For last night’s NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft, Senators fans descended on the Casino Lac Leamy like a pack of ravenous dogs that were out for blood… then beers… and then more blood.
It was the hockey equivalent to Philadelphia Eagles fans invading the NFL’s Draft at Radio City Music Hall, only instead of booing a Donovan McNabb pick, Sens booed Joffrey Lupul every time he raised his eyes up from Team Chara’s podium.
Lupul: With our next…
Faithful: Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Lupul: Uh…
Faithful: Leafs suck!
You would think that after one or two picks, someone from the broadcast or the league would have gone over to Chara and told him to make the picks instead. Hilariously though, this never happened. For a player who’s supposed to be renowned for his defensive awareness, the Big Z repeatedly let his teammate down. Frankly, it felt like I was watching a Columbus Blue Jackets game – watching a defenceman hang his teammate out to dry that often.
The night wasn’t all about Chara however; it was also a night that gave us some insight into Daniel Alfredsson’s capabilities as a talent evaluator. Although he confirmed publically on Gary Bettman’s XM satellite radio program that health permitting, he will play another season, it is expected that he will join the organization in some front office capacity once his playing days are over.
So how did Alfie’s audition go?
Like many of Ottawa’s previous GMs, bias, loyalty and a love of the hometown players certainly played a role in many of his personnel decisions. Staying true to his word, Erik Karlsson was his first selection and in somewhat of a surprise move, Jason Spezza was picked second. In fact, by the end of the draft every Senators player, Gatineau native Claude Girouxformer Senator/feel-good story Brian Elliott would represent Alfie’s team too. Perhaps most importantly, Alfie never reached on Kimmo Timonen of all people.
Here is the breakdown the selections occurred:
- Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
- Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
- Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
- Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators
- Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
- Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
- Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
- Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
- Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
- Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
- Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues
- Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
- Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators
- Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
- Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
- Dan Girardi, New York Rangers
- Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
- Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes
- Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
- Milan Michalek, Ottawa Senators
- Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
- Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
- James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Dennis Wideman, Washington Capitals
- Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks
- Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
- John Tavares, New York Islanders
- Jordan Eberle, Edmonton Oilers
- Scott Hartnell, Philadelphia Flyers
- Tyler Seguin, Boston Bruins
- Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres
- Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
- Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks (Mr. Irrelevant)
For what it’s worth, when asked which team he wanted his rookie peers to be associated with, Sean Couturier picked Daniel Alfredsson’s side.
Alfie’s Rookies: Sean Couturier, Justin Faulk, Carl Hagelin, Nick Johnson, Matt Read and Craig Smith
Chara’s Rookies: Luke Adam, Raphael Diaz, Colin Greening, Cody Hodgson, Ryan Johansen and Gabriel Landeskog
Other Friday News
– According to Bruce Garrioch, Eugene Melnyk’s grievance against Dany Heatley will finally see the light of day in court.
Remembering back to that time, Melnyk filed the grievance after Dany Heatley requested to be traded over that summer and then used his NTC to nix a deal that would have sent him to the Edmonton Oilers for Ladislav Smid, Andrew Cogliano and the pancake loving Dustin Penner. Already viewed as a malcontent, teams grew wary of acquiring Heatley because they didn’t want to absorb the $4 million frontloaded payment – due on July 1st — of his 2009-10 salary.
A point of contention for the Senators is that they insist that Heatley’s advisers — including former agent Stacey McAlpine and current representative J.P. Barry — gave GM Bryan Murray permission to speak with the Oilers and try to get a deal worked out.
Like any good on-ice defence, I’m hoping that the Senators can put together an off-ice one that can make Heatley squirm.
Perhaps the most interesting note, albeit, it does sound probable, the San Jose Sharks could be left to foot the bill if Heatley loses the case.
– According to Joy Lindsay (@PSBJoyOnTheSens), Patrick Wiercioch is set to return to the Binghamton Senators lineup tonight against the Albany Devils. It marks the first time he’ll play since being struck in the throat by a puck on December 9th.
– Hat tip to a reader named Trevor who sent in the poster design that adorns the top of this page. According to Trevor’s email, “it was my intention to reinterpret the existing logo as if the All Star game was being held in the early 20th century.”
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