Total Eclipse of the Splash

 

We are just skipping hurricane season in Florida, and instead going from Hurricane to Hurricane visits. This makes sense in my head.

Total Eclipse of the Splash

 

Most players are back in camp, the Blackhawks named Connor Bedard a captain today, so that is exciting. Preseason games start in 10 days, which is why the fan fest is coming up in Vancouver. What I want to tell you though, is that most of the United States, and even the parts of Canada where people live is still very pleasant outside. Just wait a little while until you start setting fantasy rosters and go outside, is what I'm saying. 

RIP Barry Melrose

 

For those that may not have followed the entire journey of my hockey writing career, I started by working with Kevin Schultz, and eventually Kim Ware and Dave McBrayer at a site called Barry Melrose Rocks, back when blogs were a thing, and the NHL left ESPN, but Melrose didn't (until he went to coach in Tampa). He was an affable character and a good ambassador for the game, and has sort of been one of the patron saints of my writing career. 

News has broken tonight that he passed away at 70. He will be missed, and I send out my thoughts to those who will miss him most deeply.

Barry Melrose rocks. 

Total Eclipse of the Splash

 

You know, back in the day when blogs were a real force on the internet, I made some waves on Barry Melrose Rocks with the OLN drinking game of the week. OLN was the old name of a network that no longer exists, if that helps you understand how long ago this was. Now, many teams are going to Amazon Prime. Streaming was not an option in the 2000s, and is not a good format for drinking games, as there is not the shared commercial experience, and frankly, as a Minnesota Wild fan, I would have to pay extra for Blue Jackets games. Who can do that AND buy some decent booze? 

A win for Ottawa tourism guides

It's been chaotic in Ottawa, to say the least. The Senators finally returned to the postseason this summer after a long, uneven rebuild, and subsequently traded away one of the best Tkachuks to ever play the game, immediately turning around and bringing William Eklund into the fold. The Senators got younger, again, but did they get better?

The more important question is, are they better set up for the future now than they were before? It seems as though one person thinks so: Drake Batherson. He's one of, if not the best forward the Sens have right now, and he is going to be an unrestricted free agent after this season. The Sens want t sign him to an extension, but as usually happens, the sides are at an impasse. 

This isn't exactly what you may think. Rather than this being strictly about the dollar value year over year, Batherson is hoping to get an eighth year on his new contract, which is longer than what the Senators wanted to offer. Drake Batherson, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, wants to finish his career in Ottawa. What a great advertisement for the city of Ottawa! 

That is, of course, not the full story. Batherson wants 8 years because he is 28 years old, and this is probably his last and best chance to cash in on a long term, lucrative deal. The Senators, for their part, may not be interested in having a 36 year old earning top dollar at the end of his term. As an added curiosity, there are new contract rules effective on September 15th, capping the length of contracts at 7 years. 

Drake Batherson wants to sign what might potentially be the last ever 8 year contract in NHL history in Ottawa! Regardless of what other business interests might underlie this desire, it's still a pretty flattering sentiment. Ottawa would also have some good NHL history associated with it. 

Ottawa: Long term home of Drake Batherson (and some other stuff)

Total Eclipse of the Splash

 

Adam Valenti is an undersized forward from the University of Michigan lately, and Toronto originally. He was picked with the 96th overall selection in the draft, and the Mammoth wanted their fans to learn more about the young prospect. You might think that this was a photo shoot at the draft, but now, those aren't generic NHL jerseys. Those are prototypes for Utah's coming third jersey.

Ottawa on my mind

If you are paying attention to the NHL Offseason at all, you are aware that the Ottawa Senators have been busy. Their most notable move was sending Brady Tkachuk to Florida, because that is where Tkachuks naturally end up. The second move, big, though with fewer draft picks involved, saw the Senators acquire William Eklund from San Jose. That's nice. 

It is also the transaction that caught my attention the most. Eklund rejoins former teammate Fabian Zetterlund, not only a former Shark teammate, but long time friend of Eklund, to the point that they are even sauna buddies. As Scandinavians, there is no greater symbol of friendship.

Also, Eklund has played with former Senator Mikael Zibanejad in Sweden. That's Christian Eklund, though, William's father. That's right, just like the Tkachuks, the Eklunds are hockey dynasties! William even has a brother that was recently drafted (by the Islanders). 

Hockey is one big family, and increasingly, that is a very literal meaning.