My personalized Google homepage informed me when I got home today that Teemu Selanne has re-signed with the Ducks. I suppose technically there is nothing wrong with what’s going on there: technically, they just signed an unrestricted free agent. This one isn’t as shifty as the Scott Niedermayer thing in the end. But still, sitting out your older players for the first 50 games and then bringing them back well-rested just in time for the playoff run feels quite a lot like cheating to me. I don’t suppose the Sens ever considered sitting Alfie, who is 35, and I look at Chris Chelios playing all season in Detroit at 46, and I lose a whole lot of respect for Niedermayer and Selanne, really, who formerly were two of the few Ducks players not wholly offensive to me. It’s a loophole the NHL should think about closing.

So the Ducks get better (in theory; maybe Selanne will suck? Sure he will!) and the Sens continue this awful downhill slide they’re on. Ray Emery showed up late for practice yet again today. I just … hate both the goalies right now, so much. So, so much. I want to love them, but I can’t do it. Gerber at least comes to the rink. If only he would play well.

To cheer myself up, a bit of fun: TSN put up a thing today where people can pick their own rosters for the 2010 Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team, so I did that. Who knows what things will be like in two years, but it was a neat exercise anyway. I record my roster here for future review:

Forwards
Daniel Brière
Sidney Crosby
Shane Doan
Mike Fisher
Dany Heatley
Jaroma Iginla
Vincent Lecavalier
The Amazing Rick Nash
Martin St. Louis
Joe Sakic (assuming he’s still able to play)
Jason Spezza
Eric Staal
Joe Thornton

Defence
Jay Bouwmeester
Brian Campbell
Mike Green
Ed Jovanovski
Scott Niedermayer (even though he is LAME … if he “retires” again I would obviously have to substitute someone else)
Dion Phaneuf
Chris Phillips

Goaltenders
Martin Brodeur
Jean-Sébastien Giguère
Roberto Luongo

Three French Canadian goalies, a mix of young superstars and veteran leaders, no players with really bad karma (Chris Pronger was not selected for this reason), and lots of Senators. Ah yes, this team would be very good indeed. My team is also very hot, it should be noted, especially if Luongo can be convinced to cut his hair. Just put me in charge now, Hockey Canada, because I smell gold!