Guess who's back?

Ok so let's try this again.

Time constraints have lead to neglect when it comes to updating this blog but I have gotten things under control and plan to keep on top of things more consistently.

So where to begin.

The Sens are 11-2, lead the league in Goals For per game and Goals Against per game and have 3 of the top 5 in NHL scoring. Things are good right?

Well...ya.

So let's stir up some controversy.

Apparently Vaclav Varada is unhappy with his ice time since returning from injury.

Although I concede that this is likely being trumped up by the media because there is nothing negative to say, I do think there is something to this story.

Why bring your agent along to the meeting if you just wanna chat about ice time?

Even if the agent says nothing a message is being sent simply by his presence in the room. And honestly, who's ice time is V gonna take right now? Chris Neil is turning into the power forward the Sens have never had. The team is absolutely on fire right now so who can blame Murray for not wanting to mess with the formula.

Inevitably injuries will allow for some more ice time for Varada, but for now I would rather see him in the training room strengthening his knee than in the GM's office with his agent asking for more ice time.

Welcome to Ottawa Dana.

Well this has been quite the whirlwind day in Ottawa. The deal is done and announced, although Heatley's first name is currently listed as 'Dana' on the Sens site.

Heatley has apparently agreed to a 3 year $13.5 million deal with the Sens, and officially the trade is Hossa and deVries for Heatley, no draft pick which is unfortunate but not backbreaking.

After having had time to let this deal sink in, and having listened to most of the pundits, I am ready to give this deal my blessing (if such a thing were needed).

Hossa effectively priced himself out of Ottawa through his ridiculous demands to be paid like Iginla and Thorton. Yes Hossa's stats were comparable but that's about it. Basically Hossa put his payday ahead of the team and it landed him in the hockey hotbed of Atlanta.

In Dany Heatley the Sens get a player with terrific offensive potential, a little more grit, a little more size and a lot of baggage. Hopefully a change of scenery will help Heatley shed some of the emotional strain he has been carrying with him since the tragic car crash that killed his team-mate Dan Snyder.

If Heatley returns to his pre-crash form this deal is a big win for the Sens. They free up cap room to re-sign Redden and Chara long-term, they gain a little 'jam' while not losing any offense and they gain a marketable Canadian-born player.

One thing I am getting a little tired of (already) is the Hossa bashing that is starting here in Ottawa. Now I am one of those people who subscribes to the Canadian-European theory regarding heart and determination to win the Cup. It's not a slight, it's not racism, it's just a fact that a Canadian-born player who has grown up dreaming of Stanley Cup glory will generally compete harder to make that dream a reality. I say generally because I also acknowledge that there are exceptions to this rule AND that this rule is becoming less and less relevant as European players become more common in the NHL.

With that said let me say this, Hossa is definitely one of the new breed of European players that DOES have that heart and determination, anyone questioning that has obviously never seen him play. Hossa has worked very hard over the last few years to change his game from skilled speedy winger to power forward. He is more physical and determined than ever before and I wish him well in Atlanta. Unfortunately, he got some bad advice from his agent, said a few wrong things and he may now miss out on his Cup opportunity with Ottawa.


UPDATE: Heatley has now had his name properly spelled on the Sens site although I still have the press release email that misspells it. Good work Sens.

Trepidation, waning….

Looks like this is a done deal. Hossa's name has been removed from the Sens site. Still unclear as to whom the other players/picks in the deal may be.

Initially I was very worried about this deal but so long as the peripherals in the deal are favourable to the Sens I think this may be good for the team long term.

Still sad to see a player like Hossa go....if it' true (still hedging).

Hossa signed, sealed and delivered....to Atlanta?

Well it's been quite a day here in Hockey Country. Early this morning the Ottawa Senators signed Marian Hossa to a reported 3 year $18 million deal, only hours before heading into an arbitration hearing.

The deal seems a bit high for the Sens blood leading to speculation as to whether or not the Sens could afford to keep their core together with Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara both looking for big raises next season.

Most speculation as to who would be moved centred around Wade Redden, but hold the phone...what's this, the rumour is now that Hossa himself will be the victim of his own newfound riches.

The rumoured deal is Hossa and either Phillips or deVries for Dany Heatley and possibly a first round pick.

The deal is only rumoured, but it's looking more and more likely. Both the Sens and Thrashers are apparently prepping for 5pm news conferences according to TSN.ca.

More to come....

Game On!

Hockey is back and the world is back on its proper axis.
Our beloved heroes must now make due with 3 BMW's instead of 5, the horror!

If you wanna talk hockey and other sports with no holds barred, no hidden agendas, no media coddling...this is the place.

I am a Sens fan but I'm also a realist when it comes to sports. I don't have blinders on, sometimes the home team sucks, sometimes everything they do is not gold and someone needs to call them on it when the hometown media won’t. I give credit where credit is due, even if it is the Leafs.

If you want to talk hockey and sports the way you do down at the local pub with your friends this is the way to do it. No call screeners, no commercial time-outs.

Game on.