Lance Galbraith: Ottawa’s ultimate warrior gone too soon

 This one hits like a ton of bricks. My first season covering the Ottawa 67’s for the Ottawa Sun was the first time I met Lance Galbraith. It was the fall of 1999 and I’d just spent the past 10 years in Owen Sound writing and broadcasting about the hometown

Senators will have company in playoff chase

 If the playoffs do eventually come knocking, who steps out of the Ottawa Senator’s way? Realistically the organization would need to take a significant jump in order to rally and compete for a spot as early as next season. Could it happen? Sure, but unless Senators management can figure out

Norris takes that next big step

 Need a little sunshine? Here you go. One of the biggest obstacles potentially facing the Ottawa Senators and ‘taking that next big step’ is the lack of elite star power. Sure they have Thomas Chabot, but until now, not much else in the realm of A-quality offensive talent. It’s becoming

End of an era as Melnyk passes away

 In a very large way, Eugene Melnyk saved Ottawa from losing its National Hockey League team nearly 20 years ago. The sometimes controversial Senators owner passed away on Monday at the age of 62 after battling what was reported to be a lengthy illness. Melnyk received a liver transplant back

Getting enough Z’s, culture changes, Sandman enters and couch-surfing

 A few musings and ponderings as we move less than a couple of dimes from the National Hockey League playoffs. Zub entering Pecos Bill territory Ottawa’s own folk hero? Artem Zub seems to be the unassuming and quiet type; comfortable in getting the job done and calling it a day.

Sens deadline dealing generates mixed reviews

 A keeper for the keeper, a step backward, a definite head-scratcher, a collective ‘thank the heavens’ and a big yawn. Yes it was exceedingly busy for the Ottawa Senators on the National Hockey League’s trade deadline day. The question though, was it a particularly productive one? That’ll be debated in

Trade-deadline turmoil in Toronto?

 It’s expected the Ottawa Senators will look a lot like the Ottawa Senators come Monday next week. In other words, don’t expect much noise at the trade deadline (3 p.m. ET March 21st). Outside of shipping out a couple of minor role players and potentially Swiss army knife Nick Paul,

Senators: time for a change

 Jacques Martin. That’s right. Jacques freakin’ Martin. Ask yourself this – as far along as Ottawa Senators current head coach D.J. Smith has taken this relatively young troupe, which isn’t very far to be honest, isn’t it time to push this process along? There is no question Smith has some

Brann muffins and Canada’s best Cup wager

 ABOVE: Ottawa Senator defenceman Erik Brannstrom. A somewhat captivating assortment of thoughts . . . JOIE DE VIVRE IN LEAF LAND If Ottawa’s the town that fun forgot then Toronto must be the hockey team that fun remembered. Say what you want about the Maple Leafs, and we know you

Nick Paul: Stay or Go?

 They did it with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mark Stone. Will the Ottawa Senators hit the trifecta with Nick Paul? Seems like a reasonable question: Will Ottawa trade off one of its key contributors and more popular skaters at the NHL’s trade deadline? The similarities are striking. All three are/were in

Senators’ neighbours going through angst of their own

 As Ottawa’s Senators continue a season swimming (and sinking at times) in unpredictability, the guys next door and across the street are drafting their own stories. Ottawa’s greatest rivals, for the uninitiated, are of course the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. As the two most recognized teams in

NHL business about to get busy

 “Gentlemen start your engines?” Puh-lease. This is more, “Gentlemen, check your tank to make sure it’s topped up, get an oil change, ensure your winter tires are in great shape and bring an extra cushion for your rear end and a bucket of coffee to keep you alert.” This is

Senators vying for better grades in second half

 Give or take a few days or games or COVID breaks, the National Hockey League hits the halfway point during a very intriguing season. In Ottawa, this season was hailed as the end of the rebuild. While the phrase wasn’t exactly plastered on the facing of the Canadian Tire Centre,

Wake up NHL, Senators are chumps no more 

 “Without labour, nothing prospers.” “Hard work betrays none.” “Much effort, much prosperity.” Pretty heady stuff, eh? I’m fairly certain the authors of these famously weighty quotes weren’t pondering the game of hockey when they wrote them up but that won’t stop this corner from applying, forthwith. Pretty heady stuff, eh

Unpredictable to the max: Senators

 There’s a prevailing theme in Ottawa this season – you never know what you’re going to get. Results inconsistency has become a consistent . . . if you get what I’m cooking here. Take the month of January to start. I know, I know, it’s been ridiculously busy with a

Welcome to hockey on perpetual pause

 This would be comical if it wasn’t so maddening. It’s almost as if the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators have taken on the schedule of a National Football League club. The amount of games in relation to actual time off is ridiculous – Ottawa now has played just 29 times

Leafs’ lesson a tough pill to swallow

 I hope you were watching, Ottawa Fan. I hope you were listening, Ottawa Fan. ‘Cause Saturday night you were schooled, and even though you despise your teacher, best you’d been paying attention. In the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-0 dummying of the Ottawa Senators a number of things stood out. And

Canada’s Christmas Season Report Card

 Look! It’s a column without COVID discussion. We thought we’d table that subject for the time being, as it’s Christmas/New Year’s and all, and we believe everyone’s had enough of the constant COVID-in-the-ears ringing, clanging and rancour. Instead a subject that is worth dipping in to while the NHL breaks

Hockey in holding pattern . . . sort of

 Isn’t this whole thing just plain dispiriting and saddening? I’m someone who tangles with depression and anxiety every day. During the last (nearly) two years I’d guess there’s more of us out there than not. People are coming out daily with their battle details. And I’m not telling you anything

Young trio making waves where waves are needed

 For right now the Ottawa Senators are awfully thin. Thinner than Twiggy, thinner than Victoria Beckham. But you know what . . . the meat that IS on the bone, is getting the job done currently. Ottawa has won four of its last five games and the locals can lay

Front office changes in Ottawa?

 They’ve made the seismic shift in Montreal. They’ve done the same, finally, in Vancouver. Where does that leave Ottawa? We’re about to find out. But that ‘finding out’ is dependant on a few matters being settled. First – is this recent blip of success about to grow? If so, talk of

Senators not alone on the Isle of Stink

 I always kind of wondered what it would be like to live full-time in Phoenix. You know, the warm days throughout the year, world-class golf courses, thin, clean air, superb dining, the constant hum of air conditioners and a perpetually bad hockey team. Well now I know. We’ve got all

Senators: Productivity required now

 Welcome back. With a full week off – graciously granted by the National Hockey League to the Ottawa Senators due to COVID precautions – it’s given Ottawa Fan plenty of time to think on what has happened so far on the ice this season. Unfortunately for said Ottawa Fan, the

Sigh Erik, sigh

 Photo: via senators/news/sens-beat-pens-to-get-back-into-win-column/ Erik Brannstrom must feel a lot like that shy little kid who gets selected last for a game of pick-up football. Nobody really wants him but he’s the last kid standing. Sigh Erik, sigh. Look people, it’s not like he chose this path. He wasn’t the one

String of losing needs to be snipped

 Photo: Courtesy iHeart Radio You know about that saying re-insanity right: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? If you’re the latest rendition of the Toronto Maple Leafs that means, of course, nailing it repeatedly during the regular season then coughing up a hairball in