Posted by Gord Wilson on September 30, 2007

Arrived  in  Wasington  shortly  after  2 this  morning,   no  morning  skate, but   I  did  talk with  John  Paddock  this morning and he's  put  together  a lineup that  will feature  some  veterans, and  many  rookies.

Lines  against  Washington  are as  follows..

Hamel-Kelly-McGrattan
Eaves-Foligno-Donovan
Schubert-Nikulin-Donati
Vermette-Zubov-Bois

Redden-Nycholat
Richardson-Lee
Amadio-Corvo

22-year-old  Brian Elliott  will start the game, and is expected to go from start to finish.

Caps  ice a  very good lineup  with the likes of  Ovechkin,  Nylander, Kozlov, and  Pothier.

Face off at  5,   join  me on the  Team 1200  pre game show  beginning at  3.

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 29, 2007

Game 6 of the pre season for the Senators, who are a perfect  5 and 0  following their  4-2 win over the Flyers on Thursday. 

It was, of course, a  costly  victory for  Ottawa,  who lost  Dean McAmmond, who's out  indefinitely with a  concussion,  following that  devastating hit  he took from Steve Downie  in the 2nd period of that game.

On the positive side, it was another strong  performance from  winger Patrick Eaves, who had a pair of assists,  and now has  5 points in 4  exhibition games.

As for  tonight's game against the  Habs,  Ottawa will ice a very strong  lineup, that includes  Patrick Eaves, who'll  play on the  wing  with  Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley.

As well,  Mike  Fisher  makes his pre-season debut, centering  Daniel Alfredsson and Antoine Vermette.

Martin Gerber gets the call in goal. Ray  Emery was slated to start, but  feels he's  not quite ready to play this weekend.

Cristobal Huet  starts for the Canadiens, who wrap up their pre-season, hoping to improve on their 4 and 3 record.

These two teams met last Saturday, with Jason Spezza  leading the way in a  2-1 Ottawa win. Spezza had a goal and  one assist, and was named the game's first star.

After tonight, the Sens  are off to Washington,  to wrap up their pre-season against the Capitals  tomorrow afternoon,, a 5 pm  start.

cheers, gord

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 27, 2007

Okay,  so  by  now,  I'm  sure  you've  seen "the hit". Of  course, I'm talking  about   Steve Downie's   missle  launch  on  Dean McAmmond in the  2nd period of  Thursday's game against the  Flyers.

You've  seen it,  I've  seen it,  and  so too has  the  NHL.  Fortunately, the game  was  televised  by  Roger's  Cable, so  the  brass  in the  war room in  Toronto  got  an immediate  look at the  incident.

How  immediate  the  NHL  reacts to the  hit  remains  to be seen. But  one  thing is  certain.  It's  a  hit  that is  not  sitting well with  any of the  rank and  file of the  NHL's  players  association.

Reaction from  players  has been quick, and  harsh.  Brian McGratton wasn't  the only  player  to  vow   that   Downie  would " get his",  eventually. Jason  Blake went  as  far as to  say  he  should not be allowed  to play in the NHL... ever.

We  know  that's  not  going to happen, but what  should happen is this.

A  lengthy suspension.  Lengthy  enough  to  finally  send  a message. And  I'm not  talking  20  or   30 games...  but   more  like  60. And  force   the  Flyers  to  have  Downie as  part of their   23 man roster. I'm  not  sure the   cba  would  allow that  to happen, but  its a move that  makes  sense.

The  NHL is in  a   win-win  situation  here.   First,  a  decision on a lengthy  suspension  isn't  like its  affecting  an everyday   NHL player. And  second,  just  what  message  would    60 games or more   send to young players  who  are ,   as   Downie  said,  " just  trying  to get noticed.  Just  trying to make my  mark."

Well, he  made  his mark  all right, but  for all the wrong reasons. His  hit  was  an embarassment  not only to himself and the league, but to his  union.  And  that  was  evidenced  by  the player reaction  from  around the league.

If  the league  were  to hand down  a suspension of  significant  length,  I  can guarantee, inside  the  players association rank and file, there would  be  zero  complaint.  Sure, a  grevience  would be filed, and  PA brass  would  raise a  stink, but  they'd  simply be doing their  jobs.

Quietly, the  players  association  has  been sickened by this hit, as  much as  you and  I.

Steve  Downie  is a  20 year  old  player already  with  a  checkered  past, but  with potentially  several years of playing  as part of his  future.

Dean McAmmond is a  34 year  old  veteran  who's  done  nothing but  demonstrate  fair play and  class  throughout his career. A career that will likely be cut  shorter  than it should because  of this  hit. It's a career  that  right  now sits on hold.

The  NHL  should  move  quickly  on this  matter, and put the career of the  offender,  on hold  as well.

cheers, gord

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 24, 2007

Ahhhh,  hate  is in the air isn't it.   Greetings from Toronto...  my  first blog written from the comforts  of a downtown Toronto hotel,  just a few hours from tonight's game between the Senators and the Leafs.

And  so it  begins. Another  chapter in the rivalry known as the Battle of Ontario.  Yes, there is something  special about this.

And if some of the rookies don't know about it, they're about to find out.

Pre season or not, it's likely some blood will get spilled at the ACC tonight. Leafs are icing a pretty good  lineup ... with the likes of  Sundin, Steen,  Kaberle and McCabe.

Actually, the Leafs' defence is pretty much their starting  six, with the exception of Colaiacovo, who's  not in the lineup.

So it should be Senators  by 3.

Have to tell you, I'm a bit surprised Raycroft is getting the start. Thought for sure Toskala would have been the guy.

No  Alfredsson tonight, last-minute scratch because of a head cold.   

Or maybe it's the  "Toronto flu." He only had about a hundred points against the Leafs last season.

May be the last chance for  some of Ottawa's  lesser lights to shine.  I wouldn't be surprised if there's another  round of  re-assignments very soon.

Okay, better blog off ... the alarm in my room is going off, loud enough to wake up 4 rooms.

Usually it goes off at 4 in the morning.

Enjoy the game,

cheers, gord

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 21, 2007

So, after an impressive 5-4 come-from-behind  win over the Capitals on Thursday, the Senators are off to Montreal following a morning skate on Saturday.  Every road game in pre-season, with the exception of next Sunday's in Washington, is a fly/bus in day of the game kind of deal.

Normally the team heads into the visiting city the night before, but pre-season doesn't require that.

So it's  a 2 hour drive in the afternoon, go right to the rink, and get ready for the 7 o'clock faceoff.

Sens  iced a strong lineup against the Caps on Thursday, and their experience helped. Down by 2 early in the second, the Senators needed their bigger players to go, and go they did.

That being said ...  so far so good for rookie Nick Foligno. 5 points in two games is a good way to get  noticed.

Nick will be back in the lineup against the Habs, in fact  head coach John Paddock told me it's possible he could play all  7 exhibition games.

Same for Brian Lee.

I talked to Lee after Thursday's game, and he wasn't much into offering personal assessment. Thought he played better in game one than 2, but it was a thrill to play against Ovechkin.

Found it cool to hear Shean Donovan say he was real nervous prior to game two. Lots of friends and family in the home rink will do that to you.

Good lineup for the Habs, although  Alfredsson and Phillips won't play.

Spezza and Heatley  will likely see some time together at some point, but not initially, at least at 5-on-5. Heatley with  Zubov and Foligno,  while Spezza  is expected to centre Patrick Eaves and Shean Donovan.

Gerber starts and plays  2 periods ... Jeff Glass the third.

The only thing  I know about the Habs lineup is that Huet starts in goal.

Dean Brown will be in Montreal in the morning, and will pass along their lineup to me. When  i get it ... you'll get it.

This blogging thing is kinda cool. Have to admit, I'm not one to visit these things, but one I have gone to is the one by Alexander Nikulin of the Senators. He's writing for a Russian  newspaper, and it's being translated and posted on hfboards.com. I highly recommend it. It's worth the read.

Talk to you from Montreal.

Cheers, Gord

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 20, 2007

Game  day ... game  2 of the  pre-season and first at home.  Good news for the Senators yesterday and today.

Ray Emery was on the ice  yesterday with teammates and  while he wasn't  stopping much with his  surgically repaired left wrist, he did say afterwards that he was feeling  great and on schedule.

Mike Fisher the same. He  wanted to skate with linemates and  did so today. He, too, hopes to play a few  exhibition games next week.

cheers,  gordo

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 20, 2007

All right, game number one of the pre-season is in the books and by most accounts, a good showing for the Senators following a 4-0 win over the Flyers in London on Tuesday night. Pre-season or not, the object of the game is to win it, and that's what the Senators did, despite being outshot, 52-39.

Two numbers obviously stand out in the summary of Tuesday's game. 52 shots and zero goals against.

I've been asked a few times if the 52 shots was a bit of an exaggeration, but i don't think so.

Martin Gerber's performance was terrific. Not only did he make the first save on all the shots he faced, but he often times was forced to stop a second or third chance. To his credit, he looked poised, and confident in the nets.

Rookies Nick Foligno, and Brian Lee both handled themselves very well in their first bit of game action against other NHLers.

With a goal and two assists, I thought Foligno did a terrific job of simplifying his game ... in other words, playing to his strengths, going hard to the net and hanging around.

But he also took advantage of this linemates, Chris Kelly, and Patrick Eaves. Both were dominant at times.

Eaves is entering a big year. He was slowed last season by a nagging ankle injury, then suffered the concussion during the first round of the playoffs.

He's been flying at camp, and Tuesday his hard work paid off.

Keep in mind, while Eaves is assured a spot on the Senators roster, it's still not known where and who he'll play with.

He might fit in perfectly on the right side with Spezza and Heatley.

And speaking of, both of those players are in the lineup against the Capitals on Thursday ...as are Daniel Alfredsson, Wade Redden, Chris Phillips and Antoine Vermette. Martin Gerber expected to get the start in goal again. He'll play  half the game, then make way for Brian Elliott.

Capitals have given us a 25 man roster that includes the likes of Ovechkin, Kozlov, Nylander, and ex- Senator Brian Pothier.

The Caps as a team are coming off back to back 70-point seasons. They have to be better this year.

And should be ... with additions of Micheal Nylander, Victor Kozlov, and Tom Poti.

It's not likely we'll see as many fights as we did Tuesday in London, but then again, this is pre-season.

Speaking of fights, no Matt Carkner for a while ... he suffered a broken bone in his left hand after landing a wicked left to the head of Riley Cote of the Flyers.

Cote is one tough player, because that left from Carkner was one of the best I've seen.

Okay, time to blog off ... enjoy tonight's tilt.

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 18, 2007

Well, can you believe it? Three months gone in the blink of an eye, and we're set to embark on another NHL season. June 6th, 2007 saw the Anaheim Ducks hoist the Cup in their own rink, and I'm sure Southern California has never been the same. My goodness, the partying that must have gone on there!

Alright, yes, you are sensing sarcasm. And for good reason. While the Ducks fully deserved the win, I don't think that part of North America deserves or fully appreciates the celebration that should go with winning the championship.

Case in point ... there were more fans at the Ottawa Airport on June 7th cheering on the return of the losing team than there were outside the Honda Center in Anaheim, the night their team won everything.

What's wrong with that picture!

In any case, I digress.

What this Blog is all about is life around the NHL. An opportunity, on a regular basis, to offer up an opinion or two on the happenings around the league. Whether it be a player trade, a coach firing, a bonehead comment from an overzealous general manager, or maybe it's a quirk in the schedule. Here's the forum to comment on it. And I welcome your comments as well.

The off-season was an interesting one for a lot of teams in the NHL. Interesting for teams that didn't make the playoffs, and interesting for teams that did.

July 1st was obviously the day everyone anticipated really from the last day of the regular season. Teams that didn't qualify for post season play, were already laying the groundwork for the most significant "unrestricted free agency" day of the year.

And while I don't think it completely lived up to the hype ... there certainly were some interesting signings. On July 1st, Eastern teams caught much of the spotlight. The Philadelphia Flyers were one of those, and they had to. An awful year last season meant they had nowhere to go but up. The big question is, can a player 5-7 be enough to put them back to where they're used to being. Daniel Briere plays big for a little man, but are his shoulders broad enough for Broad Street. Briere is one of 5 significant moves general manager Paul Holmgren made during the summer. Adding Hartnell and Lupul up front gives Philly more depth and scoring, while Timonen and Smith on defence gives the back end more skill and experience. Getting Martin Biron under contract long term doesn't hurt ... but how much does it help? Biron hasn't been " the man" yet in his career. A slow start could lead to his undoing, if the Flyer faithful stay true to form.

For me, it's the New York Rangers who got the biggest bang for their buck. Adding heavyweights Chris Drury and Scott Gomez should push the Rangers to the top of the Atlantic Division, if not the Eastern Conference.

I'd also keep an eye on the Florida Panthers. Our old buddy Jacques Martin got the goalie he so desperately needed in Tomas Vokoun, and his young players should benefit from last season's late push that saw the team just miss making the playoffs. To me, the Panthers are playoff bound this year.

Sid the Kid will have another phenomenal year, but will the rest of his Penguins? Remember, they weren't expected to do all that much last year (certainly not have a 105 point season), but expectations and pressures will be different this time around.

Out west, I don't think anyone is wrong in expecting the Ducks to be the team to beat this year. With or without Scott Niedermayer, Randy Carlyle won't let anyone rest on laurels, especially the young talent this club is blessed with. I suppose it will be easy to write off the Predators. And what a shame. Once thought to be a good young team for years to come, now it almost seems like it's back to square one for David Poile and company.

The Canucks will be an interesting team to watch. It's quite possible they could challenge for top spot in the conference, if Roberto Luongo has another MVP type season.

Over the last few seasons, too many people have pegged the Sharks to be the team to watch, but over the last few seasons, the Sharks have made fools out of too many people, so in this Blog, I'll stay away from San Jose.

I will predict this about the West ... at least 2 teams that failed to make the playoffs last year, Colorado and St. Louis, will finish top 8 this time around.

In my travels around the NHL over the next 8 months, I hope to use this Blog to share my experiences. Voice an opinion. And hear from you as well.

Cheers, Gord

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 18, 2007

Well, here we are just a little over three months since the last time we watched the Senators play, and now it's time to get back at it. And I for one, cannot wait. Hi everyone, and welcome to my one and only BLOG. Please don't ask me what the word means, or how to spell it for that matter. What matters is, with this little space provided on the internet, I hope to provide to you as much 'behind the scenes' inside information throughout this season as possible.

When the Senators approached me about writing something this year, I immediately began thinking the way a fan thinks. Thinking about what information I'd like to see and get on a regular basis, from someone who's at the rink just about as much as he is at home.

Well, beginning this week, I'll be at Scotiabank Place on a very regular basis, and will be able to provide you with all the little things I get to see that I think you might find interesting.

Things like practice drills, line combinations, starting goalies and injuries.

I'll write about a player's equipment preference, and why. You'll find out that Patrick Eaves will be wearing a new type of helmet this year... one with a little more padding, because of the concussion he suffered during the playoffs last year.

I'll write about things that interest me as a fan, that I hope will interest you as well. And if they don't pique your interests, then by all means, let me know. This blog will give you the opportunity to offer your opinions as well.

And speaking of opinion, let me offer mine, on the off-season that was.

Certainly not a lot of 'player' activity from the Senators over the past three months but then, why should there have been?

The Senators had one of the best records in the second half of the season last year, and fully deserved to get to the Cup final. Keeping the core of the team intact was vital, and that has been done.

The change in management is one that I think we all knew was coming sooner or later. In Bryan Murray, the Senators have a wealth of experience and to his credit, Bryan has not made significant change. His biggest challenge when he became the GM was to get key players signed. Emery, Kelly, and Schubert were key restricted free agents that this team needs under contract. Those signings were done seamlessly.

The transition for John Paddock from assistant coach to head coach has also happened seamlessly.

John certainly knows this organization and the players, and now it's up to them to respond to whatever changes he implements.

As for the players, well, the big question is, can they duplicate what they did in the second half of last season, get into the playoffs, win the East, and then win the Cup? ( I said it was a big question!).

If the season were to start today, we'd likely see Heatley and Spezza starting with Patrick Eaves or Chris Kelly.

Mike Fisher would centre Antoine Vermette and Daniel Alfredsson. (how much fun would this trio be to watch?).

Dean McAmmond in between Shean Donovan and Chris Neil could make for a pretty good energy line, and then a fourth line could feature Brian McGrattan, Danny Bois, and maybe Niko Dimitrakos.

Your six defencemen are obvious ones right now.... Phillips/Volchenkov, Redden/Meszaros, and Schubert with Corvo. But don't count out veteran Luke Richardson, who will push for a spot.

I think the rookie camp left all of management feeling a little better about certain draft choices, and the health of the minor league team in Binghamton. Remember, this team had to be rebuilt.

Nick Foligno and Brian Lee will be fun to watch when they're on the same ice as Alfredsson, Spezza, and Phillips on an everyday basis. Any rookie will be hard-pressed to make this team this year, but anything is possible. So is a trade or two, or perhaps a last-minute signing of a veteran player still available.

Camp is short this year... we're less than a week away from the first pre-season game. Like this BLOG, it all adds up to getting down to business as quickly as possible. I hope you enjoy the read throughout the season. I look forward to your feedback.

Cheers, Gord Wilson

Posted by Gord Wilson on September 18, 2007

And so it begins. Game 1 of the 07-08 season is set for tonight in London, Ont., as the Senators face off against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Did you know it was 15 years ago today, that the new modern day Senators played their first ever exhibition game,... in Hartford, Connecticut, of all places, against the Whalers.

A charter left at 8 o'clock in the morning on game day, and I don't think I'll ever forget the feeling of nervousness I had going to the airport, and then getting on the plane.

Dean tried to ease the tension by making fun of my suit.

He cut me deep.

I'm just kidding.

Sens and Whalers ended tied at 1 that night.

It was the first of what seemed like 100 games against Whalers that year. Paul Holmgren was the coach, and he was the first real "NHL person" who acknowledged me by name.

I felt special.

Bruce Garrioch and I still share a laugh over the fact that Paul Holmgren walked by us once at the Civic Centre, and Paul looked at me and said " Hi Gord."

Garrioch turned to me and said "holy crap, he knows your name."

In any case, I can only imagine how some of the rookies are going to feel when they hop on today's charter, bound for London.

In particular, Brian Lee, and Nick Foligno. They get their first real taste of life in the "bigs."

Tonight's lineup will feature a number of first-time Ottawa Senators. Local boys Luke Richardson and Matt Carkner make their debuts in a Senators uniform. Martin Gerber is expected to start in goal, and is expected to play the whole game.

NHL rules stipulate that every team must dress at least 10 "veterans" for all exhibition games, so players like Chris Kelly, Chris Neil, Patrick Eaves, and Andrei Meszaros will all play tonight as well.

As for the Flyers, well, we were handed a roster of 33 players yesterday, and yes, newcomers Daniel Briere, Kimmo Timonen , and Jason Smith are on the list, but whether they all play or not remains to be seen. (or heard. our broadcast on the Team 1200 begins at 5 p.m. with the pre-game show; opening faceoff at 7.)

One final thought, not game related. Hats off and congratulations to both Bryan Murray and Mike Fisher. His signing of a five-year contract is huge. And both parties realize this. Mike was obviously identified as a player this team felt it could not lose to free agency next year, and he realized he wasn't interested in playing elsewhere. A perfect match.

All right, time to BLOG off.

Enjoy the game tonight. Cheers, Gord