The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

My Sens made the final cuts to their roster with no big surprises and not much fanfare. Only two questions needed answering: Did Denis Hamel convince the coaching staff he deserves a shot at playing full-time in the NHL, and will Russian Alexei Kaigorodov make the Sens roster as the 13th forward or be sent to Binghamton, as he had a horrible pre-season and didn't look like a 2nd line centre everyone was hoping he'd be.

Hamel will stick around, but will only play as a third or fourth line player. His strength is scoring goals as he had 56 of them in his last AHL campaign, so it would make sense to try to get him some ice time with Antoine Vermette or Mike Fisher. He will have to work hard every night to keep his spot, as his inconsistency is the main reason why he's had to wait until he turned 29 years old to make the NHL.

The only reason why Kaigorodov made the roster, in my humble opinion, is that the Senators are afraid he may bolt for Russia if he was sent to Binghamton, undoubtedly because it would pay more. He still has tons to learn and hasn't adjusted to the NHL style, and seasoning in Binghamton would be ideal. But, not everything is as simple as a demotion. If Hamel or someone else up front flounders or gets hurt, Kaigorodov will be inserted in the lineup to show what he can do and improve.

The lines should look something like this tomorrow night:

Eaves - Spezza - Heatley
Schaefer - Fisher - Alfredsson
Hamel - Vermette - Neil
McHammond - Kelly - McGrattan

Redden - Meszaros
Phillips - Volchenkov
Preissing - Schubert

Joe Corvo is out so Christoph Schubert is inserted as the #6 defenseman. On a side note, I never realized how big Volchenkov is. He's an average (by NHL standards) 6"1, but weighs in at 237 pounds, more than tough guy McGrattan who weighs 225 and, well, anyone else on the roster. And the Sens only have three players less than 6" tall: Daniel Alfredsson, Dean McHammond and goaltender Martin Gerber, who are all 5"11.

Not sure what to make of Bryan Murray's comment that Gerber is "...not a phenomenal goaltender, but a good goaltender". I'm hoping it's a subtle fire lit under Martin that he can get better, but it also may harbour a bit of resentment if Gerber feels he is an elite goalie. Sens have been KILLED by less than spectacular goaltending, and I don't care what anyone says, if Hasek was healthy during playoffs the Sens would have gone further than they did. Anyway, it's safe to say Gerber isn't yet considered an elite NHL goalie, but he has a chance to prove he is this season.

So how will Ottawa do this year? They are not the favourites to win the Cup (I'll give that honour to Anaheim, maybe Calgary or Buffalo) but it's probably in their interest that they come in as a bit of an underdog; a team that doesn't achieve when it should. Less pressure is maybe what they need to get over their early playoff exits. They should have a solid season, finish atop their division or at least top five in the Conference and make the playoffs without much difficulty. Some one goal victories and less blowouts, which will make them work harder than they had to last season to get victories, might get them better prepared for the post-season.

But they'll crush the Leafs 5-1 or something to that effect tomorrow (I hope!). Can't wait for the puck drop, hockey is here!!!