If you like to plan in advance, you’re going to love this column.
If not, well it will at least give you a few ideas/hints about when to get out, dust off the snow (in some cases), deal with icy roads (in some cases) and tangle with bad drivers (in all cases) on your way to the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata.
The Ottawa Senators and key dates? Let’s have a look.
OCT. 9th and 11th: Ok, I realize these aren’t home dates, but it is the kick off to the regular schedule. Ottawa opens against a team they’ll likely be battling for playoff positioning all year – in Tampa. Two nights later, it’s Tkachuk-a-mania as the Senators visit the champs in Sunrise, Florida.
OCT. 13th: Slam the turkey in the oven and rest assured it’ll be cooked after Ottawa hosts Nashville in the home opener for an afternoon tilt. Pass the cranberries.
OCT. 21st: It’s your last chance to witness, in-person, Connor McDavid in an Oilers jersey (tongue squarely in cheek). Your one and only opportunity to see the world’s best skater on Ottawa ice this season.
OCT. 23rd: Rick Tocchet was one of my favourites as a player. He returns home this season to coach the team he grew up with in Philadelphia.
OCT. 27th: It’s Tanner Jeannot Appreciation Night. Watch Tanner chase Brady around the ice for 60 minutes trying to engage. Bruins are in town.
NOV. 15th: Remember that debate that ignited following the 2020 draft? Who’s the better player, Tim Stutzle or Quinton Byfield (picked third and second overall, respectively)? The debate motors on with the LA Kings in for a one-time-only match-up.
DEC. 18th: How much more hockey does Sidney Crosby have left? We’re hoping for plenty. He brings his Penguins to town for a pre-Christmas date.
JAN. 1st: One year and change after the deal, Jakob Chychrun (who enjoyed a dynamic season last go-round) visits with his surprising Capitals. Also, it’s a hangover classic with that 1 pm start time.
JAN. 3rd: Winnipeg was one of the most complete teams in 2024-25. They’re here now.
JAN. 10th: Tkachuk-a-mania rolls in with the Panthers. Is it me or is every game against Florida a gong show?
JAN. 17th: The first ‘visitor invasion’ as the Habs hit town with their legion of fanatics. Always a great night.
JAN. 25th: It’s Mitch Marner Appreciation Late Afternoon (5 pm start) with Vegas arriving.
JAN. 28th: Two of Canada’s key cogs for the upcoming Olympics are at the CTC. Outside of McDavid, there’s no one (or two) skater(s) more fun to watch than Nathan MacKinnon . . . and Cale Makar. It’s Colorado’s lone visit.
FEB. 6th to FEB. 25th: Winter Olympic break.
FEB. 26th: The NHL returns with Steve Yzerman’s Detroit Red Wings in town.
MARCH 21st: The first sighting of the World War Z invasion of blue-and-white. It’s Toronto here (without Brad Pitt) and it’s a tough ticket.
APRIL 15th: . . . And some three weeks later, the Buds return. Interesting scheduling as this is the final game of the regular season. Enjoy.
THOUGHT, SEEN AND HEARD: NHL.com put together a comprehensive list of skaters 25 years old or younger with the greatest fantasy value for the upcoming season. Brady Tkachuk is No. 3 in the rankings. Only problem is – Brady is 26 on Sept. 16, well before the season starts . . . Tim Stutzle, who does meet the criteria, checks in at No. 9 . . . Top dog? Macklin Celebrini, San Jose’s marvelous centre who doesn’t turn 20 until next summer . . . Jake Sanderson (11th), Dylan Cozens (66th) and Leevi Meriläinen (90th) also made the table . . . Not surprisingly, Montreal’s top-ranked guy is blueliner Lane Hutson (No. 5) . . . Toronto’s top-line winger Matthew Knies was rated 40th overall. Much too low . . . As per the Leafs, this corner believes the club drops 10 points down in the standings this season due to the Mitchell Marner exodus. A well-connected hockey guy here in town disagrees and states they’ll be at least as good as last year with another season of Craig Berube and the loss of the Marner distraction . . . It will be interesting to see how Marner performs when Vegas enters the post-season. The Western Conference is considered the more physically challenging of the two come playoffs; not a Marner strong suit, in case you haven’t heard . . . Since we’re stealing from NHL.com, the site did an informal poll of NHL players asking who is the toughest netminder to score on. At the very top – Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa. Washington’s Tommy Wilson nails it with this: “He’s kind of been the benchmark for goalies the last eight, nine, 10 years probably.”. . . I saw plenty of Ken Dryden as a noticeably young hockey follower growing up in Montreal. I met him once. Reporting for CKCO-TV, I interviewed Ken about 30 years back during one of his book promotions up in Owen Sound. Had all the time in the world to talk. A real gentleman.
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
Photo: www.nhl.com/senators/multimedia/galleries/
