Fuck Lalime. Bring back Tugnutt!

Is this rock bottom for Senators reporting?

Other than absolutely conforming to "Stuff sports writers like" Rule #1, this story mixes opinion and journalism seamlessly to create a genre I call "fiction".

Sure, Lalime could come back. But let me sum up the story in a couple sentences.

Brennan: Do you like getting paid, Patrick Lalime?

Lalime: Sure.

Brennan: How about being paid... in Ottawa?!

Lalime: Why the fuck not.

Brennan: Hey Bryan Murray, if you had to rate the chances of Lalime coming back to the Sens either "likely" or "purple", what would you rate it?

Murray: Ummm... "likely"?

Brennan: Booyah.

Sorry Brennan, not buying it.

Building "character" in the dressing room

A lot is being said in the fallout of the Ray Emery buyout, and the subsequent trade of Brian McGrattan hasn't put any water on the fires of discussion about the Senators' team dynamics. The Ottawa Citizen is calling it an "image overhaul", but I don't think that's accurate. You don't solve an image by sending people away; you solve a reality be getting rid of the problem. So I would be inclined to agree with Alanah McGinley of Kukla's Korner in her analysis of "The Bryan Murray Show" as little more than a deflection tactic, using buzzwords like "accountability" and "character" to avoid discussing real problems.

While reading the Citizen's coverage of the trend today, some quotes from Murray had me wondering what it was we were dealing with before Emery and McGrattan were dumped:

"I want a team of real character people," Murray said, watching the club's younger players and recent draftees go through the second day of an arduous development camp at the Bell Sensplex. "I definitely want good people in the room to clear up that perception. Fans are influenced by what they read and hear, and we want to keep good people.

"Obviously, we're looking to make the team better and get in better shape in that area."

What is it we are dealing with, Bryan? This was obviously never simply a perception. Murray's comments have acknowledged that there have been problems in the dressing room, and that the two most recent transactions were measures meant to defuse the bomb that blew up the 2007-08 season before it could do any damage to the 2008-09 season (man, I am on a roll with the metaphors right now!).

If you ask long-time Senators fans for a common denominator that exists between the three biggest departures from the roster to date this season (McGrattan, Emery, and Wade Redden), they won't quote their abilities to fight. I've got no proof, and have no right to make accusations, but the fact remains that all three have been linked with off-ice shenanigans, at least in rumours. I'm not trying to lend credibility to the rumours, I'm simply acknowledging that they exist.

Those long-time Sens fans may also remember an "image overhaul" intended to clean up the attitude in the dressing room from years ago. This one involved André Roy, and the affects his decisions or outlook may have had on who was at the time a very promising developing Wade Redden. Despite being a fan-favourite, Roy was traded for Juha Ylonen in order to clean up the dressing room, so we were told.

It deserves to be discussed that McGrattan and Emery were two of the best friends of much-maligned (at least this summer) Jason Spezza. Although Spezza's apparent disinclination to seriously address the immaturity in his game--a hesitancy to back-check consistenly, a refusal to stop making no-look backhand passes--has not been linked to the deals, he needs to grow his game. And his old friends, evidenced by their on- and off-ice attitudes, were not promoting that maturity. Firing John Paddock and bringing in Martin Lapointe to stop the cancer proved insufficient, so Murray must have believed that the tumour was a lack of work ethic--given form in Emery and McGrattan, and perhaps others--and had to be cut out.

Time will tell whether or not these moves will work as intended. Another very interesting point raised in the above-linked story on Kukla's Corner is the media in Ottawa, and why these stories--which are apparently known by everyone--are never reported. Is it a refusal to use anonymous sources? Give me a break--it's obvious that in his rumour-reporting, Bruce Garrioch has no problem with quoting the anonymous. Is it wanting to stick to the on-ice news? Last year was evidence that off-ice problems make on-ice news. Is it an unwillingness to bite the hand that feeds you? Well, if you're afraid to report the truth out of fear for the repercussions, journalism might not be you true calling.

Salary cap goes up $6.4M

Photo from sxc.hu

Apparently league revenues went up again last season, and the new salary cap is $56.7M, and the new salary floor is $40.7M. Funny note: after only four years, the salary floor is now higher than the salary cap was in its first year. Take that, small-market teams.

This is good for the on-ice product of teams like the Senators, where the owner(s) (Eugene Melnyk, in our case) have vowed to spend the maximum in order to ice the best roster possible. Teams such as Nashville, who set their own salary caps which are below the league cap, become the have-nots as the franchise disparity-gap grows wider.

If the league is making too much money, I have an idea: How about the Canadian teams, like our Senators, lower ticket prices a bit? It was a comment on the CBC article, and I have to say, it's a pretty good point.

I also have to wonder whether, as it becomes more apparent that the players may have won the most recent CBA dispute with the league, will we see yet another lockout, in this CBA negotiation or the next? I hope not.

McGrattan traded to Coyotes?

You'll notice that by adding a question mark at the end of my headline, I've absolved myself from any wrongdoing should my report prove innacurate. There was really no need, though, as the Senators have released an advisory about the deal, in which Ottawa received a fifth-round pick for the 2009 draft in exchange for the pugilistic services of winger Brian McGrattan.

I am a McGrattan fan. Last year, I wrote a story about how he deserved better than what he was getting from the Senators, rarely dressing, and getting little to no ice time when he was in the lineup. I do think that he's got the ability to play at least fourth-line minutes, 6-8 a night, and he's one of the league's premiere heavyweights. If the Senators had no plans to play him, however, I do think that the right thing to do was trade him to a team where he'd have an opportunity to develop his game.

In Phoenix, Grats will likely get playing time, and I think getting into a full season will greatly help his endurance. He's got speed in straight lines, can hit people out of the arena, and fights--as I said--with the best. Good luck in Phoenix.

I suppose that new coach Craig Hartsburg felt that with Cody Bass and Chris Neil, the team had enough to get through a season, and an enforcer was unnecessary. Or maybe the Sens plan on signing one of Sean Avery or Georges Laraque, two unrestricted free agents with plenty of gumption.

Headlines with question marks

Part one in an ongoing series:

Stuff sports writers like


When approaching any story, always begin with the most speculative statement of the article and make it your headline. Keeping in mind this statement is pure speculation, and does not have a source or basis in reality, you can absolve yourself of any legal liability by adding a question mark.

"Sudin to become free agent" (too direct, implies you know a fact)

"Sundin to become free agent?" (perfect! With a question mark, this statement is pitch-perfect and reflects your level of speculation).

Let's try again:

"Spezza on the market" (Awful. Can you back this up?)

"Spezza on the market?" (Nice! No need to speak to anyone now. You've done your research by adding a question mark.)

Or, try using this tip in real life in the subject lines of emails dealing with sensitive topics.

"I'm the father of your child" (No! Your best friend might go into shock and not read the rest of the email)

"I'm the father of your child?" (Great! Now you can be sure he'll read the rest of the email: "But seriously, I'm not. I'll see you at the bar at 8.")

Using this simple tip, you too can become a writer for TSN.ca, sportsnet.ca, or the Ottawa Sun. Remember, when you've got absolutely nothing to say, just make some shit up and add a question mark.

SensBlogCon a total success: Report

...oh jeez... where am I? I remember drinking some beer with the guys from Sens Underground, and Don from Battle of Ontario...

Where are my pants?!
....
Why does my mouth taste like pool cues?
...
What the hell am I doing at Scotiabank Place?!
...
WHY AM I WEARING A LEAFS JERSEY?!

"Welcome to the organization, son."

Ahhh! Cliff Fletcher!

"We saw you stumble up on stage around the 7th round of the NHL draft and well, we were just going to trade that pick for Eric Lindros again, so we drafted you."

NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo!

Fletch, it was SensBlogCon, the first ever meeting of the greatest hockey minds in Ottawa. I remember insulting Martin Gerber, and throwing punches at Shredder... How the hell did I make the two-hour trip from Ottawa to Scotiabank Place?!

"Originally, we sent Mats Sundin to get you. But he just kept on driving... so we traded his rights to the Habs for a Quebecois Pizza and a stake in MusiquePlus."

But our combined stories barely tell our readers and fellow bloggers anything about SensBlogCon!

"Then they'll just have to show up at next year's SensBlogCon ... when I'm STILL THE LEAFS GM!"

*Fletch disappears into a puff of smoke that smells vaguely of temperance values and the Scopes monkey trial*

FIN.

Overheard at NHL Draft 2008

"Nashville! Wooo!" (Heard across the entire Scotiabank Place)

"...dat's a pop-tart with de ketchup"

"Tanguay, eh? Enjoy the extra 10 goals, Montreal"

"Who did we draft? Erik Karlsson or Karl Eriksson?"

Other unexpected events:

Standing ovation for Wayne Gretzky? Really? Sure, he's the greatest player ever, but he is the coach of an opposing team now.

18 year-old puts on Leafs jersey... we have a new enemy.

Alfredsson brings up last season before making the Sens' draft choice at the podium... why?

More thoughts

You know who might want to take a risk on a talented young goalie like Ray Emery? A team with very few goaltending prospects and a lackluster starter going into the final year of his contract: the Ottawa Senators.

Everyone got their hate on Garrioch yesterday. That's a cause I've been championing for months!

GM's unhappy with trigger-happy media - CBC
Trade everyone - Black Aces
The Garrioch Effect - Kulkas Korner

Round 2+ - Sens picks
42nd overall - Patrick Wiercioch
79. Zack Smith, c, Swift Current (WHL)
109. Andre Petersson, w, HV 71 Jr. (Sweden)
199. Derek Grant, c, Langley (BCHL)
139. Mark Borowiecki, d, Smiths Falls (CJHL)
199. Emil Sandin, lw, Brynas (Sweden)

...more to come...

Sens trade up to draft Karlsson, re-sign Kelly

It was a busy Friday for Sens fans. After the buyout process of Ray Emery began friday afternoon, the Sens went into the draft looking to make a splash and made one (although it was minor), and re-signed utility forward Chris Kelly to a four-year, $8.5M contract.

Beginning with the draft, Ottawa was slotted to pick eighteenth overall, but decided that when Swedish defenceman Erik Karlsson--who was the fourth-ranked European skater--was still available when the fifteenth pick, the Sens traded picks eighteen and a third-rounder for the 2009 draft to get Nashville's first-round pick in order to draft Karlsson.

Said GM Bryan Murray of Karlsson:

"We had Erik (rated) ninth overall, I think," said Murray of a player who was named the top defenceman at the Under-18 IIHF World Championship earlier this season. "Very definitely, we're happy we could add him. I like big, strong guys but I also like high-end skill people that do things with the puck and create offence on the back end, and it helps our forwards a great deal. I think he brings that for us."

As for Kelly, the deal was made public while I was at the draft (more on that below), but it's pretty exciting after many reports suggested that Kelly and the Senators were far apart in contract talks, and that Kelly was likely to test the free-agent market. And the deal, which works out to a cap hit of $2.125M per season, seems like a reasonable one for a flexible defensive specialist whose role on the team seems certain to increase this season.

As for the draft, it was cool for a bit, but it got old fast. You know how long it seems when you're watching on TV? Well, imagine that without interludes of intense prognosis from Pierre McGuire and Bob McKenzie, and just sitting waiting. But still, it was neat to hear the many trades that were made over the course of the draft. What surprised me was how many decent players were moved (including Mike Cammalleri, R.J. Umberger, Alex Tanguay, and Olli Jokinen). Other than Jokinen (who was traded for Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton and a pick), all the players were traded for draft picks.

Now it's off to the second round! I'm probably only going to stay for the next Sens pick, but I'll be back with a report later.