Monday Night Musings

Written by Nichols

Monday, 08 December 2008 22:12

It's official, Martin Gerber has the best job in professional sports. With tonight's start against the Florida Panthers, Alex Auld has now started 11 consecutive games. Where was my guidance counsellor when I could have used convincing that for $3.7 million, I could strap on some pads, wear a Reebok hat and man the right side of the Senators bench. It'd sure beat making the daily trek up from the basement to convince my mom that blogging actually is a full time job.

I'm convinced that Gerber's role has usurped the infamous 3rd string quarterback job in the NFL as the best job in sports. Not only does Gerber lack the organization's confidence, he makes five to six times the money. Unlike Jesse Palmer, you won't see Gerber appearing on the Bachelor any time soon to supplement his income. More importantly, you'll never see Gerber wearing a headset or carrying a clipboard. Hell, at this rate, we'll be fortunate to ever see him don that Darth Vader mask at ScotiaBank Place again.

This Week On The Hills: Mats Makes A Decision"

While Mats Sundin is in Hollywood weighing the options of where to play this season, Bryan Murray is prepared to throw his hat into the ring for one final meeting.

The Mats Sundin saga will move to its final stage a week from today and the Senators will be making another pitch for the unrestricted free-agent centre.

"I don't know if they're still considering us, but they should be," Senators GM Bryan Murray said yesterday.

"We would make room for him." ~ Chris Stevenson, The Ottawa Sun

Translation: If Sundin miraculously decides to sign with Ottawa, Gerber will be banished from the right bench to the buses in Bingo. Does anyone else have the suspicion that Sundin is a ruse and Murray's not tipping his hand? Considering the alleged gag-order that's in place concerning rumors and what-not, why's Murray so open in his pursuit of Sundin? If Murray were a magician, this would reek of diversion. Wait, is that Europe's "Final Countdown" I hear playing in the background?

Neil Doesn't Feel?

The Senators had a couple of scares Saturday night when Alfredsson got hit in the foot with a shot by Pittsburgh's Hal Gill (Alfredsson said he'll be okay) and when D Brendan Bell ripped one off the back of W Chris Neil's leg just when he was going to throw down with Penguins tough guy Eric Godard. "(Neil) didn't even flinch. At a normal time of the game he would have gone down in a heap," said Hartsburg. "When you're focused on fighting a 6-foot-4, 235-lb. guy, I guess a slap shot in the back of the leg doesn't seem to bother you. I watched it on the video again (yesterday), it was like, 'Holy cow.' It just shows you when you're mentally focused on something, you can put up with a lot." ~ Chris Stevenson, The Ottawa Sun

Mentally focused? Maybe. It still doesn't explain the anguish we witness whenever the camera catches sight of the Dumb Penalty Face.

J-Bo, First Star @ SBP?!

Obviously Gord Wilson, the unequivocal homer, wasn't responsible for the selections. Now is this guy available? Why isn't Murray making a play for him?