ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE AND PERFORMANCE
As the Senators head toward the end of their five-game homestand — Saturday’s game against Philadelphia concludes the two-week stay at Canadian Tire Centre — Five Takes offers a deeper look at several hot topics.
What happens between Senators general manager Bryan Murray and defenceman Jared Cowen? What impact has new Columbus coach John Tortorella had on the team? Is the AllStar format change much ado about nothing? Why do Eastern Conference teams win more on the road than at home? And how about a much-deserved tribute to the national sledge hockey team? COWEN BLOCKS OUT MURRAY: Typically, when a GM openly criticizes a player, the player nods his head and agrees — at least publicly — with the assessment from the big boss. Cowen? Not so much. On Wednesday and Thursday, Cowen said he’s not concerned about Murray’s comments about the need to improve his play.
“I don’t hear it because I don’t pay attention to that stuff because it doesn’t really matter,” he said after learning he would be a healthy scratch against Columbus.
Cowen, who is under contract for $3.7 million this season and $4.5 million in 2016-17 ($3.1-million salary cap hit) received his deal in the belief that he would be a solid top four defenceman.
But this week’s developments have pushed the envelope. If there’s a team out there that can stomach the Cowen contract — a colossal if, given his inconsistent play — surely Murray has to listen to trade offers. NO NONSENSE APPROACH: After listening to Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno talking about Tortorella, maybe Columbus should consider changing their core colours.
“I love how he empowers guys,” said Foligno. “When he comes at you, it’s really black and white. He has done it to all of us. The guys want to go out there and do it. Probably the hardest part in this game is to motivate each and every guy differently.”
Before Thursday’s game, the Blue Jackets were 7-5 under Tortorella. They were 0-8 under former coach Todd Richards.
Tortorella’s message to Foligno? Let the coaches spend more time worrying about dressingroom concerns, allowing him to focus more on his own game instead.
“It was much appreciated, knowing what he was trying to do,” said Foligno. “A lot of emotions were coming into it, and I was probably getting away from (my game). I’ve learned a lot in the past month and a half. You never stop learning in this league.” ALL-STAR DUD: Over here, in the grumpy old man corner, it’s tough to get excited about the latest new all-star format featuring 3-on-3 hockey.
It amounts to an exhibition of no-hit shinny bearing little resemblance to an actual NHL game. The league is also at risk of over-exposing its overtime wrinkle by putting it in place for an entire game.
As for the $1-million incentive for divisional winners? Divided 11 ways, $91,000 doesn’t amount to much more than most AllStars make per game during the season. Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson makes $79,000 a game during the regular season. Chicago’s Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews pull in $168,000 each night.
All-Star weekend is essentially about a corporate schmoozefest, with the game as a backdrop. How about folding an annual Winter Classic into an All-Star weekend, with each team sending a player to take part in a skills competition instead of a meaningless game? HOME ICE DISADVANTAGE CONTINUES: In Boston, fans are lamenting the Bruins’ awful home record (2-6-1) compared with the strong road mark (6-2-0).
Sound familiar? The Senators went into Thursday’s game with a 3-3-4 record at Canadian Tire Centre and a 5-2-1 showing away.
And it’s not just in Boston and Ottawa. Nine of the 16 teams in the Eastern Conference have been better away from home.
Combined, Atlantic Division teams have 32 wins and 46 losses at home, while going 37-35 on the road. Metropolitan squads are 39-37 at home, 37-32 away from the so-called friendly confines of their home buildings. A DIFFERENT HOCKEY PERSPECTIVE: Senators coach Dave Cameron spent some time Wednesday talking to the national sledge hockey team, labelling it an “aweinspiring” experience.
“It was very, very humbling,” Cameron said. “It made me realize just how fortunate I am health-wise, and to get paid for what I do.”
The backgrounds of sledge hockey players vary — some were born with disabilities, many have suffered from accidents, others have been hurt in war — but for Cameron, it’s the passion which stands out.
“To say they’re playing their sport for all the right reasons would be an understatement.”
Accordingly, the national sledge hockey team was a big part of Cameron’s pre-game talk with Senators players before Thursday’s game.
“It reinforces what we all believe. We’ve got to find balance, but sometimes in this sport, because of the routine and exposure, you lose your balance. You always try to find ways to get it back.”