If you’re wondering about the title, it's lyrics from "The Last Song" by All American Rejects, I just put Heatley's name in. It seemed fitting, plus it could be entertaining to use song lyrics for blogs....we'll see how long I try this.
With Heatley finally being traded on Saturday, Myself, and everyone else can stop writing his name and stop wondering who, when, where and why.
He's gone, his production, in large part, will be covered by Milan Michalek, and hopefully Jonathan Cheechoo will pick up the rest.
I've spent the last two days looking at this trade and plugging the news Sens in different line combinations and wondering what kind of production we can expect from them.
Well Michalek has put up roughly 24 goals in each of the last 3 seasons, while bouncing between Joe Thorton, Marleau and Pavelski as his center/playmaker. Without question Michalek will be playing with equally talented linemates, the only difference in Ottawa is Michalek's sole job will be to shoot, shoot, shoot.
Cheechoo on the other hand has had a rough couple of seasons since his career year, so expect Ottawa to pair him with Alfredsson every step of the way, as Alfie always seems to be able to get players scoring.
If Ottawa can get Cheechoo scoring in the 25-30 goal mark again, and Michalek continue to score at his regular pace (or better), Heatley's production will covered.
As for the top-six, this is what I'm expecting/predicting:
Michalek-Spezza-Kovalev
Foligno-Cheechoo-Alfredsson
The reasoning behind the lines is pretty simple.
Ottawa wants and needs CheeChoo to produce better than last season, so like I said expect Alfie beside him at all times - giving CheeChoo a set-up man and with Foligno on the other wing - Cheechoo has a scoring option and a big body in front of the net.
As tempting as putting CheeChoo with Spezza is, the Sens lack of a bon-a-fide 2nd line center has hurt the Sens in recent years. Nothing against Fisher, but he is better suited shutting down top-players than trying to score on them.
And for those wondering CheeChoo has played at Center before and used to be very good at it, so this is great chance for Ottawa to build 2 dangerous lines.
----------------------------------------------
The Sens are finally back to playing hockey starting tomorrow in Halifax against the Florida Panthers. Interestingly enough, anyone else find it odd the Canadian team in the 'visiting' team in this game?
The Sens have released the roster for this game -
Forwards - Shean Donovan, Chris Neil, Josh Hennessy, Ryan Shannon, Chris Kelly, Denis Hamel, Martin St. Pierre, Cody Bass, Peter Regin (may be injured), Matt Carkner, Erik Condra and Jarkko Ruutu
Defence - Erik Karlsson, Chris Campoli, Drew Bannister, Alex Picard, Brian Lee and Christoph Schubert
Goalies-
Pascal Leclaire and Robin Lehner will split the game.
Sadly this game won't be televised outside of Halifax, so unless you find a webcast or NTV (Newfoundland) picks it up, we'll be stuck in the dark.
If anyone does come across a webcast of the game please pass the link on to me, and I'll post it here for other Sens fans.
----------------------------------------------------
The Sens have also cut down their training camp roster to 46 players. The Sens have assigned 9 players to Bingo's training camp.
4 Defensemen: Paul Baier, Mat Robinson, Craig Schira and Kyle Wharton
5 forwards: Brandon Svendsen, Jason Bailey, Keegan Dansereau, Matt Lowry and Kaspars Daugavins.
I fully expect all of them to make the Bingo roster (with the exception of Robinson possibly) as all had fairly strong camps.
Svendsen will like play as a top-six in Bingo because of his performance so far.
--------------------------------------------------------
And finally the Sens have announced their annual Fanfest -
http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=498504
Should be an entertaining morning and hopefully I'll run into a few you.
Wow it feels so much better to writing about the Sens and hockey instead Heatley, Phoenix and rumours.
Mark Christopher
[email protected] 
Join the Discussion:
»