When the Sum 41 intro cued Luke Richardson's weekly appearance on 1200's The Drive radio program, I have to admit, the struggle to prevent my mouse cursor from pressing stop on the audio stream was maddening. Despite having my ears bombarded  with awful music that marked an era when the cast of American Pie could still draw at the box office, I had to go on. I imagine this is what Rick Bowness felt like during the 1992/93 season whenever he had to send players like Ken Hammond and Chris Luongo over the boards. 

Fortunately, I'm glad I listened. Even if the only swerve to come from Richardson's appearance was Lee Versage's inclusion as an interviewer - filling in for the absent Dave Gross.

Per the norm, Richardson went on at length about a litany of topics, and I've included the rants that piqued my interest. If the thought of listening to him explain the difficulties that Ottawa's core veterans may face if the 2013 NHL season actually begins (really, you actually want to listen to that? Get out of here, sadist!) you can do so by clicking here, or via the embed at the bottom of the post.

As always my thoughts in bold.

@tgorsteve You see this blue team display at @rootscanada @bayshoreottawa UGH!! #Sens #Ottawa #BlueTeamElimination twitter.com/redscarfunion/…

— Red Scarf Union (@redscarfunion) December 10, 2012

Sens fans complained that OTT Roots store had big Leafs merch display. Here's Roots saying it's been taken down. twitter.com/SensReporter/s…

— James Gordon (@SensReporter) December 11, 2012

*phew*

Crisis averted gang! The people spoke and the corporation relented, all is right in Ottawa once more.

But the scientists at Roots aren't idiots, they know what we all know...

The Senators logo sucks, it just stinks period. No matter which garment you affix it to, I guarantee it will lower the aesthetic value. I think Uni-Watch said it best in August:

"Anyone else out there think the Sens usually look an AHL team that took a wrong turn on their way to the minor league arena?"

Now I'm not here to say Roots is god's gift to fashion, I can't say I've ever bought anything there myself. But if Roots brand identity is anything -- it's a kind of classic Canadiana. And while the Senators are quite clearly of Canada, there is nothing classic about this...

Sometimes it takes an outsider to speak a truth the locals have been wary to voice. 

So spare Roots your ire, and direct it instead at the organization for saddling us with a logo no self-respecting fan would argue pleases his/her eye.

#bringbackthe2d

There has been yet another twist in everyone’s favourite current hockey controvesy. It was not the player himself (as first hinted), nor the Senators hatred for Sweden (contrary to popular belief on the right side of the Atlantic pond) – that is stopping Mika from participation at the World Juniors tournament in Ufa, Russia. No, the latest reason comes from the vice president of the Swedish Hockey Federation, who was quoted in Swedish publication Expressen today:

“We’ve had a good dialogue with Senators management this past week, but Mika have not been able to be on the ice for ten days due to medical reasons. ... Ottawa want Mika to get healthy and we understand that now that he’s been ill for a long time. They waited over the weekend to see if he would get better, but he didn’t. Had Mika been healthy, Ottawa would’ve liked to see him play at the WJC.”

Now, this could easily be chalked up as damage control. Seems a convenient out for the Swedish Federation as the Senators didn't appear to be bending to their guilt trip.

Nevertheless, on their face these comments are both confusing and worrying. Confusing as since this story broke each new day has seemed to bring a new angle or clarfication, hell even Alfie's weighing in. Worrying, because this is not the first time Zibanejad has dealt with headaches this year.

The on-call Sens fan doctor, Jo Innes, author of the terrific The Quiet Room blog over at The Score helped shed some lights on headaches caused by wisdom teeth.

“Wisdom teeth can certainly make you miserable. Headaches aren't uncommon. With dental x-rays, no other symptoms (ie nausea/balance/etc) I'd think it wouldn't be too difficult to differentiate between a tooth headache and concussion problems. Obviously you couldn't be 100% sure until you took the teeth out and the headaches resolved.”

Now, that is re-assuring since it seems to be relatively easy for professionals to figure things out. Hopefully, he can get back on the ice sooner rather than later, because if there's one thing Zibanejad needs when he's healthy again, it's to put together a good string of hockey games.

I also hear chocolate milk is good for you.

More WJC Fallout

First up, Sportsnet CHL analyst Sam Cosentino made his customary Tuesday appearance on TEAM1260's The Pipeline Show, and had this to say when asked which player he was most surprised to see not get an invite from Hockey Canada to next week's selection camp:

"Ceci. For me Ceci is the guy. I mean he does so many things well, and when I look at an Ottawa team that's depleted of a lot of guys from last year, he's still doing fine. He's probably being overexposed in terms of his minutes, but you can say that about a lot of defenseman - I mean you could say that about Xavier Ouellet who plays for Blainsville-Boisbriand, and yet they're a team that's near the top of the table in the QMJHL. I don't know, I think Ceci's the guy for me just because of how many different elements he brings to the game; he angles well, he's got a good stick so the defensive part isn't an issue, he shoots the puck a ton, he can skate pucks out, he makes a good first pass. And that one to me...that doesn't make any sense to me."

Later in the show Canadian head coach Steve Spott was interviewed, clarifiying Matt Puempel's health status and how it affected his getting or not getting an invite:

"Matt's play had obviously warranted an opportunity to make our invite list, which was announced yesterday. Last Tuesday night to start the London Knights game, Matt Puempel was on the list to come to our camp in Calgary, unfortunately an injury during that game, and the medical diagnosis that I received along with Hockey Canada. Just didn't allow us to feel comfortable bringing him to our camp on Monday, because of the uncertainty of the shouldler injury. It's unfortunate, because I just want all Ottawa Senators fans to know to recognize that it had absolutely nothing to do with Matt's play. I talked to Randy Lee from the Senators, and they fully understand and support the decision. It's not harder, trust me, on anybody but myself - I'm the president of the Matt Puempel fan club as a player and as a person, and would have liked nothing more than to have him on plane with me next week to Calgary."

Wiercioch Praise

Finally Sylvain St-Laurent interviewed Luke Richardson yesterday, which you can read in full here. But I thought this comment was noteworthy:

"He came to training camp in great shape. He suffered an injury during training camp, but he has come back strong at the time Jared Cowen left us. He really knew how to seize this opportunity. He plays more than often with Andre Benoit. Because he has improved defensively, we're not afraid to use him in crucial situations. He had to improve defensively to play in the NHL. In Ottawa, he knows he will never be the number one offensive defenseman."

You know the drill people. For those who want to listen to the full interview, you can do so here, or via the embed below.

As always my thoughts in bold.

Hoping similar training camp correspondence is at the ready...in fax/email/phone/text/pigeon form.  #cautiousoptimism

After scoring 47 goals in 55 games with the Lincoln Starts of the USHL, Brandon Bochenski was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 7^th round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, along with future NHLers Jason Spezza, Tim Gleason, Brooks Laich, Christoph Scubert, Ray Emery and Brian Elliott.

Over the next three years Bochenski put up 152 points in 120 games with the University of North Dakota, and spent the 2004-05 lockout in Binghamton where he would win the AHL rookie scoring race potting 70 points while riding shotgun on Spezza’s wing.

But the Brandon Bochenski Tour of Offensive Excellence had not made its final stop. During the 2005-06 NHL pre-season, Brandon would score an astonishing 5 goals and 4 assists in just 5 games. At this point, Bochenski was looking like he’d be a good player, and fans were optimistic about the skinny kid from Minnesota. Even Don Cherry was on the Bochenski Bandwagon, as he picked him to win the Calder Trophy that year, this despite a stacked rookie class which included the likes of Crosby and Ovechkin. Oops.

Unfortunately, once the season started, despite getting minutes alongside some of the team’s best players, Bochenski was unable to produce, and was returned to Binghamton before the end of October. His chances of becoming an NHL scorer weren’t looking too good anymore.

A month later, Bochenski was called up to fill a depth role...which is when one of the most unexpected offensive displays in Sens history would take place. On December 5^th,2005 versus the Panthers in Florida (highlights can be found here), Bochenski would start the night off by collecting an assist off of an ugly goal by the noted offensive threat Vaclav Varada. Then in the second, Brandon would score his first goal of the night on a breakaway, and would pot two more in the third, giving him the Sens’ first hat-trick of the season. Bochenski now had 6 points in 2 games since being called up.

Much like after Bobby Butler’s two goal night against Calgary last season, it appeared for a very short amount of time that there was a chance Bochenski would be able to contribute in meaningful games at the NHL level without the help of Jason Spezza. But once again, just like Butler, that one game would prove to be just a one-time thing. Bochenski would score just once more for the Sens before being traded at the deadline along with a second round pick for a useful player Tyler Arnason.

While Bochenski is merely a minor footnote in Ottawa Senators history, his name still gets brought up every pre-season whenever a member of the Sens plays unexpectedly well.

So where is he now?

The Brandon Bochenski Tour of Offensive Excellence can be found making its way across the big, beautiful country of Russia, as Brandon is currently tearing it UP with Astana of the KHL (dude was the 3rd leading scorer in the league last season). After playing for 6 NHL teams in 5 seasons, the husband and father of two finally has some stability for the first time in his pro career. While the KHL doesn’t release salary info, it’s safe to assume the he’s making quite a bit overseas.

While it's no surprise that a Muckler-era draft pick didn't quite pan out, or is now playing overseas, it's nice to hear that Bochenski has finally found a place in the hockey world which he can call home.

If I heard that Ottawa was in line for a Swedish intervention, I would naturally assume it was part and parcel of some Don Cherry led movement chastizing the organization to draft MORE KIDS FROM ONTARIO, EH!

Unfortunately however, reports out of Sweden indicate that WJC head coach Roger Rönnberg is displeased with the Senators’ decision to keep Mika Zibanejad in Binghamton; rather than allow him to suit up for the defending champions.

Notables not invited on D: Cody Ceci, Stuart Percy, Slater Koekkoek, Ryan Pulock, Duncan Siemens. In net, Zach Fucale.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 3, 2012

There will be disappointment in LDN (Seth Griffith), KIT (Matt Puempel), Kamloops (Colin Smith), U of Mich (Phil DiGiueseppe), to name a few

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 3, 2012

The last Ottawa 67 to make Canada's World Junior roster was Brendan Bell...back in 2002. And while draft eligible (and currently suspended) Sean Monahan stands a good chance of ending that run, the possibility of two 67's in Ufa was put to bed today. (edit: Graovac was invited, my mistake. h/t @ChrisMooreYYZ)

Surprisingly, Cody Ceci wasn't able to earn an invite to next week's selection camp (full list here), this after being one of the last cuts for the 2012 team. Now it was far from a guarantee he'd make the final roster, Canada has great depth on defence (with this being a lockout year). Being scratched in two of the four Canada/Russia games in August was maybe a hint as to where he stood among the brass. With two right-shot d-men essentially locks in Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Murphy (who plays for head coach Steve Spott in Kitchener), the opportunity for another offensive d-man on that side was always going to be limited.

That being said you'd think being the 3rd leading point getter among CHL d-men would count for something? It's a tough break for Ceci to be sure, especially when the 67's are going exactly nowhere this season, best he can hope for at this point is a trade to a contender.

Less surprise in Puempel's case, although many thought his moving to the Kitchener Rangers would give him a leg up. The 24th pick from the 2011 draft currently is tied for 4th in OHL goal-scoring, but a shoulder separation last week may have deep-sixed his chances.

Zibanejad Comments On His Continuing Binghamton Residence

I think it's now quite clear that while the organization has been portraying Mika continuing to play in the AHL as a joint decision of sorts, after reading the player's comments last week it certainly looks like the decision was made for him:

"You're putting me in a really tough spot right now, I guess I'm happy I don't have to make that decision. I don't know wht I would do. I'm fully trusting (in the Senators) right now and i"m just respecting their decision. ... I had a really good experience at the world juniors last year. You want to make both (sides) happy, but that's not possible. Right now, I'm just going after what Ottawa wants me to do. I knew this was one option, that Ottwa wouldn't let me go, I always had that in the back of my mind. It doesn't come as a shock. Now I get a good opportunity to focus on the team over here, making sure we're winning games. I'm trying to help as much as I can."

Guessing management couched this as 'what path is going to get you to the NHL faster' -- taken that way it would be pretty hard for a young player who hasn't established himself in North America to say no to their advice. He seems to be taking it in stride though, the sizable Swedish contigent in Bingo probably doesn't hurt.

Zibanejad did miss two games over the weekend, the cause of which seems to be the aftermath of having his wisdom teeth removed.

Wikstrand On Swedish Roster

Swe WJC roster: G: Lundström, Lassinantti, (Dansk) D: Lindholm, Djoos, Bengtsson, Arnesson, Wikstrand, Nilsson, Djuse, Pettersson.

— Stefan G:son (@steffeG) December 3, 2012

No surprise here (especially with injuries sidelining Klefbom and Brodin), but it's still great to see a 7th round round draft pick make a WJC roster. Never hurts to be playing with Kopitar.

Noesen Expected To Make US Roster

Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) who runs the excellent blog United States Of Hockey; last night posted his best guess at the American WJC roster. The reason one puts more faith in this than others is Chris was employed for two years by the US National Development Program, basically the guy is plugged in. In spite of playing in the dreaded Ontario Hockey League, he has Stefan Noesen as a very safe bet to make the team.

Assistant GM Tim Murray made an appearance on The Drive yesterday afternoon, the bulk of which is transcribed below. The big news of Zibanejad staying in Bingo (rather than playing in the WJC) was explained from the organization's perspective. Among other topics hit on were Lehner's hot start, the job Luke Richardson has done, and if Tim would like to see Cody Ceci moved to a contender.

As always, my thoughts are in bold.