Silver Nuggets: A lockout pick-up league

Fear not, Ottawa hockey fans: Even if the lockout continues, some of our favourite pros might still gear up for games against other current and former NHLers.

The discussion started with a report from Andy Strickland about a number of Quebec-based hockey players who are considering splitting up into a couple of teams (based in Quebec City and Montreal) to compete against one another, and the possibility of adding teams in Toronto and Ottawa was also "tossed around." That was picked up by La Presse (in French), and then by Sylvain St.-Laurent on his blog for Le Droit, where he highlighted some of the players who might be featured on an Ottawa-based team:

"Craig Anderson et Fred Brathwaite seraient les gardiens. En défensive, il y aurait Grant Clitsome, Erik Karlsson, Mike Lundin, Marc Méthot et Chris Phillips. À l'attaque, on retrouverait Daniel Alfredsson, Matt Bradley, Erik Condra, Colin Greening, Chris Kelly, Chris Neil, Jim O'Brien, Peter Regin, Zack Smith, Jason Spezza et Kyle Turris."

Even if you don't know French, you can probably figure out what he's saying here; mostly Ottawa Senators players alongside a few current (and one former) players with local connections. Apparently, indicate that any proceeds from the circuit would be donated to charity; the games wouldn't likely be high-intensity, but they'd still be exciting hockey and offer the players an opportunity to stay in somewhat good shape awaiting a resolution to the CBA negotiations.

We're talking about rumours here, though. It makes sense, but there are still a few hurdles that'll need to be overcome before anything happens. Ottawa's biggest hurdle is probably finding a suitable arena; with the Civic Centre out of commission, it seems unlikely that Eugene Melnyk will rent out Scotiabank Place. We might be looking at the Bob Guertin Arena in Gatineau, or a much smaller affair at the Bell Sensplex (which doesn't have much room for spectators in most surfaces). Not to mention actually getting the players to agree to it, which is far from certain given a report from Bruce Garrioch that says Senators players are concerned about insuring existing contracts with the team.

But seriously, how awesome would that be? I wonder if Rogers, TSN, or CBC would televise the games...

Links below compiled by Dave Young...

Sens Links

• Ken Warren with some Day Two of the Lockout thoughts including the practice sweater fiasco. [Warren]
• Senators President Cyril Leeder addressed the media yesterday. [Sens]
• Ken Warren talks about the 170 people who work for the Senators who have either been let go or who have accepted reduced work weeks. [SensExtra]
• Nichols looks at the weird Milan Michalek injury. [6thSens]
• Some fun from Scott at the 6th Sens about safety post-chicken incident. [6thSens]