Unfortunately, for a combination of factors and circumstances, the phrase “Getting kicked into the mouth of the wolf” fits well with the skin of young Ottawa Senators guard Mads Sogaard (22) since his last recall from the Senators of Beautiful city.
Attributable to his own sporting performances, let’s say that this 2nd round choice (37th overall during the 2019 selection session) did not benefit from the best possible context for his development.
According to rumors behind the scenes, the Senators looked into the possibility of acquiring a goaltender with some level of National League experience during the last trade period, but to no avail. It’s a shame for Ottawa, but the harsh reality of the past few weeks has simply shaken the columns of the temple and taken out of the equation a team that since last December had revived the hopes of the fans.
This harsh reality of the moment was particularly so for Sogaard. The young goalkeeper, a former member of the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), has been placed in a very difficult position, due to injuries to veterans Cam Talbot (injury announced a few days following the trade deadline) and Anton Forsberg ( injury announced in mid-February).
Sogaard clearly displays a lack of self-confidence in his selection of saves, as he concedes several return throws, thus complicating the work of his defensive brigade in moments of high heat. The giant-sized (six-foot-seven) guard is looking for his bearings and often makes us feel like a five-foot-seven guard due to that nasty habit of getting down on his knees far too quickly, as evidenced by this tendency of the opponent most exploited with shots in the upper part, mitten side.
Avoiding breaking sugar on the back of this one, he who is more challenged on “the issue” instead of the “game” lately especially at the level of the map of the mind, this situation reminds us that the best hockey circuit in the world is not necessarily a laboratory, even less in this position.
Sogaard posted save percentages of .862 once morest Toronto; .833 once morest Colorado; .844 once morest Edmonton; .862 once morest Vancouver; .879 once morest Seattle; and .862 once morest Chicago… well below NHL standards.
In the minds of many observers, this break in recent weeks will have represented the beginning of the end despite the support and encouragement from the locker room towards the young goalkeeper, who in all lucidity should never have been exposed in this way.
Partnering up in hardship is one thing, showing character in adversity is also part of the process, but going up once morest the NHL’s elite night following night (most recently once morest Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen) is not necessarily a resting party.
For the principal concerned, it will ultimately be a question of taking a step back to refocus and find his bearings, he who should be the guardian of the future for the franchise of the Senators.
We hope that this serious test of adversity of the last few weeks will not come to create a doubt in the space of 25 centimeters of this one (read here between the two ears).
Brady Tkachuk and Tim StutzTkachuk and Stützle learn from the best!
The involvement and offensive production of young Brady Tkachuk (30-41: 71 points) and Tim Stützle (35-43: 78 points) has something to impress at the highest point, especially in terms of the organization’s progress towards better days.
However, the clashes of recent weeks once morest the duos McDavid-Draisaitl, Matthews-Marner, MacKinnon-Rantanen, Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand and Sidney Crosby-Jake Guentzel have been a certain reminder that “Rome was not built in one day”, quite the contrary.
Recognizing that the two youngsters are on the right track, with this competitive spirit that inhabits them to the highest degree and this thirst to learn and progress, we still have to be patient and careful with them.
These are two athletes who have made the choice to adopt this position, to want to make a difference in critical moments, to take the heat and to go precisely to the end of their choices in this audacious spirit of wanting to among the best on the Bettman circuit.
There is no doubt today that the Senators are in a good position when it comes to considering the event aspect of the sports business in respect with the paying client who travels in order to appreciate the service offer.
More than encouraging signs for the possible future owners of the franchise, which should also be announced as soon as the season ends. In my view, this abundance of talented young players in the current environment of the Senators has had a direct impact on the interest of several entities in the buying process in recent months.
Like what the best is yet to come!
Rivalry, no thanks!
As of this writing, six of the top eight teams overall in the NHL are in the Eastern Conference (Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Maple Leafs Toronto, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
The “too much is like not enough” challenges at the highest point in the making of the NHL calendar in the non-desire up to a certain point to nourish healthy rivalries and move the crowds.
Last Saturday night, 20,092 spectators (including a very high percentage of Maple Leafs supporters) turned out at the Canadian Tire Center for the clash between Toronto and Ottawa in a very interesting first-level confrontation.
While everything seems to be going well according to the senior authorities and thinkers of the NHL, I would like to remind you that this visit by the Leafs to Ottawa was the very first of the season for the Toronto team in the national capital. March 18, 2023!
How can you believe that by limiting confrontations within your association and your division, this represents added value in the creation of rivalries?
In conclusion, stepping out of your comfort zone from time to time should be one of the next challenges for the league’s higher authorities, a question of thinking outside the box and avoiding complacency. A reflection that imposes itself according to several senior leaders of the circuit who unfortunately do not dare to speak regarding it publicly.
Happy hockey week!
