Written by Brian van Vliet - August 4, 2008
The Ottawa Senators have spent many seasons mired in futility. They saw playoff opportunities go by the wayside many times due to weak goaltending performances in big games. We need look no further than a Game 7 between the Sens and the Toronto Maple Leafs a few years back. Ottawa goaltender Patrick Lalime let in two goals that I swear any other goalie would have stopped with no equipment on. Other goalies that played with the Sens over the years included such notables as Craig Billington, Jani Hurme, Mark LaForest, Peter Sidorkiewicz, Ron Tugnutt and Steve Weeks. And who could forget the Sens desperately bringing in washed up goaltenders such as Don Beaupre and Tom Barrasso.
In the 2005/06 season it looked like the Sens finally had it figured out. They brought in a still very capable Dominic Hasek with up and comer Ray Emery waiting in the wings. Emery played a few games that year and when the Dominator pulled his usual playoff injury routine Emery was called into action. As a young kid, Emery stood his ground and battled the Buffalo Sabres with everything he had. The following season, the Sens signed much maligned goaltender Martin Gerber and relegated Emery to the back up position.
It didn’t take long for Razor to take the starting job from Gerber as he posted 33 wins, a sparkling 2.47 GAA, a .918 save % with 5 shutouts. He then went on to play in 20 playoff games leading the Sens to their first Stanley Cup final in the modern era. Something no other Sens goalie was able to do. In the off season Ray signed a 9+ million dollar contract and everything seemed perfect. The one sour note was that Emery also had off season wrist surgery but the word was he would recover quickly and assume his starting role. However in the 07/08 season, something went terribly wrong. Razor’s wrist wasn’t healing and Martin Gerber was leading the league in many goaltending categories.
Emery believed the old adage that you don’t lose your starting job due to injury. But let’s face it, that’s about as realistic as the tooth fairy. Just ask former new England Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe. The more Gerber played, the more Emery sat and the more the media looked to run with the story. Emery made mistakes any young athlete is prone to do. He showed up to practice late, displayed a non team attitude at times and wasn’t happy about his new role. However, everything Emery did was so overblown in the media it was hysterical. Ray broke a water bottle he must be upset about his playing time, Ray came to practice on a ski doo he must not care. The list goes on and on. All the while, all he wanted to do was play.
What amazes this armchair sportsfan is how easily everyone gave up on him. The league has seen the likes of Bob Probert, Darren McCartey , Theo Fleury and more. All these guys caused a lot more problems for their teams than Ray Emery but they were given second third and fourth opportunities. Not Ray though. At the end of the season the Sens bought him out. Compounded by the fact that no other team picked him up could seriously make one wonder. What if he didn’t have the flashy cars, good looks and rap star image? Would he have been given another chance?
I believe this guy can still stop pucks. He’s gone to Russia to find his game. I believe he will and when he returns… Look out.Agree or disagree, I’m off the goalpost.
