FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Sorry for the long delay between posts in this series. However, you have to figure better late than never.

When the Ottawa Senators drafted Ray Emery with the 99th overall pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft, they likely didn't expect very much from him. Third round picks very rarely end up making an impact on a hockey club, let alone an indelible blow to a team's future.

In retrospect, the Sens probably should have seen that Emery would have ended up as a problem child. In the season before he was drafted, he had four on-ice fights for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, which is exorbitantly high for a goaltender, especially one in a junior league where fans very rarely sees knock-down, drag out fights. However, Sens GM Marshall Johnston very likely fell in love with Emery's drooling potential (he had very quickly moved up the ranks from a Jr. C backup to an OHL starter in only three years) and the thought that he might have another "Battling" Billy Smith on his hands. He gambled on the problematic goalie, hoping for good dividends.

At first, it seemed like Emery would pay off. In his next year of OHL hockey, his goals against average dropped and his save percentage increased. The year after in the AHL, his GAA dropped again and his save percentage increased again.

Unfortunately, the only thing that didn't improve along with his stats was his volatility. In his first season in the AHL, he was suspended twice for on-ice altercations. The following season, he was chastised for bumping into a referee, one of the most cowardly actions in hockey because the ref is merely doing his job AND is without padding. He also fought future teammate Denis Hamel, racking up yet another suspension, for him allegedly uttering a racial slur.

His next season was even more deplorable. He continued racking up the suspensions, with one for a shameful stick-swinging incident where he assaulted Penguins minor leaguer Michel Ouellet when a game was out of hand. He also injured his wrist in a fight.

Despite all these glaringly obvious signs that this player is problematic, the Sens refused to take notice. All they saw were his excellent save percentage and goals against average. The Ottawa Senators' blindness is the single largest reason as to why the resulting hubris has destroyed the team.

Take away Ray Emery's decent NHL stats for a second. How can a player who eats cockroaches, misses planes, engages in road rage, shows up late for practice, clubs opposing players over the head with his stick, and wears a mask that acts as an homage to a convicted rapist act as a good influence on a team?

Last year, the Ottawa Senators were a fickle team with a weak coach. The only reason John Paddock was hired as head coach was because he was an assistant coach on the team with a track record. Not a good one, but a track record. The last thing he needed was an insolent subordinate, because he didn't have the "Bill Belichick complex": the ability to handle problems. Last year, Emery was the biggest problem in the league.

Emery's antics led to increased scrutiny of the team by the media. Soon, they picked up more flaws with the team, including bloated contracts and a weak defence. Of course, Emery was a gigantic distraction for the team. There is little wonder that the Sens only won 7 of 21 games in January and February, when Emery was showing up late for practice and fighting with teammates Brian McGrattan and Chris Neil. I firmly believe that Ray Emery is the single biggest reason that the Senators unravelled in what was quite clearly the last season in their window of opportunity for a Cup win.

Stay tuned (hopefully not as long) for the final part in the series: Today, Tomorrow, and The Future.