It wasn't a surprise to most when goalie Ray Emery was put on waivers (and then bought out) by the Ottawa Senators after a rough season this year. But what surprises me is that no team has taken a chance and signed him by now.
If you look at Emery's stats in the 2006-07 season, you'd understand why the Ottawa Senators made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Emery had a record of 33-16-6, a goals-against-average of 2.47, a save-percentage of .918, and five shutouts.
His playoff stats were just as impressive, when he had a record of 13-7, and goals-against-average of 2.26, save-percentage of .907, and three shutouts.
Yes, they eventually lost to the Ducks, but John Muckler even said (after they won the Eastern Conference Final), that the fact he took a team to the Stanley Cup Final makes him an elite goaltender.
However, it looked like this season that Emery wasn't so "elite". He had a record of 12-13-4, a goals-against-average of 3.13, and a save-percentage of .890. However, Emery's failure had nothing to do with stats; it had to do with discipline, and a bit too much ego.
Emery had a wrist injury early on in the season, and when his season began, it got off to a bumpy start. Eventually, Emery lost his starting job to Martin Gerber. This only made Emery lash-out, leading to him showing up to practise late, getting in arguments with his coach and teammates, and it affected his whole team. This ultimately led to the poor season the Senators suffered this year.
So, I can understand where the Senators were coming from when they decided to give Emery the boot. But if a guy like Raycroft can get signed by a new team after a couple brutal seasons, why can't Emery get signed by a new team after only one bad season?
Emery is a good goalie - when he wants to be. A general manager should jump in, sign the guy, and give him a chance. If he gets the starting job, he'll straighten out. But, that's a big "if".
It's a risk, but it could be worth it, because Emery has proved he can take a team very close to a Cup. And who knows, maybe if he goes to the right team, he can take them all the way.
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about 1 month ago
Razor gets signed because of his positive attitude. He played poorly on an awful Laughs team. Emery had an awful view on his job and played on a team that until dec. was at the top of the nhl. no one wants or needs a cancer like him on their team. except maybe in russia where he will be signed.
from about 1 month ago
To me, Raycroft didn't seem to have a positive outlook, it really didn't seem like he cared enough about winning to be successful. While the Leafs were bad, 2 years ago the Leafs would have made the playoffs easily with a solid goalie, but there were many games lost due to lousy goals allowed by Raycroft.
As for Emery being a 'cancer': he just needs a change of scenery. A guy named Sean Avery used to be called a 'cancer' in L.A., but look how much better the Rangers were with him.
from about 1 month ago
have any of you ever walked a foot in rays' shoes? i have a feeling that most of you have no clue what it was like for him growing up without truly knowing his parents. the guy has been stuffing things into a little box inside his heart for most of his life. i figure, the most positive & constructive things in his life revolve(d) around hockey. he was given a chance to lead & it was stripped form him. bottom line. i know he had wrist surgery in the off season & not to take anything away from marty gerber, but we all know he has a rage issue & someone with that "mental handicap" can only be pushed so far before they start shoving back. does the kid have some growing up to do? abosolutely. should he be given the cold sholder by the nhl? absolutely not. its all a ploy. the GM's around the league are preying on the fact that ray has been labeled damaged goods. they are waiting for the free agent market to "dry up" in hopes of getting ray at a modest price. keep up the good work ray! dont let the haters get you down. i have the upmost confidence that you will not only rebound, you will excell.
from about 1 month ago
I just have to reply to Joe's comment. I'm glad you are on Ray's side, because he is a really great person and I think any goalie who takes a team to the Stanley Cup in his rookie year needs to be recognized. The only other thing I want to say is this: Ray has fantastic parents and had one of the best childhoods anyone could wish for. He is in no way to be pittied. He is a go-getter and an over-achiever. This guy put the Senators in the news, and kept people entertained with his style, showmanship and flare. He loved playing in Ottawa. People were talking about Ottawa, and the Fashionista. How many of you remember anything special about the goalie for Calgary from last year? Ray was good for Ottawa. When you stick someone in a corner to watch everyone else compete, and you feel the competitor in you screeming to get out, wouldn't you expect them to be a tad resentful? Wouldn't you?
about 1 month ago
i meant razor=raycroft. the only nickname emery should carry is spoiled ego maniac child.
about 1 month ago
I agree with Dan besides the fact Ottawa also had a pretty stellar team the year of the cup. Emery does have issues in net. Besides the obvious head case issue. He is apt to let up huge rebounds, gets himself out of position, and has a real issue with after allowing a bad goal not getting back himself back into that game. See you later Emery. Go to Russia with your issues. I am sure some of the people there will enjoy your BS antics.
about 1 month ago
And a guy named Avery was still called a cancer in NYC. Now he is in Big D despite the teams record with him. The team is the important thing in this game not some average goalie who went on a hot streak. the used to say Patrick Roy was a nut but when you are Patrick Roy certain things are ignored. Emery can never even come close to Roy so no one will ever put up with his crap.
about 1 month ago
Is it possible there is some Barry Bonds-type collusion going on amongst the GMs to teach Emery a lesson?
If I were a GM I wouldn't want Emery anywhere near my dressing room.
about 1 month ago
i think he absolutely can stay sharp. he is still an elite goalie, he just had those ridiculous problems
about 1 month ago
the word elite get thrown around on goalies way too much.
about 1 month ago
i personally liked razor, and i think he is going to be able to carry another team to the cup final, but it just won't work with ottawa, as alfie had told the reporters
about 1 month ago
Razor will get picked up in the few months leading up to the season.
He is an NHL calibur goalie and a team will pick him up.
He had a bad attitude in Ottawa because he led the team to the Cup Final and the year after he came out of training camp hurt and because of that he lost his starting job. Now that's a slap in the face.
about 1 month ago
emery is shit,his numbers were inflated that year because ottawa had strong team in front of him,i hope he never plays goalie in nhl again,look for him as mascot or dishwasher,the latter being more fitting for that piece of garbage
about 1 month ago
I am a Sens fan and I in no way see Rayzor (our Rayzor) as a cancer. That he had some issues there is no doubt, but they should have and COULD have been dealt with behind closed doors. He is a young guy who deserved better treatment and more understanding than he got from our club. In short, a flailing, weak coach used him as an excuse for the failures of the team he was supposed to be in charge of, and that was pathetic. And the trend continued to the end of the season with the GM singing the same tune - again here we were blaming the goalie who DIDN'T play in the post-season for our early departure from it (first time was with Hasek). I doubt that we will ever be able to attract a truly elite goalie to this city! But I wish Rayzor all the luck in the world with the lucky team that signs him and only hope that he does land in our Division or even our Conference so that we don't have to meet him too often because he has it in him to be REALLY GOOD!
from about 1 month ago
i absolutely agree with u, think he could be back to NHL after a season at russia eh?
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