Senators Suspend Search For President Of Hockey Operations
The Ottawa Senators have been seeking a President of Hockey Operations for some time, but they will hold on a while longer to make a hire. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the team has decided to end their search for a President, at least through this season, although he also casts doubt on whether they will renew the search. To this point, their attempts to find a man for the role have been fruitless and the team is likely to go back to the drawing board.
It was back in March that the team first announced that they were searching for someone to take on the President role. In the midst of a last-place campaign, many felt that it was the death knell of GM Pierre Dorion. However, the team was quick to note that the hiring would not be to undermine or threaten Dorion, but instead to assist and support. Owner Eugene Melnyk has remained consistent in his confidence in Dorion and it is that faith that likely led to the team feeling comfortable in suspending their presidential search.
Well, that and their failure to attract a qualified name. A report in April suggested that the likes of Dean Lombardi, Mike Gillis, Trevor Linden, Joe Nieuwendyk and current NHL GM’s Steve Yzerman and Ron Francis had all been approached about the position, but turned down the opportunity. While many might assume that the current status of the Ottawa roster is to blame for the lack of interest, the Senators actually have a strong pipeline of young talent that should intrigue any hockey mind. Instead, it is likely the reputation of Melnyk and skepticism of his willingness to spend to the salary cap that have scared off the qualified candidates. Rather than rush into a decision on sub-prime option for the job, it is likely that Melnyk and company preferred to stick with the loyal Dorion and continue to ride out this rebuild without addition supervision. Only time will tell how it will all play out and whether the team will circle back to finding a president down the road.
Minor Transactions: 10/14/19
Get ready for a full day of hockey. Monday’s lineup features four games being held at 1:00pm home team local time, as well as 3:00pm, 5:00pm, and 7:30pm. Among the story lines to watch are the Wild, Devils, and Blackhawks seeking their first wins of the season, the Avalanche and Oilers looking to stay perfect, and a collision of the league’s two stingiest teams, the Ducks and Bruins. Also to watch for are the roster moves made to open up the third week of the season. Keep up with all of the action here:
- The Ottawa Senators continue to routinely shuffle their forward group around early this season. After giving youngsters like Drake Batherson, Filip Chlapik, and Vitaly Abramov a chance already, the team has recalled a pair of veterans from AHL Belleville. The team announced that Nick Paul and Jordan Szwarz have been promoted to Ottawa. While Paul is a familiar name to Sens fans, Szwarz is a new free agent addition. The long-time AHL veteran and former Providence Bruins captain has played in 47 NHL games in his career, split between Arizona and Boston. His reliable two-way energy game could be more of the boost that the coaching staff feels they need right now rather than the offensive focus of the team’s top young prospects. This recall would also seem to indicate that there is a chance that Mikkel Boedker and Artem Anisimov are not ready to return to the lineup today as expected.
- After flipping Kyle Capobianco to the AHL for Ilya Lyubushkin on Saturday, the Coyotes are now flopping. CapFriendly reports that Capobianco has been called back up from the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners. The move comes on the heels of an injury to Niklas Hjalmarsson on Saturday that will likely push either Capobianco or Lyubushkin into a starting role for the time being.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a somewhat surprising switch. The team announced that 19-year-old rookie defenseman Rasmus Sandin has been sent down to the AHL’s Marlies, while free agent addition and veteran blue liner Kevin Gravel has been recalled in his place. Sandin, considered by many to be Toronto’s top D prospect, had skated in all six games for the team thus far and recorded a pair of assists, strong possession numbers, and an even plus/minus rating. Although, Sandin’s ice time has been limited and his special teams role has been non-existent, so this could be about putting him in a better position to develop in the AHL. However, this may be more about adding Gravel than subtracting Sandin. The Leafs have surrendered at least three goals in four of their six games so far, including a 7-3 drubbing by the Tampa Bay Lightning. They may simply be looking to tighten things up on the back end and stay-at-home specialist Gravel can help. Gravel has recorded 137 blocked shots and 124 hits in 106 NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers.
- Steven Oleksy worked his way up from the ECHL ranks early in his career and has been on an NHL contract every year since 2012. However, that streak was snapped this summer when the 33-year-old seemingly could not attract another two-way deal. His bad luck now continues, as the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced that they have released Oleksy from his tryout agreement. The veteran of 73 NHL games and more than 400 AHL games saw his production fall off somewhat last year in a season split between the San Diego Gulls and Toronto Marlies, but is simply looking for the opportunity to show he can still contribute. In all likelihood, Oleksy will land on his feet elsewhere in pro hockey sooner rather than later.
- The Vancouver Canucks have granted starter Jacob Markstrom a leave of absence to attend to a family matter. He is expected to re-join the team later this week. In the meantime, Vancouver announced that Zane McIntyre has been recalled to serve as the backup to Thatcher Demko. McIntyre, a free agent addition, has made eight NHL appearances in his career with the Boston Bruins, all back in 2016-17. Ironically, his lone call-up last season was to serve as backup to Jaroslav Halak while Tuukka Rask took a leave of absence himself. McIntyre was a star at the college level and has strong AHL numbers, but at 27 years old he no longer a prospect that the Canucks would be trying to force into play time. Expect them to lean on Demko until Markstrom returns.
Minor Transactions: 10/13/19
The Oilers and Avalanche stayed undefeated and the Senators stunned the Lightning on Saturday, which featured a busy slate of 14 games. As usual, Sunday is somewhat quieter, but tonight’s three match-ups feature two Pacific Division rivalry games and a battle between injury-bitten clubs as the Jets host the Penguins. As teams react to yesterday’s games and prepare for tonight and the week ahead, follow along with all of the roster transactions right here:
- Fresh off of an inspired first win of the season over the reigning President’s Trophy winners, the Ottawa Senators are getting ready to welcome a veteran asset back to the lineup. The team announced that rookie forward Vitaly Abramov has been reassigned to AHL Belleville. In his place, Mikkel Boedker is expected to return to the lineup, reports the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch. Boedker left the team’s season opener with an injury and has not played since, but seems ready to return and contribute. The 29-year-old is hoping to re-discover his 50-point form as he’s expected to play a larger role in Ottawa this year compared to last.
- The Minnesota Wild are still searching for their first point on the season – they are the only team without one – and are calling in reinforcements. The team announced that they have recalled forward Gerry Mayhew from the minors. Mayhew’s recall has been much-anticipated after he broke records in AHL Iowa last year with 27 regular season goals and nine postseason goals in just eleven games. A standout at Ferris State University, Mayhew’s production has actually improved at the pro level. The 26-year-old recorded 60 points last year for Iowa and already has six points through five games this year. The Wild hope that he again excels against elevated competition in his first NHL call-up. The team could certainly use the help. The Minnesota Wild also announced that prospect Ivan Lodnia has been assigned from the Iowa Wild of the AHL to his junior team, the Niagra Ice Dogs of the OHL. The 20-year-old hasn’t played a game with the Iowa Wild and will instead play an overage season in the OHL. Drafted in the third-round of the 2017 draft, Lodnia appeared in just 41 games last year, posting solid numbers, however, 17 goals and 45 points. Lodnia appeared in six regular season games at the end of the 2018-19 season, but failed to register a point.
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Curtis Lazar from the Rochester Americans of the AHL, according to The Athletic’s Joe Yerdon. With a four-game schedule coming up this week, which includes a three-game road trip to California, the team needed some extra forward depth, especially after the injury to Conor Sheary. Lazar spent all of last season in the AHL with the exception of one game with the Calgary Flames. He’ll likely be used as a healthy scratch, but could work his way into one game.
- The Carolina Hurricanes announced they have recalled forward Brian Gibbons from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. The 31-year-old forward has fared well in the AHL with a goal and four points in four games. He spent all of 2018-19 in the NHL, playing 44 games (two goals and five points) with the Anaheim Ducks before being traded to Ottawa where he posted six goals and 14 points in 20 games. He will likely be there to provide depth after the injury to Jordan Martinook.
Ottawa Senators To Hire Basketball’s Dave Smart As Consultant
The Ottawa Senators have decided to tap into the world of sports to help improve their franchise as the team has hired Canada’s most accomplished men’s basketball coach, Dave Smart, as a consultant, according to Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch. Smart, who won 13 USports Men’s National Championships throughout his coaching career, carried a .925 winning percentage against USports competition, and won the OUA Coach of the Year award 13 times as well, in his time with Carleton University, will be expected to help out with the team’s young core.
“The reason he’s on board is he’s the winningest coach in college basketball with the championships that he has,” said Ottawa head coach D.J. Smith. “Whether it’s hockey, basketball, baseball, football whatever, it’s still coaching and you’re dealing with people. He’s here to kind of help me in a senior role to see ‘Are we pushing the guys enough?’ ‘Are we pushing them too hard?’ And give us perspective from his side.”
It’s not as unusual as it sounds, however. Smart has actually been brought in by the Senators for several years now to speak to their prospects during the club’s rookie training camp in the summers, according to TSN’s Ian Mendes. An exceptional motivational speaker, Smart’s words truly affected Smith, who was brought in this summer by Ottawa to be the team’s new head coach due to his strong ability to connect with young athletes. With the team in full rebuild mode, Smith convinced Ottawa management to bring him in on a more regular basis.
“I listened to him talk to our young guys at rookie camp and I thought it was exceptional,” said Smith. “Just his view on how you put winning teams together and it’s very similar to what I believe in. I just said that’s a guy I can use.”
Smart, who retired in March of this year, taking a new position over at Carleston University, Director of Basketball Operations. Smart is expected to play the fly-on-the-wall and observe everything from the coaching staff to the players.
Minor Transactions: 10/12/19
It was a relatively quiet night in the NHL on Friday, with just three games on the schedule. However, the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres made the most of spotlight by extending their season-opening point streaks. The ‘Canes are back in action again tonight, looking to stay perfect alongside a number of other unbeaten teams. At least one member of the elite group will fall, as the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers go head-to-head. It’s a busy night of action that could be preceded by a busy day of roster transactions. Keep up with all of the moves here:
- Golden Knights authority SinBin Vegas reports that it will be Oscar Dansk getting the call from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves to replace the injured Malcolm Subban as the backup to Marc-Andre Fleury. It’s a somewhat surprising decision for a couple of reasons. First, Vegas acquired Garret Sparks from the Toronto Maple Leafs this off-season with what many considered was the intention of making him a quality third-string option who could put pressure on the often unreliable Subban. In their first opportunity to recall Sparks, they passed. Second, in Dansk’s first appearance of the AHL season, he surrendered seven goals on just 25 shots – a .720 save percentage. Dansk looked out of sorts and surely not ready for an NHL promotion. It could be that the Knights are making a short-term move ahead of tonight’s game by recalling a fresh Dansk in case of emergency instead of Sparks, who got the start last night for the Wolves. However, if Dansk remains as the backup moving forward while Subban is sidelined, the team will have to hope he can replicate his stellar performance from a brief call-up in 2017-18 rather than his showing in his AHL season debut.
- Casey Bailey is back in North America, inking a one-year deal with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. It’s been a somewhat precipitous decline for Bailey, who once seemed like a surefire NHLer. A standout at Penn State University, Bailey left school early in 2015 to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He even played in six games and recorded his first (and only to date) NHL point in that same season. In his first full pro campaign, Bailey put up good numbers in the AHL in a season split between the Toronto Marlies and Binghamton Senators after he joined Dion Phaneuf in the package sent from Toronto to Ottawa that year. The following season, Bailey again performed well in the AHL and skated in seven games with Ottawa, but it wasn’t enough to earn an extension or draw NHL interest as a free agent. After one more season in the minors, again with strong numbers, Bailey opted to head overseas last year, joining HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL. However, he failed to find his footing and recorded just five points in 45 games. With Bratislava leaving the KHL, on top of a tough first season with the team, Bailey had more than enough reason to return to North America. The question now is whether he can turn this opportunity with the Stingrays into something more, perhaps working his way back into relevance at the pro level.
- The Carolina Hurricanes announced they have activated defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk from non-roster injured reserve. The 28-year-old missed training camp and the first few games of the season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Van Riemsdyk has been practicing with the team for a while already, so he may not require a conditioning stint. He has been a key piece to the Hurricanes’ defense as he has appeared in all but seven games in the past two years. With Carolina, however, loaded in defensive depth, the team hasn’t missed him too much, but could be eventually forced to make another roster move.
Goalie Notes: Quick, Lehner, Rask
The rumor mill is usually relatively quiet at this time of year, but the trade whispers surrounding Jonathan Quick that began last season simply haven’t gone away. Much of the discussion is likely internal or at least hypothetical, as there is no reason believe there is a solid market for Quick right now, especially given his start to the season. Through two starts, Quick is 0-2 and has allowed a shocking 14 goals on just 56 shots. His .750 save percentage, very bad in its own right, is more than 70 points lower than the next-worst save percentage, while his 7.17 GAA is one of only two in the league over 6.00 early on. When Quick is on his game, he has proven himself to be one of the top goaltenders in the NHL, but after a miserable 2018-19 campaign, he’s off to the wrong start if he wants to show that he can still be that guy. Quick’s early struggles have both local and national hockey pundits weighing in on his future. With backup Jack Campbell coming off a breakout campaign and signed affordably through 2022 and promising collegiate prospect Cal Petersen waiting in the wings, the rebuilding Kings would likely be open to moving Quick and his $5.8MM cap hit through 2023. The question is whether there is a team willing to gamble on Quick’s history and upside at the risk of his injury issues and performance problems. With a change of scenery or perhaps the right coaching staff, Quick’s salary could actually still be a bargain if he gets back to peak form, however unlikely it may seem to some. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators are the only obvious teams with both the need and cap capacity to add Quick, and neither is likely to pull the trigger on a trade this early in the season. The Kings are likely stuck with him for a while and need to start thinking of different ways to help improve the play of a long-time franchise leader and star.
- Robin Lehner is set to make his first appearance as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, getting the start on Saturday, and the door is wide open for him to make far more starts moving forward. Through two games, incumbent Corey Crawford is 0-2 with an .875 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA that is third-worst among goalies with multiple starts. It’s a bad start for Crawford after missing considerable time due to injury in each of the past two seasons and performing poorly in the majority of looks he did get last year. Meanwhile, Lehner is a reigning Jennings Trophy winner and Vezina candidate after a dominant season with the New York Islanders. A strong start to his Blackhawks tenure could easily change the status quo of the tandem. Lehner isn’t just fighting for starts this season either; both he and Crawford are impending UFA’s at season’s end and a 28-year-old with a recent history of success is going to have a much better shot at a new long-term commitment than a 35-year-old with a recent history of injury and inconsistency. The first step toward Lehner potentially becoming the main man in net for Chicago for a long time begins tonight.
- After the whistle blew on an intense match-up between the Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, Bruins starter Tuukka Rask limped off the ice with help from his teammates. There was little word from the team as to the extent of Rask’s injury, but he did dress as the backup for their game on Thursday night. Tonight, in what would normally be his regular turn in net, Rask appears ready to go. The long-time Bruin is expected to make the start and The Boston Globe’s Matt Porter relays from head coach Bruce Cassidy that there are no lingering issues from whatever did occur on Tuesday. Rask is 2-0 with just four goals allowed on 63 shots so far. He and backup Jaroslav Halak have both picked up right where they left off last season, as both are in the top ten in save percentage and goals against average early on.
Ottawa Senators Acquire Vladislav Namestnikov
It didn’t take long for the big trade of the regular season to occur. Less than a week into the new campaign, and after just two games, the New York Rangers have traded away forward Vladislav Namestnikov. Agent Dan Milstein revealed that his client had been traded to the Ottawa Senators and the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the return is a 2021 fourth-round pick and defenseman Nick Ebert. The Rangers will also retain $750K, or 18.75%, of Namestnikov’s $4MM salary this season, the final year of his current deal. New York has confirmed the terms of the trade
The meager return for Namestnikov is a fitting end to an overall disappointing tenure for the forward in New York. Acquired by the Rangers as the lone veteran piece that came back from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the deal that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller the other way in 2018, Namestnikov, 26, was expected to flourish in more of a headlining role in the Big Apple. After just a 19-game stretch run to close out the 2017-18 season, the Rangers more than doubled Namestnikov’s salary with a two-year, $8MM contract extension. He rewarded them last season with 31 points – a 17-point drop-off from the year prior – in a campaign filled with frequent disappearing acts. Namestnikov ended up relegated to a bottom-six winger role by the end of the year and unsurprisingly became a fixture on the rumor mill this summer. The Rangers are surely disappointed in how his acquisition worked out, but happy to be rid of $3.25MM off the books this season, especially as they had been positioned precariously close to the salary cap ceiling. They receive a mid-round pick in return, as well as an intriguing depth option in Ebert. The 25-year-old blue liner is an AHL veteran who played phenomenally well in Sweden last season and hoped to return to North America in hopes of finally seeing NHL action. Given the depth of defensive prospects in Ottawa, he may actually have a better shot of achieving that goal with New York.
This trade is essentially risk-free for GM Pierre Dorion and the Ottawa Senators. They surrender only minor trade chips and land a capable player in his prime. Namestnikov’s future in Ottawa can play out in three ways. The first is, like in New York, Namestnikov fails to take advantage of a core role and has another disappointing season by his standards. This is the worst-case scenario, but it still allows the Senators to walk away at the end of the year having cost them next to nothing. Alternatively, Namestnikov could embrace this change of scenery and return to form for Ottawa. The team could try to re-sign him as a new centerpiece of their rebuilding team. However, they could also simply flip him at the trade deadline and almost certainly recoup more than they gave away. Either of those scenarios would be considered a major win for Dorion and company. It remains to be seen just how well Namestnikov – a player who has always excelled when surrounded by other elite talent – will respond to joining the rebuilding Senators, but the club has the means to give him considerable ice time and return him to his natural center position if they so choose. That could create a great opportunity for both player and team the rest of this season.
Minor Transactions: 10/07/19
The second week of the NHL season is underway and teams are already starting to feel the injury bug. With just two games on the schedule tonight today will serve as a rest period for many of the stars that fell over the weekend. With that in mind there may be some transactions around the league to bring up replacements, and we’ll keep track of them right here.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Vitaly Abramov from the minor leagues, giving the young forward a chance after the team sent down Drake Batherson and Filip Chlapik yesterday. Abramov, 21, was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets last season and made his NHL debut with the Senators, but is still looking for his first point. The 5’10” winger has incredible skill with the puck but has yet to really break out at the professional level. In 70 AHL contests last season he had 29 points.
- Max Comtois has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks, giving the young forward another chance in the NHL after impressing last season. The 20-year old Comtois recorded seven points in ten games with the Ducks before being returned to the QMJHL, where he predictably dominated as an NHL-ready prospect. Selected 50th overall in 2017, Comtois brings a mix of skill, speed and physicality that will be a big part of the Ducks forward group moving forward. Where he fits in right now isn’t clear, but the team has high hopes for the for him.
- With Ian Cole now cleared for contact and approaching a return, the Colorado Avalanche have decided to send Conor Timmins to the AHL according to Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic. Timmins was one of the most inspiring stories from training camp, making the Avalanche roster after missing the entire 2018-19 season with concussion issues. The 21-year old defenseman made his professional debut last week but was barely used by head coach Jared Bednar, totaling just 20:39 of ice time in two games. Cole is not quite ready to make his return to action, but Timmins obviously needs to play a bit more than that as he tries to jump right back onto the strong development path he had previously traveled.
Minor Transactions: 10/06/19
After a loaded Saturday slate, there are just three NHL games on the docket today. However, off-day teams could still use the time to make roster transactions to prepare for the coming week. Meanwhile, minor league and European teams alike continue to tinker with their rosters early in the year. Keep up with all of the action today right here:
- The KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk made a swap of NHL veterans today, announcing the signing of forward Andrej Nestrasil and the release of defenseman Paul Postma. Nestrasil, 28, has had a strange start to the new campaign. The former Carolina Hurricanes forward was somewhat surprisingly not offered a contract extension by the KHL’s Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk this off-season despite two good seasons with the team since leaving the NHL. Without any options, Nestrasil returned home to the Czech Republic and signed with HC Ocelari Trinec just two weeks ago. After only two games with club – and a team-leading four points in those two games – Magnitogorsk came calling with an offer to return to the KHL for at least one more year and Nestrasil took it. His roster spot came at the cost of Postma’s in a way, whose contract was jointly terminated. Postma last played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins in 2017-18 and enjoyed a strong first KHL season with Ak Bars Kazan last year. He signed with Metallurg this summer, but lasted just ten games into his new one-year contract before the two sides apparently agreed to part. While there has been nothing yet to link the two sides, Postma spent much of his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, who are sorely in need of some defensive depth right now and could potentially look into a reunion.
- Another former Bruins defenseman, Chris Casto, is headed overseas. After spending last season on an AHL contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Casto has opted to head to Germany. Grizzlys Wolfsburg of the DEL has announced a one-year deal with the 27-year-old former college standout. Ironically, what prompted the move was a season-ending injury to another past Boston defensive prospect, Ryan Button. Like Button, Casto could never take his well-rounded game to that next level in North America, but could be an impact player in Europe.
- Ben Thomson has found a new home in the AHL. The 26-year-old enforcer has signed a one-year deal with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the team announced. Thomson spent last season on the opposite coast with the San Diego Gulls, but will now head back to tri-state area, where he once suited up for three games with the New Jersey Devils. A fourth-round pick of New Jersey in 2012, Thomson made a name for himself with the AHL Devils as an aggressive checking forward a consistent penalty minutes leader. That role has continued to find him employment at the minor league level, but Thomson is unlikely to get back to the NHL any time soon.
- The jury is still out on who the goalie of the future may be for the Boston Bruins, if any of their current prospects. Dan Vladar has the most history with the organization, while Jeremy Swayman may have the most intrigue as he continues his development at the University of Maine. However, the most likely candidate may be 20-year-old Kyle Keyser, an undrafted signee who finished his junior career off on a high note with a strong OHL season and a World Juniors showing with Team USA. Yet, the Florida native will at least start his first pro season closer to home with the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators. Mark Divver reports that Vladar and free agent third-string Maxime Lagace will begin their seasons with AHL Providence, while the Bruins have reassigned Keyser to Atlanta. It’s not uncommon for young goaltenders, even talented ones, to spend some time in the ECHL for the purpose of consistent starts, but Keyser will certainly be looking to prove he is worth of a look in the AHL right away this season.
- The Ottawa Senators are certainly not lacking in prospect depth and the team seems likely to switch their talented young names in and out of the NHL and AHL lineups early on to ensure equal ice time until they can get a better feel for who belongs in Ottawa full-time. Today, the team has reassigned Drake Batherson and Filip Chlapik to AHL Belleville. They did not announce a corresponding move, meaning the same duo or two other prospects could be called up in the coming days.
- With Evgeny Kuznetsov returning from suspension, the Washington Capitals had some salary cap maneuvering to do. The team has announced that forward Travis Boyd has been placed on waivers for the purpose of reassignment to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. They also announced that rookie defenseman Martin Fehervary has been sent down to Hershey. The 2018 second-round pick performed well in the team’s first three games, but some more seasoning in the minors won’t hurt. As for Boyd, the 26-year-old center is probably safe on the waiver wire, but is more of a risk than last season after recording 20 points in 53 games last season. The team has also “demoted” defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, but it is a paper move expected to be made frequently this season by the Capitals as they look to bank as much cap space as possible while fighting a very tight cap crunch.
Snapshots: Phillips, Lafleur, Heinola
The Ottawa Senators announced that they will be retiring the number of longtime defenseman Chris Phillips on Feb. 18, 2020 when the Senators host the Buffalo Sabres. Phillips played his entire 17-year career with Ottawa between 1997 to 2015.
“Chris Phillips personifies all the wonderful things about being an Ottawa Senator,” said Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. “He was drafted first overall in 1996, and we all watched him grow into a legendary competitor on the ice and a community leader and family man who has made Ottawa his home. I’m very pleased to announce that the Senators Player Honouring Committee has decided to retire Chris’ legendary number 4. I’m happy that generations of Senators fans both present and future will be able to learn and appreciate one of the greatest players and people in this team’s history.”
Phillips, who was the first overall pick in 1996, played 1,179 games with Ottawa in the NHL, scoring 71 goals and 288 points and served as alternate captain from 2006 until he retired. Phillips will be just the third player in Senators’ history to have their number required. Frank Finnigan and Daniel Alfredsson were the other two.
- NHL.com’s Dave Stubbs reports the good news that Montreal Canadiens Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur was discharged from a Montreal hospital Friday, following quadruple bypass surgery on Sept. 26, and has returned home and is resting in comfort. “My thanks to everyone for their incredible support,” said the 68-year-old Lafleur.
- The Winnipeg Free Press’ Mike McIntyre writes that with the way Ville Heinola is playing, it’s extremely unlikely that anyone will be able to bump him out of the rotation any time soon. The 18-year-old blueliner, who was the 20th overall pick in this year’s draft, can play up to nine games with the Jets before it burns the first year of his entry-level contract. Many believed the Jets were just using Heinola for the first nine games to help fill the void on Winnipeg’s defense while they wait for Dustin Byfuglien to decide on whether he wants to return and the return of injured Sami Niku. However, Heinola is playing so composed on the ice that it could be very possible that he’ll remain with the Jets indefinitely.