Good News for B-Sens Fans!
June 30, 2006
No, I don’t have news on who is joining the team…but on who has LEFT! Lance Ward, every fan’s favorite goat has fled North America to play in Europe. Ward was absolutely horrible for Binghamton last season. At time he showed some of the skill that got him into the NHL, but then he would take lazy hooking penalties to put his team one man short. He was the epitome of the Old NHL. He could not skate and made his living using his stick to clutch and grab. Wow…I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy to see some one leave our team.
Visors Mandatory in AHL Next Season
June 28, 2006
The AHL Board of Governors voted today to make visors mandatory for ALL AHL players next season. There will be no ‘grandfather’ rule and even NHL players sent down for conditioning would be required to comply. The move to make the visors mandatory has been discussed for a long time and was probably brought to the forefront after several eye injuries last season. Maple Leafs center Mats Sundin missed several weeks of the season after being hit near the eye with a puck, but Jordan Smith, of the AHL’s Portland Pirates, was not as fortunate and completely lost vision in one eye from a puck deflection.
I was wondering how many more severe eye injuries would have to occur before hockey made this move. I think it will only be a matter of time before we see visors become mandatory in the NHL. A lot of players will gripe and moan, but I think its for the good of the game. My only concern is whether this will lead to a further decline in fighting.
Senators Release Opponents for Next Season
June 27, 2006
Today the B-Sens announced what teams we’ll be seeing in the 06/07 season. The FIFTH anniversary season! Wow, five years of AHL hockey back in Bingo, gotta love it.
Anyway, the schedule looks very much like last season with two exceptions. No games against Hartford and no games against the Manitoba Moose. I can understand the travel problems with playing the Moose, but the lack of games against Hartford has always baffled me. Bringing a NY Rangers farm team to play in a New York town that has many Rangers fans…seems like a logical fit. I can’t help but think that some of the owners hold a grudge against them for pulling out of Bingo. It simply boggles my mind that a team that close has visited twice in 4, going on 5, years of hockey. I was looking forward to getting a chance to see Al Montoya and Hugh Jessiman, but it looks like I’m out of luck once again.
The Right Stuff
June 27, 2006
The Ottawa Senators fans were left holding their heads after another early playoff exit and debating over what the missing piece to the puzzle was. The consensus was more grit and more heart, but the forums are filled with Playstation type blockbuster trades and not the smart, small moves that will really make a difference.
Yesterday a player became available who is exactly what the Senators need. The Blackhawks bought out the contract of Matthew Barnaby, making him a free agent. I can hear the Sens fans gasping at the thought of adding someone who scored less then 10 goals last season, but if you ask a Rangers fan this is the #1 guy they’d like to see back on their team. Yes, Barnaby is an old school NHLer and not the fancy playmaker who thrives in the new NHL, but as the playoffs proved there is still room for a few old schoolers. Barnaby is the type of guy who is willing to get his ass kicked by Donald Brashear if it will help spark his team into action. He will give up his body to block shots. He is the ultimate team player and he will be available cheap.
The question is whether Muckler would be willing to make a deal that will, at the beginning, be extremely unpopular with the Sens fans. I’m not sure if he has the balls to do it. I said yesterday that Muckler has something to prove and signing this diamon in the rough is just the type of move to restore my faith.
Bochenski Trade Brings Zero Return
June 26, 2006
Months after trading hot prospect Brandon Bochenski to Chicago at the trade deadline for center Tyler Arnason, the Senators have decided to let him go by failing to offer the RFA a qualifying offer.
“I still think he’s going to play in the NHL and probably get a contract somewhere else,” said Muckler. “We asked him if he’d take a reduction in pay and he refused to do that.
“Our assessment was that we could do better in the free agency or trade markets.”
Arnason “wasn’t in good shape at all” when he reported from the Blackhawks, said Muckler.
Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a smart move by the Sens. Arnason has always been labeled as an underachiever. My beef is in making this trade to begin with. This deal just smelled of Muckler making a trade because he felt he needed to do SOMETHING. And forget losing Bochenski and look at the affect this probably had on the Sens. The two finalist this season make big splashes by landing Roloson, Pronger, and Weight. The Senators got Arnason who shows up out of shape and is given much more ice time than he deserved. I can’t help, but think that his ice time would have served the team better if it was given to another guy who might actually have played in the post season. Just look at Denis Hamel who not only had a career season in Bingo, but had already played with the majority of the Senators the last two years AND played with and against most of the Buffalo team. You don’t think Hamel would have had something to prove against the Sabres AND for the Ottawa brass who kept him stuck in the minors all year.
I had given Muckler the benefit of the doubt in the past, but now I’m envisioning his head on a platter. Unfortunately it seems like he’s going to be given the opportunity to screw this organization one more time and a bad move during this critical off season is just the icing on the cake to get him canned. My prediction is that he misses the boat on landing and significant free agents, signs back most of the guys, and brings back Dominik Hasek who will prove once more to be more distraction than savior. I hope Muckler proves me wrong.
Hedlund Signs with Ottawa
June 22, 2006
Ottawa has begun to address the lack of depth on the Binghamton blueline by signing former B-Sens Andy Hedlund. Hedlund became a fan favorite in 2003 by earning a spot on the roster and impressing the Ottawa brass enough to earn a 2 year contract. After struggling a bit with a lesser role in 2004, Hedlund played in Germany last year where 34 points in 52 games. Last season Binghamton struggled with an inexperienced defensive squad known more for their hooking penalties than +/-. Hedlund should provide a some stability on the blueline and after a year in Europe I expect we’ll see him with improved puck handling skills, but don’t expect much physically. Hopefully Ottawa will land a few stay at home guys who will be able to clear the crease.
NHL Approves Sale of Blues
June 22, 2006
The NHL approved the sale of the St Louis Blues to David Checketts earlier this week. Normally I wouldn’t bother writing about the sale of a team, but what makes this interesting is that Checketts used to work at MSG and their us a rumor going around that he will hire Rangers color man John Davidson to be the team president. I’m hoping the rumor is unfounded because I can’t imagine a Rangers game without JD. If he DOES leave, I won’t hold a grudge. I imagine that after years of watching games he must be itching to have more control over a franchise. It would be interesting to see who his replacement would be. My hope is that they go with another former Blueshirt goalie and convince Mike Richter to drop out of college.
A gift from The Vault
June 16, 2006
During the season I like to check for news and rumors at the Sportsnet Forums. A few months ago someone posted a link to get a free puck from Scotiabank, the new owner of the naming rights for the Senators Arena. I signed up for it and forgot. Yesterday my puck arrived! Very cool that they took the time to send me a puck in the states and thumbs up on the nickname. The Vault sounds much better than Scotiabank Place.
Dan Cloutier vs Tommy Salo
June 15, 2006
If you haven’t discovered YouTube yet, go check it out. Lots of great hockey fights including this great goalie whooping.
Slacker
June 15, 2006
Yeah, so I’ve really been slacking off on my websites lately. I think it was a combination of the end of a disappointing season for the B-Sens, a disappointing end to a marvelous season for Ottawa and NY plus the suddenly gorgeous weather. I found myself away from the computer and enjoying the sunshine.
I haven’t been following the playoffs as much as I normally do. Maybe I had a little hockey burnout this year, but I’ve been lucky to catch the BIG games. Last night I missed most of the game, but I saw the third period and the OT. I’m nervous about getting my hopes up again, but Edmonton looked DAMN good. I would love to see them take another one at home and force a game 7. The last thing I want is another red neck team to take a cup away from Canada.
Now that I’m back online I plan to do some more posts. A B-Sens post mortem is long overdue as well as a look at some of our favorite Binghamton alumni.
For those of you with rink rats, the STHA is taking registrations for next season. We’re signing our oldest up for mini-mites. I’m looking forward to seeing him on the ice in full equipment for the first time, should be a blast.
