The NHL has released the schedule for the 2008-2009 hockey season. Here’s is the schedule for the Ottawa Senators.

I have also created a couple of desktop wallpapers that include the schedule.

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The Ottawa Senators have added to their blueline by signing Jason Smith to a 2 year, 5.2 million dollar deal. The former captain of both the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers led the Flyers last year with 204 blocked shots and and 142 hits. He brings some much needed grit to the Sens’ defence and leadership in the dressing room.Its not the puck moving defenceman that Murray was looking for, but I believe he will be a good asset for the team.

There wasn’t much activity as far as acquisitions go for the Ottawa Senators yesterday. We lost 3 players, 2 of which I wasn’t surprised to see go. As for the 3rd, I was hoping we’d get to keep Stillman, but I guess he’d rather have the money instead of playing in a Canadian hockey city. Hopefully there will be more activity today, as we still need to pick up a defence and a forward. We can also hope that we’ll hear about Vermette and Meszaros re-signing with the team.

2:30pm: Shean Donovan has signed a 2 year deal with the Sens for an undisclosed amount.

3:00pm: Ottawa signs Jarkko Ruutu to a 3.9$ million, 3 year contract.

As July 1st comes around and NHL teams can sign RFAs (Restricted Free Agents) and UFAs (Unrestricted Free Agents), listed below is the activity as it relates to my home team, the Ottawa Senators. There’s a lot of activity happening this afternoon and over the next few days, with every team trying to land players that will make an immediate difference, or to create some breathing room in this cap restricted era. Listed below are the players we have added to our roster as well as those who have moved on to other teams. Once the dust has settled, I’ll analyze the new team from an armchair quarterback’s perspective.

3:40pm: Stillman signs with the Florida Panthers for $10.6 million 3 year contract.

4:27pm: Goaltender Alex Auld signs a 2 year, 2 million dollar deal with Ottawa.

6:00pm: Mike Commodore signs with the Blue Jackets for a 5 year 18.75 million dollar deal

7:37pm: Wade Redden moves to the New York Rangers with a 6 year, $39 million contract.

More to come as news comes in.

Looks like I was way off in my conference finals predictions I was extremely surprised to see both my picks go down 3 games to none, mount a brief comeback, but eventually falling to the Red Wings and the Penguins.

So what’s my prediction for the finals? I say Detroit Red Wings in 6. This is an older, more experienced team who has been to the finals not too long ago and won. I don’t believe the Pittsburgh Penguins team is mature enough or experienced enough to come out a winner in these Stanley Cup finals.

Since my predictions were so bad in the last round, don’t take this one to the bank