.