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"New" Jerseys, Expansion Draft, Awards Night! |
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After a lot of hype and speculation, Adidas unveiled their new look jerseys for the upcoming season, and despite all they hype, they really didn't change much. While some in the fan base were expecting (or hoping for) drastic changes, aside from slight adjustments in trim, it was pretty underwhelming. It wasn't just the Senators, as a quick glance at the rest of the uniforms there weren't many overt changes. So we move on.
Tonight will end the speculation as to the player that the Senators, and every other team will lose to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. The Senators apparently couldn't come to an agreement with GM George McPhee in order to keep them from taking Marc Methot, if that is indeed who they want to select it will be known tonight. I still think there is a chance that they will take Bobby Ryan or Freddie Claesson, but prevailing suggestions are that it will indeed be Methot who says goodbye to the Senators.
Where Methot ends up in September is another story as there is a good chance that he is dealt elsewhere in a scondary deal, and quite possibly could end up down the 401 wearing blue and white when the dust settles, which would be a double shot to the gut of the Senators and their fans. He does have a no-trade list that apparently the Leafs are on at the moment.
If that does happen, a lot of fingers will be pointed at Dion Phaneuf and his refusal to waive his no-move clause in order for the Senators to be able to protect Methot, but it was well within Phaneuf's right to do so, and his desire to play in Ottawa is admirable. The pressure is now on Cody Ceci, who was protected in the spot that many would have put Methot, to develop into the legitimate top 4 that the Senators seem to believe he has in him. Although I don't see hm as bad as a majority of the fan base seems to, Ceci has had his struggles but the Senators management obviously feels that at 23 he still has a lot of room to grow.
The Golden Knights' selections will be unveiled as a part of the NHL Awards night, a night where a trio of members of the Senators' organization are up for some hardware. Craig Anderson is pretty much a lock for the Bill Masterton Trophy given the trials and tribulations his family went through while his wife battled, and beat, cancer.
Pierre Dorion is up for the GM of the year award, against Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli and Nashville GM David Poile. This is a tough one to call, but I don't think Dorion comes away with this one.
And finally, the most interesting and intriguing result of the night might just be the Norris Trophy vote. Brent Burns had a sizable lead and was all but handed the crown by mid-season, but a slowdown by Burns combined with a late push by Erik Karlsson narrowed the gap, but was it enough to change the opinion of voters whose minds had seemingly already been made up?
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
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