KEN WARREN 10 TAKES
From head to foot, NHL players have good ideas for protecting themselves. But does anyone listen?
In honour of the Hollywood blockbuster, let’s refer to the weekend contests for the Ottawa Senators as The Hungry Games. After all, player after player has spent the past week talking about the need to be hungry and desperate for victory in every game.
After failing to pick up a single point from winnable games against Philadelphia and Minnesota earlier this week, it’s become almost a necessity for the Senators to pick up something — anything — Saturday in Detroit against the Red Wings and Sunday in Raleigh versus the Carolina Hurricanes.
If the Senators could somehow manage to sweep the two games, there’s a possibility they could even escape the logjam of mediocrity in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings. Heading into Friday’s games, the Senators were 11th, 10 points behind Conference-leading Boston, but only a single point up on the 14th-place New York Islanders.
Now on to this week’s 10 Takes, which include the need for better equipment to protect players from injuries and each other, trade scuttlebutt, fantastic 40-somethings, streaks, slumps and a taste of Saskatchewan football fever. 1 STAR SEES STARS New York Rangers winger Rick Nash finally returned to the lineup following his lengthy concussion absence due to a hit from San Jose’s Brad Stuart, but not before telling the New York Post that his fellow players have to wake up and recognize the potential for long-term head damage due to their disregard for each other’s safety. “There’s a lot to life after hockey,” Nash said. “Headshots are a serious problem in the game. Something has to change.” 2 WILL HE BE HEARD?
Senators captain Jason Spezza agrees there has been a loss of respect. He says the discussion among players should centre on reducing the size of shoulder and elbow pads, but he also understands the Catch-22 situation for young players. “If guys let their foot off the gas pedal, they lose their job. If Derek Grant doesn’t finish his check three or four times in a row, the coaches will get on him, so he has to finish his checks.” 3 SOCK TALK
After Senators defenceman Patrick Wiercioch came a millimetre or two from suffering his own sliced Achilles in the exhibition schedule — “(the blade) cut through the sheath, but didn’t cut the tendon,” — he’s now in favour of mandatory cut-resistant socks for all players. “It might be a story for a while, and then, like with visors, it’s not. It’s just common sense,” Wiercioch says. Erik Karlsson, who suffered the devastating injury when cut by Matt Cooke last season, is now wholeheartedly endorsing a protective sock made by Stable 26. 4 DEL ZOTTO DEL GONZO?
Considering the harsh words from New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault towards defenceman Michael Del Zotto on Wednesday — “I have been told he’s a much better player, but I have not seen that on a consistent enough basis — there’s a natural temptation to think the Rangers and Senators could swing a deal. But for that to happen, the Rangers would have to assume at least some of Del Zotto’s salary of $2.9 million or take a big chunk of salary back in return. 5 BUFFALO HUNTING
The hunt for a new general manager in Buffalo is picking up steam. Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli has given assistant GM Jim Benning approval to talk to the Sabres about the position. Meanwhile, for those thinking about old connections, Sabres president of hockey operations Pat LaFontaine was a Sabres player when Rick Dudley served as head coach of the Sabres in 1991-92. Dudley, who has previously served as GM in Florida, Ottawa, Tampa and Atlanta, is currently assistant GM in Montreal. 6 41 IS THE NEW ...
While Jaromir Jagr is receiving a fair share of praise for being on pace to score 34 goals, another 41-year-old on the New Jersey Devils is writing an even better story. That would be goaltender Martin Brodeur. Ever since a dejected Brodeur conceded that he had probably lost his starting job to Cory Schneider one month ago, he has gone 7-1 in the Devils’ net. 7 FALLING DOWN
The Steven Stamkos-less Tampa Bay Lightning had been outscored 16-6 in consecutive losses against Phoenix, San Jose and Los Angeles before playing Anaheim late Friday ... on Thursday, the Alex Semin-less Carolina Hurricanes scored three goals for the first time since Oct. 19, but lost 4-3 loss to Detroit. Carolina has gone 4-8-1 and been outscored 37-20 in its past 13 games ... The Evgeni Nabokov-less New York Islanders went into Friday’s game against Pittsburgh with a 3-7 record since acquiring Thomas Vanek from the Buffalo Sabres. 8 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ...
David Booth, who had seasons with 22, 31 and 23 goals with the Florida Panthers, but has become a healthy scratch in Vancouver. The Canucks would trade him if they could find a taker for what remains on his contract ($4.25 million this year and next). Calgary would be open to trading Michael Cammalleri, but it’s hard to move his $7 million salary ($6 million cap hit). Hard-hitting Flames defenceman Shane O’Brien is taking his turn on the sidelines, an expense ($2 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15) Calgary would love to shed. 9 QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“What league are we in? Peewees? We start like peewees sometimes,” Winnipeg coach Claude Noel, frustrated by the Jets’ inattention during practice ... ”Hey,@fbrass31, you wanna donate a shutout or two over my way? #please,” Senators goaltending prospect Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen, tweeting to Senators goaltending prospect Francois Brassard of the Quebec Remparts. Brassard was Canadian Hockey League goalie of the week, stopping all 56 shots in consecutive shutouts over Blainville-Boisbriand and Shawinigan. 10 THE COLDER THE BETTER Eric Gryba figures you can hear the Grey Cup party all the way from Regina to his hometown in Saskatoon, a 2 ½ hour drive away. “It’s crazy,” he says. “People don’t realize how good the fan base is in Saskatchewan. Everyone is so passionate. They all bleed green.” But, with a forecast low of –14 C, will it be too cold for fans? “I think they would want it a little bit colder, for (Hamilton).” Unfortunately for Gryba and fellow Saskatchewan natives Jared Cowen and Zack Smith, they couldn’t convince Gary Bettman to move Sunday’s 5 p.m. Senators-Hurricanes game, which conflicts with the 6 p.m. kickoff. My fearless prediction: Saskatchewan 31, Hamilton 22.