Can the Senators Make the Playoffs?

Are the current Senators really competitive? Do they have the depth to win on a consistent basis? What can be done to bring them back to the days of glory? Is it the players? The coaching? How about management?

To win and stay competitive, the Sens need two solid lines that are scoring, a deeper defence, and a hungry, sensational young goaltender who wants to establish himself in the "big times" - and they need a healthy Alfredsson. The Senators have one of the most talented coaches in the NHL and, have good upper management.

What are the problems then?

The front line performs when Alfredsson is healthy. When he's ailing, the other first-liners play like the "katzenjammer-twins" of yesterday. They're all over the place and seem to be unfocused. The second line is a bit of an enigma. They are talented, hard-working, and are starting to become focused. The question remains, can they become consistent, reliable and dependable?

The defence is lacking a quarterback. Someone who can stick-handle, make the key plays, and be the focal point of the power play. They need a Gonchar-type of player. Is their one out there who's affordable and who is in a position to be moved? Is there one who wants to risk playing on a team that may not have a chance at winning the Cup? Good questions.

Would it be reasonable for the Senators to risk spending a lot of money right now when it might be a wasteful venture? Perhaps not. What they may want to do is to start a solid rebuilding with long-range, talented young players and, for the love of Pete, start grabbing some of the excellent talent from the Quebec Major Junior League! Pittsburgh, with Mario Lemieux's foresight, silently stole a whack of superb talent out of the "Q", and from right under-the-noses of the other NHL teams. Just imagine, Angelo Esposito, passed over in his draft year and grabbed by Pittsburgh after being overlooked by twenty other teams!

The best thing might be, for the long-range health of the Sens, is for them to bottom out this year and try to grab John Tavares in the opening round of the upcoming draft. It might also be time to look at the potential of dealing Alfredsson, as a hired gun, during the upcoming Cup-drive frenzy. He would add tremendous dimension to a bonefide Cup runner and could draw huge dividends in the way of picking up the quarterback blue-liner they so desperately need and, perhaps a forward such as one with similar talents to that of St-Louis or Lecavalier. Keep in mind that he, by hockey players life expectancy, has got about another two to three years remaining, if he stays healthy.

Do I think they can be a real threat during the next couple of months and, if they miraculously made the playoffs, could go deep? As a realist - no. I think it's time for the fans to suck it up this year, and put their faith in the hands of upper management to make some smart long-range moves.

I look forward to the next generation of glitzy, talented players, who can, once again, awe the Ottawa fans.

Gary

Do Pets have Personalities? What do You Think?

Scientists would have us believe that pets are incapable of having personalities. Pet owners might disagree. Who is right? Here is our experience.

For seventeen years we were co-inhabiters with a Seal-Point Siamese cat. It became very clear to us early on that he displayed unusual traits and reflected a uniqueness that differentiated him from other cats. I remember the times when he behaved in such a way as to cause us to be annoyed with him. Either my wife or I would point our finger at him and scold him for what he had done. He would chatter back to us and then go to a corner of the room, face the corner, much like a sulking child, and would occasionally look over his shoulder to see if we were going to forgive him, (or if he was going to forgive us).

After a while, either my wife or I would tell him it was okay and he would turn around, run over to whichever one of us who was involved, jump up into our lap and nuzzle and purr affectionately. We never taught him this trait. He just did it.

And then there was mealtime. If he didn't like the meal we prepared for him, he would display disgust that would rival that of our children. He was moody, possessive, lovable, and unpredictable. Does that sound like personality?

My Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary, unfortunately written by humans, defines personality as follows:

"Distinctive qualities or characteristics of a person."

Unfortunately, the dictionary doesn't talk about animals. If it did, then there might be cause to adjust the terms to include a broader range, which might include animals.

Am I wrong? What do you think? Have you had any experiences to support pet personalities?

Please let me know.

Gary