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

I'm not one to look at a person's short term efforts when deciding if a player can be a valuable addition to a team's roster. In the case of Ray Emery, where he left practice early Friday because he was "sick", everyone of course is wondering what's wrong with Ray and if he's a "tired act" on an elite team with a goaltender that has regained his form, Martin Gerber.

So at practice Ray break his stick, knocks over some water bottles and everyone wonders what's wrong. Well, this is what likely happened, even though I wasn't there: Ottawa played back-to-back games, he expected to get the start against the Islanders, and was told Gerber is getting the start. He got upset as a result.

Then at practice he showed up 15 minutes late and was told to go home. He wasn't "sick" as the team reported to the press, but after being repeatedly late for practice and failing to show up for some other optional practices (the unwritten rule being if you're the backup goaltender, you show up for these practices) Ray was told to head home and think about what he's doing. He may still think he's the starter and hasn't been given a fair shake because of his off-season surgery, but really he had a chance to take over the number one starter's job after playing four games in a row earlier this month. Then he got a "hip" injury...but was still capable of being the backup when Gerber was again given the starter's job.

So what's the point of my diatribe? Emery is not the crazy "distraction" everyone says he is and isn't locker room poison like Tyrell Owens. He has one problem: sleeping in. He wasn't punished at all for it in the past but since the Sens have Gerber, they can afford to do things such as send him home early to make him get his act together. It's really up to Ray if he wants back in. GM Bryan Murray still would like to add another forward before the playoffs start and Emery looks to be the man to be dangled for trade if he doesn't bring up his work ethic and demonstrate he wants to regain the #1 spot.

I will never forget Emery being a part of the team that brought the Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup final. Maybe that's why I still have a soft spot for him and I'm quick to defend him while others quickly throw him under the bus. But really, he controls his own destiny now and it's up to him to prove just how bad he'd like to prove his critics wrong.