Canada vs Switzerland Review

   Everything seemed to be clicking for Canada in their Tuesday night win over Switzerland. The Canadians defeated the Swiss team 6-0, heavily outplaying them throughout the majority of the game. The team’s lack of ability to finish did not carry over from the game vs Russia on Friday, with Canada outscoring their opponents 11-2 in their last two games.

What’s striking about Canada’s offense is how well the Domi-Duclair-Reinhart line has been able to click so early on. Domi was set up by his line mates for three goals, and the trio looked solid throughout the entire game. With Canada’s forwards producing, it also means much of the pressure will be taken off projected first overall pick, Connor McDavid. Considering McDavid’s age of just 17, it’s hard to put country’s fate in his hands, and hopefully if Canada keeps scoring, McDavid will be able to avoid some of the heat.

On defence, Canada showed the toughness it has been missing for the past few tournaments. Madison Bowey was very physical throughout the game throwing several big hits, meanwhile Samuel Morin was a 6’7” pillar on the back end. Canada’s coach, Benoit Groulx, looks like he’s doing a great job of enforcing a more defensive style from the defence core, without belittling their offensive ability.

In net, Zach Fucale faced only 14 shots, but looked sharp in the win. If Canada is able to get consistent goaltending from Fucale and Comrie throughout the tournament, they’ll be extremely tough to beat. As of now, Canada, the United States, and Finland look like the three front runners to take Gold, however it’s been proven many times in this tournament that anything is possible.

Canada opens up the tournament Boxing Day against Slovakia.

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Injury Season for Sens

A full week with new head coach Dave Cameron has brought about some changes, both good and bad for the Senators. Since the coaching change, the team has seemed to elevate their game to a higher level, fighting against the struggles they have had of playing a consistent sixty minute hockey game. Playing a bit of a different game, the team was able to take a breath Saturday after their win against Boston, which was the first win for Dave Cameron as head coach. The win also surprised many as the Senators have not done well in afternoon games, or against Boston at home.

However, it seems with the good, the bad always comes. In Thursday's game, Chris Neil left with a lower body injury, which after evaluation was determined to be a knee problem. Cameron commented on his status saying he is “week to week”. After Saturday's game against Boston, Zack Smith was diagnosed with a dislocated wrist an he will be out of commission for several months.

Due to both of these injuries, the Senators have called up centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau to help out who has 8 goals and 10 assists in 25 games in the AHL.

How will these injuries affect the team moving forward?

Losing a player like Chris Neil is never good for a team like Ottawa. Although he doesn't put up great offensive numbers (7 points in 28 games), he is a big part of the teams physical play and his absence will be noticed. The Senators will need to see players like Mark Borowiecki and Jared Cowen step up their physical play.

Zack Smith's injury is a tough blow to his already struggling season. In 27 games played, Smith has amounted a mere 3 points (2 goals and 1 assist). He has no doubt been struggling to generate offence, and starting off the year on the wing certainly didn't help. His physical play has also been lacking. His injury may give him the time he needs to work through his struggles, and come back a stronger player.

Both of these injuries, however, have a big impact on the young rookie, Curtis Lazar. The young centre made the cut at the beginning of the season, but Sens fans have watched him struggle just his first NHL goal last night in Buffalo. He has recorded 6 assists in 25 games, developing chemistry with the other young guns on the team. His struggles haven't gone unnoticed, and going to the World Juniors could definitely give him the confidence boost he needs to step up his game. Friday, December 19 is the last day for Lazar to go to the World Junior team, and with these two injuries to the Senators, the chances of him going aren't looking good.

There isn't much time for the decision to be made, but it will be an important one for Lazar and could dictate how the rest of his rookie NHL season plays out. The confidence boost that he will get in the World Juniors is well worth the time he'll be away. All that's left to do is wait.

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What Will Brian Elliott's Return Mean for St. Louis?

Most NHL teams never experience the league’s all-time winningest goalie walking on to their squad after their starter gets injured. But for Ken Hitchcock’s St. Louis Blues, this is the case.  

After 29-year-old Brian Elliott went down with a knee injury, the Blues contacted Martin Brodeur for a try-out, before eventually signing him a week later. With the addition of Brodeur, the Blues now have three goalies all very capable of being starters.

Before getting injured in the Blues shootout loss to Ottawa, Brian Elliott was playing some of the best hockey of his career, posting a 1.82 GAA, and a .931 save percentage. After many years as the backup in St. Louis, Elliott didn’t just look like a starter, he looked like an elite NHL goaltender. However, one player falling onto his leg later, and all of a sudden, it’s a whole new ball game.

After a shaky first game with the Blues, Brodeur rebounded by playing solid against the Islanders in relief of Jake Allen. He then got the better of his former Olympic goalie partner, Roberto Luongo, in a 4-2 win over Florida. Brodeur seems to be gaining his confidence back, and if he can get on a roll, Allen’s playing time could be severely reduced. Hitchcock had previously said in an interview that if Brodeur ended up with a spot on the roster, he would not be a backup, and it looks like he’s staying true to this.

So, when Brian Elliott returns from his injury, what is the most likely scenario for the St. Louis goalie triangle?

Option 1: Brodeur gets dealt.

Although Brodeur has looked good since returning, one has to remember that he’s 42 years old. He’s stated he isn’t ready to call it quits just yet, but it’s very doubtful he’d have more than a year or two worth of hockey left in the tank. So bringing this into consideration, it makes a lot more sense for the Blues to keep Elliott, who at 29, is just hitting his prime now. This would also allow Jake Allen more time to develop, while still getting him into as many games this season as possible.

Option 2: Elliott gets dealt.

This is less likely than option 1, but still somewhat plausible. Elliott will have a high value once he returns from injury, and as the season progresses, many teams around the league could be looking to get a starter in hopes for a long playoff run. If the Blues were willing to sacrifice Elliott to look towards the future, this could be a good decision for the team.

Option 3: Allen is dealt.

The chances of this are about the same as if Dominik Hasek were to come out of retirement (quite unlikely, but you never know). Allen looks to be the future of the Blues, and at only 24 years old, is already showing signs of excellence. The Fredericton native currently holds a record of 8-3-1 with a GAA of 2.50, very good numbers for a second-year goaltender. General Manager Doug Armstrong would have a lot of explaining to do if Allen were to be traded, so for now, option 3 seems to be the least likely. 

Well, there it is. The Blues' goaltending saga in 600 words. Nothing is certain when it comes to the crease in St. Louis, and the only thing that's for sure is that the team's management will have some big decisions to make come Elliott's return.

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Road Trip Struggles

After what looked to be a turn for the better on Tuesday against St. Louis, the Senators have lost two straight to the Panthers and Lightning while continuing their road trip. It has been a tough situation for the team as we've seen management trying to send a message to the players that they need better results. Over the past few three games Milan Michalek and Zack Smith have been scratched once, while Mika Zibanejad was scratched for two consecutive games, returning to the lineup last night against Tampa Bay.

What is the answer to a better hockey club?

This road trip has brought to light the struggles of the top two forward lines. Kyle Turris and his line have struggled to bring consistent points while the third line (Legwand, Neil, Condra) have combined for seven points in three games. It looks as though after being a go-to scratch, Condra got the message. His play has significantly improved.

There is some good news for Ottawa, though. Goaltending is the farthest thing from an issue. Anderson (9.32 SV%) and Lehner (9.14 SV%) have been the ones keeping the Senators afloat. They have worked as a tandem quite well for the team, and the starts have been split evenly, with a slight tip to Anderson.

Ottawa continues to patiently wait for defenseman Marc Methot to return from injury. There was some speculation that he would be available for the game in Sunrise, but that didn't happen. Struggling defensively, the Senators average 35 shots against per game which puts a lot of pressure on the goaltenders. Although Anderson and Lehner have responded well to the high shot count, Methot is a much needed piece to the puzzle to help that shot count go down, which will effectively give the team more time to develop in the offensive zone.

The bad news, however, does unfortunately keep coming for the Sens. Bobby Ryan left the game early on Friday due to a hand injury which later was determined to be a broken finger. There is no timeline for Ryan, Maclean stated.

“We're anticipating we'll know something by Monday. If he can't practice Monday then we'll probably have some kind of answer at that time.”

The Senators are hoping to see him in the lineup against the Islanders on Tuesday night.

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Pesky Returns

Last season, the Senators developed a name for themselves due to their unrelenting perseverance that had them making several late third period comebacks in games that seemingly looked over. The name, or hashtag, rather, was referred to as the Pesky Sens.

After suffering a 3-2 loss in an afternoon game to St. Louis on Saturday, the Sens visited them Tuesday night with the loss still lingering in their minds. Revenge seemed to be the motivating factor as they pushed through penalties and some questionable disallowed goals to tie the game up at two with 41 seconds left. Since overtime solved nothing, the game went to the shootout where Bobby Ryan scored to win the game for Ottawa. With the win, the Senators proudly reclaimed their title as the Pesky Sens.

Overall, this was one of the best games we've seen from Ottawa all season. Prior to the game, MacLean announced the lineup which brought Condra and Greening in, scratching Michalek and Zibanejad. The scratches certainly took many by surprise, but when asked about the lineup changes after the game, MacLean addressed the situation by referring back to one of his most repeated phrases.

“The best players play”

Although many fans were upset with the lineup, it did look like the Sens had a good group of players in against St. Louis.

Bobby Ryan had a terrific game defensively, and played in a manner that showed he was not going to let the game slip away. Ryan had three shots against St. Louis, and they all seemed to be well generated scoring chances. Hearing the sound of the post seemed to be enough motivation for him to put the game away with his shootout winner.

Erik Condra was brought in after consistently being a healthy scratch, and after his performance, Sens fans should expect to see more of him, especially on this current road trip. As a team that struggles with staying out of the box (suffering eight penalties against St. Louis), they need a penalty killer like Condra in the lineup. He was excellent on the penalty kill, as well as scoring a shorthanded goal that was disallowed. For only recording 9:20 of ice time that night second lowest on the team), he played a terrific game and you couldn't help but notice when he was on the ice.

Another key component in the win against St. Louis was Robin Lehner. Facing 29 shots, he made some key saves for the Senators and kept a levelled head over what turned out to be quite a physical game. In the shootout, he showed lots of patience, stopping all three shots he faced against what is a very talented lineup. The goaltending tandem continues to bring success for Ottawa, as Anderson stands second in the league with a .932 SV%, and Lehner continues to give quality starts.

This game was also the first of the season that they won while outshooting their opponent(33-29). A great confidence booster for the team as they continue a stretch of four away games out of their next five.  

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Curtis Lazar to Stay, Who Goes?

Early on into the season, many NHL teams are forced to make some hard decisions with their rookie players. After nine games of play, the management has to ask themselves a question. Do they stay, or do they go? For some, the answer puts them down to their AHL affiliate, where lies an opportunity to be called back up to the big league if they are playing well enough. For others, they are sent back down to junior where they will remain for the rest of the season. Then, there is the lucky few that are told to stay with their respective teams.

In the case of Ottawa Senators, centre Curtis Lazar was given the normal nine game period to impress the Senators management, and prove he is ready to play in the NHL. In the nine game period, Lazar was scratched two times, so on Tuesday night, the eleventh game of the season for Ottawa was his last chance to prove himself to the organization. In his nine games, Lazar recorded three assists including his assist to the game-winning goal on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, the Senators announced that Lazar is going to stay with the team for the year.

Lazar has been a fan favourite so far this season. At just nineteen years old, he has shown his readiness to match the speed and physicality of the NHL. Although he has yet to score his first career NHL goal, the rookie shows lots of promise and the choice the Senators made to keep him has been very well received. With the chemistry building on the “young line” with Lazar, Hoffman, and Stone, he seems to have found his place in the organization as a strong fourth line centre. This gives Lazar a comfortable way to enter into the NHL, especially with the rotating scratches to be expected between Erik Condra, Colin Greening, and himself. It seems as if the coaching staff wants to ease him into the league rather than putting him in the lineup every night. Which, for the nineteen-year-old, is a good way to get him started.

Who Goes?

There's no doubt that Lazar staying for the season is a success story for the Senators. However, while Marc Methot is still injured with no news of a return date in sight, there lies more decisions to be made. Once Methot is able to return, the Sens will have one extra man on their roster. Someone will either have to be sent down to Binghamton, or a trade will have to be made.

With the coaching staff showing signs of favour in the young guys, we have seen the tables turn on two veteran Senators forwards, Colin Greening, and Erik Condra. Both players have not seen many games so far this season with out of the eleven games played, Condra has played five and Greening merely two. The two players, however, find themselves in different situations. Condra is in the last year of his contract and becomes a UFA on July 1, while Greening is in the first year of a three year deal worth $7.95 million. In a recent article, Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch commented on Colin Greening's situation,

“Ottawa doesn't want him making that kind of coin sitting and sooner or later the situation will be addressed through waivers or a trade because there is interest in Greening.”

A valuable penalty killer like Condra isn't someone the Sens are likely to move, especially after finishing dead last in penalty minutes last season. But as for Colin Greening, we might see him moving in the coming weeks. 

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2014-15 NHL Predictions: Awards and Trophies

The NHL season is starting today and like all hockey fans, we couldn't be more excited. Here are FSM's predictions for a year of hockey that is sure to impress.

Stanley Cup Champions: Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks were a very solid team this past season, and have finished first in their division the past two years. Offseason moves were made that strengthened their team, adding Clayton Stoner, Ryan Kesler and Dany Heatley will bolster both their offense and defence. Playing a division stacked with talent will provide a tough regular season, and if the promising young goaltending tandem of Frederik Anderson and John Gibson holds up against the likes of LA and San Jose consistently, they will have the drive to make it through the playoffs and capture their second Stanley Cup in the past 10 years.

President's Trophy: Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins won the President's Trophy last year, and we believe they will again this year, as it was for good reason. The Eastern Conference teams are simply not as strong as the Western Conference teams, and with Boston being consistently one of the top teams in the conference they will not have too much trouble attaining the best regular season record in the league. Playing against weaker teams more often, but still producing like they have, and having Tuukka Rask hold it down in goal, will be the recipe for success to finish the season with the best record.

Hart Memorial Trophy: Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin finished in fourth in scoring last season, and is playing on a Dallas team that is consistently getting better and better. Working with Jamie Benn on the first line, he has the potential to do just as well this coming season, if not better. Seguin will play a major part in the Stars' offensive production and will be a front funner for the league's Most Valuable Player.

Lady Byng Trophy: Martin St. Louis

The Lady Byng Trophy is awarded to the player in the league that most exemplifies sportsmanlike qualities combined with good playing ability. Martin St. Louis has won the Lady Byng twice already in recent years, and in his first full season with the New York Rangers, he will lead the team with his play, heart and sportsmanship.

Vezina Trophy: Carey Price

Carey Price had a spectacular season last year, and after winning the Olympic gold medal with the Canadian National team, all he did was get better. With Montreal not necessarily having the strongest defensive corps in the league, Price will have the opportunity to show how dominant of a goaltender he can be. If Montreal does as well this season as they did last, it'll have a lot to do with Carey Price. He will be a top candidate to take home the Vezina.

Calder Memorial Trophy: Jonathan Drouin

Jonathan Drouin was drafted third overall in the 2013 NHL Draft to Tampa Bay Lightning. While playing for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, he had two stellar seasons, one ending with a Memorial Cup win he shared with last year's Calder Trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Frk of the Detroit Red Wings. Playing with the likes of Steven Stamkos on the Lightning this year, as well as being a dynamic goal scorer is a great combination that has a high possibility in leading to back-to-back Halifax Moosehead alumni Calder Trophies.

Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby won last year's Art Ross, and is a favourite to repeat. Playing alongside Chris Kunitz, who consistently compliments him and helps him set up scoring plays and in the weaker conference Eastern Conference will most certainly play well with his amazing talent and could very well result in him coming out of top of the scoring race, yet again.

Norris Trophy: Erik Karlsson

On an Ottawa Senators team that is seemingly on the decline, Erik Karlsson is a glimpse of hope. He has one Norris under his belt, and is in line to get another. A healthy Karlsson is something every team that plays Ottawa this season should be very prepared for. He has been one of, if not the best defensemen in the league in past few years and could have an outstanding season like the one he had in 2011.

Ted Lindsay Trophy: Jonathan Toews

The Chicago Blackhawks have been, consistently, one of the strongest teams in the very talented Western Conference. This being made possible by the likes of Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and especially Jonathan Toews. Toews leads the team with his hardworking, two-way style of play and still manages to stand out as a top point getter on an already stacked roster. We think the Professional Hockey Writers' Association will take notice of this, and choose him as their league MVP.

Jack Adams Award: Bruce Boudreau

Bruce Boudreau has already won a Jack Adams with his work coaching the Washington Capitals, and we believe he will get another this season as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. If he can rally his team to the top of the Pacific Division for the third season in a row, and lead them to a Stanley Cup Championship as we have predicted above, he will need to be taken into close consideration to win coach of the year.

Frank J. Selke Trophy: T.J. Oshie

The Frank J. Selke is awarded to the forward who demonstrates the best ability to play the defensive side of hockey. Oshie, of the St. Louis Blues, is the perfect candidate. He is an extremely hard worker and a consistent hockey player to say the least, he stands out on the St. Louis roster for all the right reasons, and for that will be a top choice to take home the Selke.

Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy: Steven Stamkos

Steven Stamkos won his first Rocket Richard in the 2011-12 season, and after having a very strong return to the NHL after a broken leg sidelined him for a good portion of the season, he is primed and ready to go. Playing with the dynamic Tampa Bay offense, he will surely score many goals, and has a very good chance of leading the league again.

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Contract Controversy Part 2: Marc Methot

For Sens fans, this was nothing short of a great week. After questions surrounding Bobby Ryan's future as a Senator and a captain not yet being named, fans were rewarded with answers on Thursday. An early morning press conference broke the news that Bobby Ryan had decided to sign with the Senators (a seven year deal worth $50.75 million) and that Erik Karlsson had been named the new team captain. 

Hockey fans and reporters alike took to social media immediately to voice their opinions about the exciting news for the Ottawa Senators. Getting geared up for the regular season, these were two big decisions that Ottawa needed to make. There is, however, one big question that has yet to be answered for the Senators. What about Marc Methot?

The Ottawa native has been very popular since he was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1 of 2012 in exchange for Nick Foligno. He has, for the most part, been the defensive partner to Erik Karlsson, playing more of a physical side to the game which has given the pair quite a spark. Famous for his sneaky hip checks, Methot has become a go to defenseman for the Senators, which is why, as the season draws closer, fans are getting more and more worried.

On Thursday, the Senators reportedly offered Methot a four year deal worth $4.6 million per year that was declined by the defenseman. On Insider Trading (TSN), Bob Mckenzie reported that Methot is looking for a five year deal averaging $5 million per year. So, the question still remains as to whether Methot will resign as an Ottawa Senator, and if they are willing to pay Methot what he is asking for.

In a preseason interview, Bryan Murray was asked about Methot and the situation regarding the eight NHL ready defensemen in the roster,

“Yeah, we have eight defencemen – eight NHL defencemen we think are good players (and are) ready to play. We can’t keep carrying eight all year. There’s no doubt about that. We do have other needs, there’s no question, so if there’s a fit somewhere, definitely. (A trade) is something I have to look at.” - Bryan Murray. TSN.ca. Published: Sept. 15, 2014.

As a top market defenceman at the ripe age of twenty-nine, Methot could very well be on the trading block as the Senators are looking to build on their offence. With the value that Methot has brought to the Senators, they could definitely get a worthwhile return if they decided to trade him, which Bryan Murray has admitted is a very realistic option.

“We just don’t think we’re in the ballpark now right now of where Marc wants to be and there’s a possibility that (a trade) can happen.” - Bryan Murray. TSN.ca. Published: Sept. 15, 2014.

Although Methot has done a great job at keeping quiet about the situation, it doesn't mean it's been going smoothly. As time continues to run out and the beginning of the 2014-2015 season draws closer, the Sens have an urgent decision to make. They may have settled some of the controversy last week, but with the uncertainty of Methot's contract, it still leaves some big questions that are dying to be answered.

Hold on tight Sens fans, you might not be seeing Methot for too much longer.

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Why Another NHL Expansion is a Bad Idea

Two lockouts in a span of eight seasons. Is it still fair to say the NHL’s main priority is to produce good hockey for fans across North America? 

Year after year, the signs that that both players and owners alike are in it more for the money than for the love of the game becomes more and more apparent. When it reaches the point that players are willing to sit out a season of hockey due to money specific arguments with the owners, obviously, there is a problem. So let’s think for a minute: adding teams to our league is surely not going to increase the quality of hockey in it, so what benefits does a possible expansion actually bring?

For any suit-wearing lackey of Gary Bettman who actually generates revenue from the league, the scenario of a possible expansion is music to their ears. More teams equal more tickets sold, which equal more revenue, which equals more happy owners. And it seems like a great idea for players as well.

By adding teams, a lot of players that would had never have gotten the chance to play in the NHL would then be able to reach the big league and have their dreams come true. It will even give fans in places that don’t have an NHL team a great opportunity to experience the best hockey in the world first hand. So with all these upsides, how could it be such a bad thing? Simply put, by adding team after team, very soon we may not be able to call it the best hockey in the world.

Even by adding just two new teams to the league, (only half of the teams that were in the running), that is at the very least 44 more players to enter the league. Players that would’ve been playing in the minors, and may not be skilled enough to compete in the NHL, will now be a regular on the roster. There are already enough fourth-liners whose sole job it is to play a couple minutes a night specifically to get into a fight; we don’t need any more. Prospects that have great potential could be underdeveloped and rushed into their NHL roster due to the newly open spots.

It would also take several years for the expansion teams to be able to compete in the league due to their lack of talent, and that’s not a team the NHL can say fans will want to watch. By bringing in more players, the quality of hockey will drop, and once it is done, it will be very hard to undo. The advantage of simply moving teams opposed to adding new teams to the league is that the number of teams in the league stays the same, and so does the quality of hockey. Once a new franchise is added, they won’t be able to take it away if there is a problem.

By adding these teams, the NHL could say more fans will be able to watch pro hockey, however one has to notice the location of where they’re being added. There were talks of bringing back a team to Quebec City, creating a rival Francophone team for the Montreal Canadiens. But what’s hard to understand is why Quebec City would be given a second chance. If they didn’t have enough fan support last time, why is it going to be different now?

Speaking of Canadian teams, talks have also been started about the potential for a second team in the Greater Toronto Area. Toronto is undoubtedly one of the largest hockey cities in North America, however to think BOTH teams would be able to bring in 20,000 fans per game is absurd. 

Moving over to talk about the United States, it’s been reported that Las Vegas is a candidate for an expansion team as well. Las Vegas is a tourist city, therefore it would not be able to maintain a permanent NHL team. Vegas is built on different people coming in and out of the city, so it’s extremely unlikely they would ever have a loyal fan base, and the team would likely need to be relocated before 2020 hits. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, except for an NHL team.

Seattle is potentially the only team that would ever be able to keep an NHL franchise, as they would be able to rival the Vancouver Canucks and likely bring in a large amount of fans. However it’s all about getting past the first couple years after the expansion draft, and history shows teams have a tough time doing it. Columbus and Minnesota, the last two expansion teams, have only qualified for the playoffs a combined 7 times in a combined 26 seasons since entering the league.

In theory, if 44 hundred point scorers could come out of junior hockey the year the expansion teams come into the league, and the expansion teams were able to select every single one of them, there is a chance at the new teams doing well. However that’s about as likely as pigs falling from the sky and Charlie Sheen becoming sober. With the interest of NHL fans in mind, an expansion seems just about useless. The owners benefit and the fans suffer. Sounds just like a Bettman kind of plan.

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Contract Controversy Part 1: Bobby Ryan

As many sports fans know, interviews are very general. It's fairly common for questions to be left unanswered, and for the interviewee to beat around the bush without giving a statement based on the truth. As hockey is on it's way back, TSN hockey analyst Bob Mckenzie sat down with Ottawa Senators General Manager, Bryan Murray, to discuss the ups and downs of last season, as well as the goals for the upcoming year. Surprisingly, that interview brought out an open and honest side of Murray – one that doesn't get seen too often.

After a frustrating season that had them missing the playoffs, the Ottawa Senators are looking for some improvements from their players this year. During the interview, Murray discussed the Senators need to play better defence as well as some more disciplined hockey. However, what got the most attention were the comments made about players Bobby Ryan and Marc Methot, which has caused some controversy in Ottawa. Both players have one year remaining in their contract and have yet to sign a deal to extend their stay with the team.

When asked about Bobby Ryan, Murray commented:

“The impression I get from Bobby and his people or his agents is that he does like Ottawa. He liked, for the most part, living there, being on the Ottawa Senators, the environment, (playing in a) Canadian city, all those good things. He wants to play more minutes. He wants to be more prominent in the core of good players.” - TSN.ca. Published: Sept. 15, 2014.

The Ottawa Senators have offered Ryan a seven year contract with the team, an offer that the twenty-seven year old isn't taking lightly. When approached about the contract offer, Ryan offered his insight,

“If you're hitching your wagon to a team for seven years it's okay to take some time to realize if it's really what you want or not.” - Bobby Ryan. OttawaSenators.com. Published: Sept. 17, 2014.

After that comment was released, it spread like wild fire that Bobby Ryan was questioning whether or not he wanted to stay in Ottawa at all. The drama certainly spread throughout the city of Ottawa, creating some worried Sens fans. The quote, however, was taken out of context. When shown the rest of his statement, it definitely settled down the dramatic rumour that was Bobby Ryan not wanting to stay in Ottawa.

“Everything that I've said and still feel is that I'd love to be here long term. You need some assurance and motivating factor. To not get it done at this early stage isn't a tragedy, we've still got a year to get there. I think everybody is fairly confident that we will.” - Bobby Ryan. OttawaSenators.com Published: Sept. 17, 2014.

Everyone take a breath. He likes it here! Sometimes it can be forgotten that hockey players are human too. Being asked to sign with a team for seven years after only being here a grand total of one season (a season that Ryan might even want to take back with all the things that went wrong) is a big deal and one that Ryan has every right to take some time to think about.

In the big picture, Sens fans have got nothing to worry about with Bobby Ryan, because as he says, he likes it here. A contract will be negotiated at some point this season, the man just wants some well deserved time to make sure this is the right place for him.

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