Cleaning up Shop
It was bound to happen, and when it did, it left most Sens fans
feeling kinda...well...um...well heck, who really knows?
For months, every Sens fan on Earth knew that one of their
defenseman had to go. Already packed to the gills on the blue
line, the Senators were close to welcoming the likes of Stan
Neckar and Janne Laukkanen back from injury, which would bump the
number of healthy backbenchers to nine. With a coach with a
reputation for carrying thin depth charts, everybody and their
mothers knew that a trade was imminent. Only question was: who
would draw the short straw?
As anticipation built, so too did the imaginations, with big name
stars like Felix Potvin, and heck even Theo Fleury (!) coming to
Bytown in exchange for one of Ottawa's young talented troops.
And suddenly it happened. As GM Rick Dudley's mug appeared on
local television to announce the deal, excitement soon turned to
perplexity as he announced that young, promising defenseman Stan
Neckar was traded to the New York Rangers for (Gretzky? Graves?
Richter? Harvey?) Bill Berg and a second round pick in 1999!
(silence)
Excuse us? Bill Berg, eh.....hmmm.
No offense to Bill Berg - in fact, we're confident he will
provide the same leadership that Randy Cunneyworth offered last
year - it's just that you can appreciate what a letdown the trade
was, given all the hype and hoopla surrounding the deal.
Berg's Not So Bad
In all fairness, it seems Ottawa actually came out on top in this
deal. Neckar was once heralded as an anchor for the Sens' future
Stanley Cup aspirations, but that quickly subsided a la Alexandre
Daigle.
In return, Ottawa received a strong workhorse in Bill Berg. Berg,
31, is one of those guys who puts the soul back in hockey in
these days of spoiled brats (see Kariya, Paul) and whining,
overpaid dolts (see Lindros, Eric). Not much talent, but a lot of
grit and determination. And leadership...don't forget leadership.
Berg should help a lot, particularly in the dressing room. On the
ice, at least he provides a lot more offensive potential than
Neckar ever did from the training room, right? Right.
Advantage: Ottawa.
Ottawa to Nashville, One-Way Please
Stan Neckar wasn't the only Senator checking out of Bytown for
good. While the rest of the Sens were booking return flights for
their game December 1 in Nashville, assistant GM Ray Shero
decided he liked the place so much, that he'd stay. Shero, who
had been with the club since the Randy Sexton days, announced his
resignation prior to the Predators game in order to accept a
similar role with the expansion Nashville club.
Although Shero rationalized his decision by his desire to work
under Preds GM Daivd Poile, the Nosebleeders suspect that he
might have had his nose knocked out of joint by the Sens'
decision to hire Rick Dudley over him after Pierre Gauthier
abandoned the team last summer.
Naturally, Shero denies everything, but one look at the picture
and it makes you wonder. Here's a guy who for years had to endure
the daily scrutiny of Bytown scribes over the team's lousy on-ice
talent, only to finally see his hard work slowly begin to pay
off. Now that the Sens have emerged as Eastern Conference
contenders, he bolts to an expansion team - for the same job, no
less. Why not stick around and watch the fruit of your labors in
Ottawa one day etched on the Holy Ashtray?
Did he leave for more prestige? C'mon, we're talking Nashville
here, people. Better career advancement opportunities? You really
think David Poile's job is in jeopardy, given the club's great
start and Poile's track record? Nope. It just doesn't make any
sense.
As for a replacement, rumors have Orlando Solar Bears' GM John
Wisebroad heading to Bytown, but he has insisted that he wishes
to stay in the IHL. For now, Dudley will make due without an
assistant.
Trivia Time
The Senators have retired only one number in team history. What
number is it, and to whom did it belong? Answer at the end of
this column.
Da Berard Boo-Birds Are Back
You can just sense the excitement in the air when the New York
Islanders come to town. No, it has nothing to do with the team
itself, nor the history (or lack thereof) of this, ahem, rivalry.
Instead, it all focuses on the shoulders of a young defenseman by
the name of Bryan Berard. You remember Berard, don't you? You
know, the guy who was drafted number one overall in 1997 by the
Ottawa Senators only to insult every Bytowner by refusing to ever
play for the Sens?
You could argue that Berard got his medicine just by being traded
to Mike Milbury's Islanders, a death sentence to many. But
Senator faithful do not easily forget such slights, as was
evidenced by the boo-birds who flocked out in full force to the
Corel Centre to watch the Senators manhandle the Isles 4-1.
* After scoring just two goals in his first 15 games, Alexei
Yashin pocketed his fourth in four games and added two helpers to
notch the win.
* The win marked the Sens' fourth in a row, tying a club record.
It also extended Ottawa's unbeaten streak against Berard (aka the
Islanders) to 11 games (8-0-3).
* We hate Bryan Berard. Did we mention that already?
A Little Too Premature
Highlight of the night came at the expense of Islanders forward
Claude Lapointe. Early in the third, Lapointe wristed a shot
which seemed to beat Sens backstop Damian Rhodes. But while
Lapointe was in mid-party mode - pumping his fists in a wild
dance - he had to suddenly face the humiliating reality that the
puck never actually entered the net. Instead, Rhodes managed to
snare the puck in a glove save that is surely to make the
season's Year in Review video.
A Little Too Late
Isle coach Mike Milbury was so frustrated with Yashin that he
demanded a stick measurement late in the game. Sure enough,
Yash's stick was illegal, but by that point, the Sens were up 3-0
and the game was a lock.
End of An Era
The Sens' next game, a Saturday night classic against the Toronto
Maple Leafs on national television, marked the final visit ever
for Ottawa to the fabled Maple Leafs Gardens. Riding a five-game
unbeaten streak, the Sens gave up a 2-0 first period lead only to
lose 3-2 in overtime. Derek King got the winner in OT on the
power play.
* Daniel Alfredsson scored his first of the year, ending the
worst drought of his career.
* With the win, Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph improved his record
against the Sens to a stellar 10-0.
Say What?
Heading into the Saturday tilt, Ottawa and Toronto were the two
highest scoring teams in the Eastern Conference. Now when was the
last time you heard that?
Ides of November, My Left Foot
The month of November has traditionally been a nightmare for the
Sens. Yet, despite the loss to the Buds, the Sens finished the
1998 edition of November a respectable 5-4-3, which is cause for
celebration. Since rejoining the NHL in 1992-93, the Sens are
16-46-8 in November.
Look for the team to do well in the coming months. Hossa has
returned from injury, Alfredsson has regained his timing, and
Laukkanen's return is imminent. With all the injuries to date,
fielding a healthy team including a solid first and second line
has been a priority. The teams 12-8-3 record after 23 games is
ahead of last year's 9-10-4 pace. They are also plus 13 in the
even strength goals for minus even strength goal against
category. On the season last year, they broke even: 130 goals
for and 130 goals against.
The Second Line is Formed?
The Alfredsson, Bonk and Johansson line seems to be coming
together as a solid second line for the team. In a 3-1 win in
Nashville, the line notched five points. Daniel Alfredsson, had
his first multi-point game after returning from his eye injury.
* Coach Martin didn't travel home with the team. Instead he went
back to Toronto to scout the Los Angeles Kings.
Rock Bottom
Tales from the Senator Alumni...former Sen original Jeff Lazaro
was released by Detroit last week after being arrested for drunk
driving in Glens Falls, NY. Lazaro, once admired by Sens fans for
his grit despite his small frame, has returned to New Orleans of
the ECHL as a player/coach.
Tugger Delivers
The Los Angeles Kings came to town sporting one of the league's
worst records and the Senators were probably not as prepared as
they could have been. Outshot 32-18, Ron Tugnutt delivered in
this game, taking his season record to 5-1-1. Alexei Yashin on a
second effort scored the winner half way into the third period.
The Pride of Marvelville
Rumor has it that Larry Robinson's tenure as LA Kings coach may
soon be coming to a close if the team doesn't start to turn
things around. Nosebleeders response: PLUE. Give the man
something to work with, will ya. The 6-15-3 Kings should look
elsewhere for solutions.
Down on the Farm
All indications point to the Ottawa Senators operating a farm
club in Quebec City next season. The team, should it come to be,
would play in the AHL, as the Sens are currently paying the
league an annual $80,000 suspension fee (the team folded its AHL
Charlottetown franchise two years ago), which effectively spares
the club millions of dollars in expansion fees.
"I didn't realize how important having your own farm team was
until I got here," said Sens GM Rick Dudley. "You have to have
some control over your young players. They're just too valuable."
Hossa Returns
The Rangers game marked the return of 19-year-old Marian Hossa.
After six months off after winning the Memorial Cup but almost
losing his career, Hossa finally tested the leg in a game
situation and it passed. A sell out crowd may have come to see
Wayne and co. take on the Sens but the story of stories may be
that this game marked the return of Hossa.
The game itself was not all that interesting. Both teams looked
uninspired and the Rangers came away with a 2-1 victory. The
Senators outchanced and outshot (30-17) the Rangers but could not
out goal them. Mike Richter continued his domination (12-2-2) of
the Ottawa Senators and Niklas Sundstrom notched his first goal
in eight games.
* The Rangers are in the midst of their longest winning streak
since posting five consecutive victories from December 13th-22nd,
1996.
* Radek Bonk is becoming a regular NHLer. His notched his 7th of
the season. The Nosebleeders remember it was but a year ago he
seemed to be benched every second game.
* Hossa return created a crowd at forward. Most vulnerable are
David Oliver, Steve Martins, Bill Berg, and Chris Murray. After
drawing a two-minute rough call and then a 10-minute misconduct
Murray ended the game with only 2:26 of ice time. Berg was a
scratch. Oliver was scratched for the sixth straight game. The
speed of Martins may keep him around.
* After the Rangers loss coach Martin cancelled off day on Sunday
by scheduling practice. This is clearly a team going somewhere
as reports have it that the practice was not viewed as punishment
by most players - they realize that the Ranger game was not their
best performance and viewed the practice as a way to work on the
details.
Can you remember all those years back when beer at a game was
$2.75?
Word at the Ranger game is that the Capital Beerfest at the Corel
Centre is a go. The event is scheduled for January 20th. $15
admission but no word on the price of beer.
* Run Tugnutt felt OK when leaving the Corel Centre Saturday but
found himself caught by the flu bug and confined to bed.
Drumroll Please
Frank Finnigan's number 8 jersey was retired by the Ottawa
Senators in 1992. Finnigan, aka "The Shawville Express", was a
star forward for the Senators during their heyday in the 1920s.
He was also the lone surviving member of the Sens' 1929 Stanley
Cup championship squad - the club's last - when the franchise was
re-admitted into the NHL in 1992.
