Now that the NHLPA has voted and passed the CBA and with the Memorandum of Understanding finally complete, the NHL season is officially underway.
Ottawa Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk will meet with the media this morning to outline the team's plans for this 48 game season. In the meantime, the club has released their schedule, one that begins with an afternoon affair in Winnipeg just six days from now.
Here is how the rest of the schedule looks for the Senators...
Saturday, Jan. 19, at Winnipeg, 3 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 21, vs. Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 24, at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 25, at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 27, vs. Pittsburgh, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 29, vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesady, Jan. 30, vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 1, at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 3, at Montreal, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 5, vs. Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 7, vs. Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 9, vs. Winnipeg, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 12, vs. Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 16, at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 18, at New Jersey, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 19, vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 21, vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 23, vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 25, vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 28, at Boston, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 2, at Philadelphia, Noon
Sunday, March 3, at N.Y. Islanders, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, March 6, at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 8, at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Monday, March 11, vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13, at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 16, at Buffalo, 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 17, vs. Winnipeg, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 19, at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 21, vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 23, vs. Tampa Bay, 2 p.m.
Monday, March 25, vs. New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 28, vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 30, vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 2, at Boston, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 5, at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, at Florida, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 9, at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 11, at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 12, at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Monday, April 15, at Boston, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 16, vs. Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 18, vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 20, vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
Monday, April 22, vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 25, at Washington, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 27, vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Anyone expecting a bunch of moves today?
Montreal will buy out Scott Gomez's contract this summer. He will not play for the team this season
Not overly shocking
Apparently the sens won't "warrant" a Saturday night game unless they play the leafs.
The 5th one is the last game of the season against the flyers.
Lots of Saturday/Sunday afternoon games
I hate going to Leaf/Habs games 'cause I don't like it when my my wife gets punched and my favorite days for games are Fri and Sat.
Boo-urns.
Are we emotionally ready to overpay for a # 5 D today?
I really hope we don't do anything stupid....I honestly would love to see a blockbuster with a D thrown in to fill the gap, but I won't hold my breath.
Personally I would ideally just go with what we have and hope for the best in the shortened season...the young guys are likely in the best game shape so with fewer games we may be able to get away with it.
Its going to be an exciting one against the Jets if its anything like the last game these two played. Then comes our WIN week against the The Florida teams. Not a bad start.
What somewhat makes up for it is the fact that the sens play a LOT, with very little time between games. Weeknights won't be boring, at least!
Wondering if the Sens will bother doing anything.
1 at SBP
Send a bottom six forward to NYR in exchange for Redden at half salary and a second. Include the pick in the trade for Hammer out of Chicago.
Given that Foster is headed to Philly, I'd say its a safe bet we are bringing in a young D w NHL experience and upside unless they add in Rozsival as a short term stop gap.
I can't see Murray standing pat w our current D core regardless of the young guys we have capable of taking some shifts....what happens if/ when another of our experienced NHL d goes down to injury.
If Methot, Karlsson or Gonchar goes down were toast without bolstering the blue line
I think the Rangers will do the same with Redden as the Habs did with Gomez because if he gets hurt over the course of the season they cannot buy out the player next summer...
They need a goaltender
We need a shot blocker
Karlsson Methot
Gonchar Phillips
You can bring in a young gun to fill a spot for Lundin until he gets back but to expect to hit the ice running with two young guns out of the gate is risky.
To carry a backup or two on D no problem
Doubt we see a move on Forwards.
Michalek Spezza Silverburg
Latendresse Turris Alfie
Greening Smith Neil
Daug Regin Condra
Obrien
I am fine with going as we are, its a short season and I am glad to be able to watch the sens again even if we do not fair well as far as playoffs.
FREEBIRD
Just to clarify practice at SBP today @ 1 free to the public and free parking?
Want to make sure it's happening before I drive from the abyss aka Orleans
Sens need 27 wins to safely make post season
Should be achievable
Can I have your address so that I can mail you a sense of humour ?
10am - ministick tournament
12pm - ODR
3 - Sens/Jets
7 - Leafs/Habs
10 - Nucks/Ducks
Best day ever.
BAHHHH !
NO HARM - NO FOUL !
If you want to hang out on a Senators blog run by Nazis I recommend www.sensnetwork.com
Thanks
Will wee see Sens hockey on Sportnet Est this year?? I live in Quebec and i saw clode 50 games on Sportnet last year.
I think a more realistic comparison might be Hedman money at around 4 million
I't'll be interesting to see what the figures amount to for Del Zotto...
details here
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/01/13/del_zotto_contract_rangers/
missing one day of a 6 day training camp is HUGE!
Hope Benn is in game shape and Subban is not
http://video.tsn.ca/?dl=main/latest/1/0/842660/clip/0
Screw the freebird
the 'first & second' stuff was kinda funny ...... today.
Can't wait for next Saturday. I can see the Sens starting off 5 and 0!
27/ 48 is totally doable!
Our young guns out of the 'A' are going to surprise many....
Not really surprised by the schedulle. But non the less, HOCKEY'S BACK BABY!
Go Seahawks & Pats!
He's definitely not seeking Doughty money. Whoever reported that was just full of shit. I saw the same report last week. He'll get a deal done to stay in MTL.
most of the FREEBIRDS (including that one) are well deserved.
Your "handle" was "kinda funny" a week ago
And ya..... Your handle has never been funny. Stick to hockey.
Just as much as you do.
Go Sens!
Any word on a potential trade for a D-man?
So far, nothing on that front today. Will keep digging.
Trouble is, several teams looking for Dman. Sens better get in line sooner rather than later.
I hear that!
Yes because FIRST is the epitome of comedic genius
You must think Larry The Cable guy is the best stand up "comic" ever too.
That was pretty funny .... Good work young Jedi!
As opposed to the Satanic Ritual that you seem to think it is ?
I believe if they don't use greening in a top 6 role he should be moved for a D-man, He had a nice year last year but when he found himself on a line other then top line he would disappear on the ice
THis is always the case with D men. THe hope is that you don't have to overpay unless you have to. They might as well evaluate what they have first before jumping to that conclusion. Price is always high for D.
Who stood out in your opinion and how were the goalies?
That's a relief...
4 mill sounds about right for Subban but if they want him on a shorter contract I can see Subban playing hard ball...a 5 year deal would bring him to UFA status and a shot to hit it out of the park. correct me if I'm wrong but three years would still leave him as a RFA.
I think NYR got a really good deal with Del Zotto and if they choose to deal him there will be a ton of suitors at that price.
Turris - Alfie - Latendresse look good together. So did Michalek - Spezza - Slverfburg and Methot - Karlsson.
All three goalies were good.
If even one of our D goes down we are screwed
48 games does not give any team room for a slump
Greening should not be traded!
It would be fantastic to get him for around 4.5 million for 4 years!
Absolutely no chance they trade him here. It would basically be the equivalent of us trading them Karlsson
I agree with Methot - Karlsson, they did seem to gel well together. And Silf looked very quick. And the talk about Latendresse, his hands didn't impress me too much but he actually reminded me a little of Folingo, strange as it sounds.
All 3 of the goalies did stand out, I really do think we are going to be ok in that dept no matter who plays.
Staying in Anaheim.
Until he doesn't single handily win them their first 10 games....then he will be on the block again.
Subban would not be content living in Karlssons shadow and that's how it'd be...
I really believe Bishop ends up in Chicago by Saturday but imagine if you will, the Sens swing a trade for Leddy and Hjalmarsson and they then flip Gonchar for prospects.
Karlsson Methot
Leddy Hjalmarsson
Phillips Wiercioch/ Lundin
Holy crap....
Next year you have a log jam but that's an awesome problem to have!
Subban playing for the Rangers in NY is a match made in heaven.
In Ottawa ? Not so much !
at most, 9 games
they're going to feel out their roster, see whats happening on the ice
and if Murray feels he needs to make the team better, he will
I would see ottawa's 1st round draft pick being in play. in a highly overrated draft year
ottawa could get maximum value for their pick, especially since nobody really knows where they'll end up in the standings
but truth be told, when I look at dmen accross the league, and their contracts, I'd rather see patrick wiercioch playing for the sens than any of them
who knows, this problem might solve itself. couple guys get a tryout, when lundin comes back the better of the 2 stays and the other goes back to bingo
hopefully at least one of them succeeds, if not, make a move
I'd look to the end of january/beginni ng of february to be our most likely trading time
but who knows, Murray and his antics...all of his trades are right out of left field
5-6 no problem...
3-4 is what's scares me. Cowen out is a major hole in our lineup this year.
HMMMM - and "2 Goal" Gryba didn't even get invited to training camp.
No real comments on the practise as I missed quite a bit, but I plan to totally ditch work tomorrow to check it out again without all the kids in tow.
Murray is not going to trade the Senators 1st round pick
the draft is very deep the Senators could get a very good
defencemen of forward.
Murray will probally hold onto Bishop either until the
trade deadline or will trade Bishop at the draft.
Absolutely not. Lehrer and Silfverberg are the untouchables.
Will never happen !!
Can see one of Bishop (anytime), or Anderson (later),
as the Hawks need a goalie, as much as we need a defenceman !
All the other guys up from Binghamton are left D.
Im heading to SBP to check out training camp action today at 12pm. I was there yesterday for the opening day, and I could not for the life of me find a Tim Hortons that was open inside. They had 1 concession open in the 100 level with pop and shit, but no coffee. Heres the dumb question...
Did anyone attend the open house on Sunday and perhaps notice if there was a timmies open on the 200 level (which I didnt check yesterday). I know this sounds stupid, but I want to give myself time to grab a coffee in the area if I can't get one at the game.
Anyone know?
This is not a dumb question. Coffee is critical.
BTW, I don't have the answer for you, sorry.
With no interconference games until further notice (not necessarily Cup finals, even), the 29 real NHL teams (given that the Blue Jackets are their own minor league affiliate) are forced to play for the Asterisk Cup this year no matter how many postseason wins it takes!