Critical

Well, someone forgot to tell the Sens that the break was over. They didn't show-up and lost 1-4 in a weak effort. They start a mini road trip today and face the Blues in a battle of horrible teams. The media and team ownership has called the current slate of games "critical". Well, they've said this for most of the season so it's getting easy to ignore. I think its a matter of ignoring the obvious; playoffs are a longshot and it's time to consider changing the roster/coaches/GM etc.

UFC 94

I'm looking forward to this weekend's fight. Penn/GSP has been hyped quite a bit, with three weeks of Countdown shows, and I've been anticipating it since the announcement late last year. The UFC is on a roll with huge fight cards. The result of this one could create yet another mega-fight. There are rumors that GSP could face Anderson Silva! I'd love to see that one.

But I'm still pulling for Penn. He's the underdog in Vegas betting odds and will probably give up 15 pounds on fight night. BJ is cocky and still portrayed as a bit lazy, however you can't deny that the guy just loves to fight. He may not look like much, but Fedor and Anderson Silva would hardly win bodybuilding contests either.

As a fan, I'm just hoping for a good, clean fight.

Lyoto Machida/Thiago Silva will be interesting. A very big contrast of styles. Machida is super elusive and Silva is a pitbull. I'm giving the edge to Machida. I hope Silva is the first to take Machida down and do some damage, but I doubt it. Machida by decision.

Back at it.

The NHL All Star Weekend is over and so is my Vegas weekend. So, everyone is back at it. I'm having a hard time back in the office, but hopefully the Sens can continue a small winning streak that started before the break, with a win against the Devils tonight. Elliott is being touted as the goalie of the future, but I think it's a bit premature. Gerber cleared waivers is should be traded away or stolen on re-entry waivers within the week. At least I'm not worried that Elliott/Auld will be any worse than Gerber/Auld, most importantly much less salary involved.

The Sens have a snowball's chance of getting in the playoffs, but everyone is saying the right things since there are 35+ games to be played yet. Danish prospect Peter Regin, looks to be in the line-up again tonight. He was pretty solid in his first NHL game. I expect to see a lot of prospects get a shot at cracking the roster. The rest of the season will be used as a proving ground for the Ottawa farm system.

Hendo

Good story about Dan Henderson via Yahoo! sports. They have pretty solid MMA coverage/stories there.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=Av.dmhlpObeL5QFBU3p0fbJXEo14?slug=ki-henderson011709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

UFC 93

Currently the best UFC of 2009. Unfortunately, the only UFC of 2009 so far. I have only myself to blame, as I usually don't watch the European UFC cards. 1.) They start at an unusual time. 2.) The fight cards are generally of lesser quality than US UFC shows. 3.) They are often free to view on Spike, which further re-enforces the weak nature of the card. But, I'm a fan of Hendo and Franklin and despite my better judgement went to see it for lunchtime entertainment at the local sports bar.

It started out bad, as we got there a little late and missed most of the Davis-Lytle fight. Coleman-Rua has the makings of worst fight of the year. My vote so far, anyway. Two guys gassed after half the first round? It looked like an unknown indian gaming casino fight league, not the UFC. Hendo-Franklin wasn't great. Hendo appeared a slightly dirty fighter as a headbutt cut open Franklin's head pretty good and he poked Franklin's eye in the third round. I felt Hendo won the first two rounds, but the inadvertent stuff tarnished the fight.

I'm looking forward to UFC 94. Penn-St.Pierre and Machida-Thiago Silva (both 13-0). The UFC is doing a pretty good job of hyping this superfight with three weeks of Countdown show, instead of the usual, one.

Old Guys

Shanny joined the Devils and scored the winner in his debut. A homecoming of sorts, as Shanny dates back to the Christmas themed red and green Devils uniforms. On the other coast, Claude Lemieux (44) got called up by the Sharks. I'm not sure if the Sharks are facing injury issues, but Lemieux making the NHL in his comeback attempt is a pretty big deal. No team would take him (maybe take him seriously?) as the guy has been out of the NHL for 5 years!  So, he starts playing for a Sharks affiliate in China. (BTW. I had no idea the Sharks had a Chinese affiliate team). Then he graduates to Worchester Sharks, then a call-up to the big club. If anything, the Sharks are serious contenders this year. And five years removed from the NHL or not, Lemieux is notorious for his ability to be MONEY in the playoffs. I'm pulling for him. If nothing else, to win Roenick a Staney Cup, so he can finally retire. Also, it was announced that Peter Forsberg's annual comeback attempt is in full swing.

Odd man out

Elliott won his last two games. Consequently, the Sens have sent Gerber to the minors, under the guise of a two-week conditioning stint. I doubt if Murray will find anyone to take on Gerber's $3.7MM contract. But I think his time in Ottawa is over.

UFC 93

This Saturday is Henderson vs. Franklin. Just imagine if this fight took place 18 mos ago. Hendo is still the reigning Pride welterweight and middleweight champ, and Franklin only had one nose job via Anderson Silva. But both guys lost title shots to The Spider and Hendo also lost to Rampage, since that time. They should have this fight at 195 lbs and call it the tweener division or heavy-middleweight. Hendo bounces between 185 and 205, and Franklin is currently testing out the 205 division since his run at 185 is over. I'm pulling for Hendo as a fan, but not sure how many fights the guy still has in him. It's tough to say what this fight means, if anything. There has been such a carousel of champions at 205 lately, that the list of title contenders is pretty long. Would a win put either guy in the mix? Probably not. Rumor has it that the winner gets to coach the TUF 9 American team, and face Bisping.

In another battle for relevance, Shogun Rua and Mark Coleman are doing battle. I thought Coleman was retired and gone from MMA.?! Shogun has been injured so much, it's like he's fallen off the map. I guess Rua can avenge a loss to Coleman from their respective Pride days. Rua reportedly broke his arm during a Coleman bodyslam, which stopped the fight.

The next couple weeks are packed with MMA action. Next Saturday, Spike replays the Couture/Lesnar fight during the Affliction fight with Fedor vs. Arlovski. Next Sunday is a WEC fight Varner vs. Cerrone and Faber vs. Pulver II. Two weekends from now is UFC 94, St. Pierre vs. Penn and Machida vs. Thiago Silva. A fight-filled way to start the New Year!

Hard Work

Well, Elliott did a fine job in this season's debut. But, he didn't get any help and lost 0-2. I saw an article this weekend at SI.com, about his commitment in the off-season. Apparently, he got a personal trainer/goaltending coach and rented his own ice time (cost in the thousands $). That paid off so far in his AHL season, and resulted in player of the month for December and his recent call-up. The Sens just announced his second consecutive start will be tomorrow. I fear that they will ruin this guy's development somehow. But, I wish him the best. The Senators problems appear deeper than just goaltending.

Desperate Times

Well, the Sens owner Melnyk officially denied rumors that the GM and head coach's jobs were in danger, and stated his support of them (for the time being). Last night completed their long road trip with a 1-6-1 result. Pretty sad. Goals against was 4.125 over the trip, prompting the latests news; Brian Elliott being called-up for Saturday's game is currently considered. I don't think it's fair to blame the goaltenders entirely, as both Volchenkov and Kuba have been out with injury and the team has been coughing the puck up at the worst times. But if you are looking toward next year, Gerber is most certainly gone and Elliott is playing very well in the AHL, so it is a good time to test Elliott for next season. Elliott got into a few games last season and didn't look out of place. Of course, it wasn't enough time to accurately access his skill either. I don't think the Sens have much to lose by testing him out.

Rumors

When your team is 1.5 years removed from a Cup Final appearance, then finds itself 13 points out of a playoff spot mid-season, rumors will fly. Currently, the Montreal press is calling for the firing of Hartsburg and Murray; replacing them with Quinn (coaching) and Bob Nicholson (GM). This is plausible, because Melnyk was rubbing elbows with these two during the World Junior Championships, which were hosted in Ottawa. Might as well go with some recent winners? I'm open to starting fresh at this point.

I've also heard that Shawn Horcoff maybe be coming to Ottawa with a goalie. Please don't let this happen. At least make sure that the goalie in question is not Garon. I saw enough of him on a bad Kings team. It's great that he is Mr. Shootout goalie; and Ottawa has not had much success in the shootout. But, he's a Gerber in sheep's clothing, trust me.

Finally, I've heard that Ruutu got 2 games for biting. Wow. This team needs help. Maybe psychological help first and foremost.

Rock bottom

I have to say that last night's game was the new low point of the season for the Senators. In one of the more bizarre moments I've seen on the ice, Ruutu bites Peters' thumb. The two were in a scuffle in front of the players' benches and Peter was giving a face wash to Ruutu. He quickly pulls his hand away and throws off his glove, shaking his bare hand and immediately skating to the ref. Apparently, Peters got his thumb close to or into Ruutu's mouth and then a Mike Tyson-esque moment happened.

I have to say that I was not overjoyed with the signing of Ruutu this summer. The Sens needed toughness, but not at the cost of dishonor. I thought he was an agitator that crossed the line way too often, and this proved me right. I hope Hartsburg scratches the guy indefinitely and then Murray buys him out or trades him. It's embarrassing to have him associated with your organization. Wow, I didn't think this team could sink much lower, but I was definitely wrong.

The Rock

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/blogs/2009/01/05/laraque_last_word/

A pretty insightful blog by one of the toughest (if not THE toughest) guys in the NHL today. It's a bit long and Laraque likes to laugh out lound, but if you are going to only do one blog entry, it's OK to be a bit long winded. Georgie brings a great view of the pugilist's life in the NHL, from newbie to certified badass. Check it out.

Worlds

I was watching the World Junior Championships this year with a renewed interest. Because the US was supposed to have a strong team? Yes. Well that, and the fact that some of the top draft picks for next year are showcased. So, is this a round-a-bout way of saying that the Senators should be planning for a top pick and that I'm giving up hope on this season. 'Cause at this rate the playoffs are out of reach. I'm a loyal fan, but there aren't many signs that the Sens can turnaround their play. At least earlier in the season, the goaltending was solid and it was a matter of near-zero offense. Now, they are finding ways of losing games and the goaltending is questionable.

 

I've heard rumors about gold medal winning coach, Pat Quinn, coming to Ottawa. First, I must say that I didn't think he was the guy to coach a squad of young Canadian junior players. But he proved that wrong. So, maybe he can take a team of underachieving head-cases and turnaround their season. Nothing against Hartsburg, but I have yet to see any response from the team under his watch. Granted, he hasn't had much time, but you aren't given much time in Ottawa. Instant results are demanded. Maybe the roster needs to be shaken-up, but in the salary cap era that's not easy to do. It wouldn't surprise me to see the 4th new head coach in under two seasons walking in the door soon.

1-3

Things are still not going well. I Tivo'd a couple Senators games, since I was out of town for Christmas. Well, after watching them lose badly for two games I couldn't watch them lose the third game all in one day. Fortunately, they won their last game. But the 10 game road trip sits at 1-3-0. Why such a long road trip? The World Junior Championships are being played at Scotiabank Place, so the Sens are effectively kicked out of their own arena.
Goaltending has cooled off of late. So that makes a bad team a horrible team. I've heard tons of rumors about Jason Spezza being traded. Now I'm having second thoughts; after major rants about the guy's soft play and lack of defense. Maybe I just like to blame him for Ottawa's problems like the media. But the bottom line is that the Sens are in no position to bargain and would ultimately give away an offensive wonder.

Winter Classic

Watched the Red Wings and Blackhawks play an outdoor game in Wrigley Field today. I loved it. I have mixed feeling about it being an 'official' regular season game, but it was well produced, attended, and played. For a sport that is searching for a bigger audience, I think it should appeal to the casual viewer in a way that an All Star Game doesn't.