[Wrap Up] Friday December 19, 2008

Canoe.ca - Senator's owner Eugene Melnyk is convinced that the Senators will turn things around.

"Are you kidding?" said Melnyk when asked if he thought the Senators are still a legitimate contender. "I fully expect us to be in the top four teams in the conference."

Senate's Note:  Short of the Senators unveiling their 9 clones of Daniel Alfredsson (which is silly, they only have 3), I am not so buoyed by his comments.  He is projecting confidence, and that is what the teams needs.  I personally don't think there will be a sudden "about-turn", but if a trade does in fact come it could spark the boys.

Thestar.com - "Senator's Sink to Leafs Levels"

Senate's Note:  Just found the title humourous as it confirms what everyone in the Senators nation already knows.  The Leafs are horrible, and we are now slumming it with them at the bottom of the conference.  Thank you Damien Cox.

NationalPost.com - Wayne Scanlan believes that the Senators MUST be blown up and rebuilt.  

As painful as it might be for this team to admit it, the time has come for destruction. And reconstruction.  Blow up the Ottawa Senators, to the extent possible in today's NHL.  And rebuild with draft picks, prospects and an emphasis on good, young talent.  Let's stop the kidding.  With the mid-point of the season one month away, and a wicked eight-game road trip staring them in the face, the Senators would need a mighty leap just to reach mediocrity.

Senate's Note: Seems a little melodramatic for my taste.  It is also is a bit pre-mature to be calling for the team to be blown up.  I believe that the decision should happen around the trade deadline, and not right now.  The team could still turn it around, and after only 29 games to be calling for a total rebuild when the team is only a few games under.500 is just not a great idea.

Marketwire.com - Senators recall forward Cody Bass and send back down defenceman Brian Lee.

Senate's Note: It looks like Volchenkov will be back in action, causing Brian Lee to be sent down to Binghamton.  Kudos to Sens Army who found out that Ilya Zubov's visa expired and that is why Cody Bass is being recalled.

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