(Ed. Note: Welcome to the Puck Daddy 2013 summer project, the National Hockey League of Nations. We’ve recruited 30 writers/blogs to identify the best player in their favorite team’s history for each major nationality that creates the fabric of our beloved NHL: Canada, USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland and The Rest of The World. It’s their criteria, as long as they can justify it. Read, debate and enjoy! If you want to do so on Twitter, it's #NHLoN.)

By Bonk’s Mullet and Ryan Classic from Silver Sevens

It would be fruitless to argue that the Ottawa Senators have as rich a history as their division rivals. If you take out your official copy of The NHL Board of Governors Atlas and take a look at the other seven teams scattered along the Atlantic coast, you’ll quickly spot four Original Six opponents in the proximity of Ottawa.

Despite the inability to draw in big name free agents, Ottawa’s all-time international team is as impressive as any. Thanks to prolific drafting and the development of young players within the organization, the Senators have managed to put together a solid international cast of characters.

More impressive in the team’s short history is the abundance of players who have ended their tenure in Ottawa on less than amicable terms with the team. In fact, this list of players could go pound for pound with Ottawa’s all-time team.

Grab a tissue as we walk down memory lane to revisit Ottawa’s International All-Scorn Team.



Canada: Dany Heatley (Honourable mention: Alexandre Daigle, Wade Redden)

Dany proved that even “good Canadian kids” can leave for greener pastures and that Hell hath no fury like a beauty asked to do something other than camp out in the high slot.

The Good:

• After being acquired for Marian Hossa in 2005, Heatley put up two straight 50 goal, 100 point seasons; only the second player in NHL history to do so in his first two campaigns with a new club. Some guy named Wayne beat him to it.

• Trading him landed Milan Michalek, who has provided the Sens with a consistent presence in the trainer's room.

• Holds Ottawa’s single-season franchise records for goals (50) and points (105)

The Bad:

• Also holds the franchise record in tone deafness.

• Infamously demanded a trade from Ottawa in the summer of 2009, citing his reduced role with the team.

• Handcuffed Ottawa with his no-trade clause, including blocking a trade to Edmonton

The Ugly:

• Resulted in Ottawa flea markets, thrift stores, and homeless shelters being clogged with remaindered Jonathan Cheechoo Sens jerseys, most of which are now being used as car shammies.



Finland Jarmo Kekalainen

In case you thought for a moment that no Finn has ever wronged another human being, we stretched as far as we could to find one that has done anything mildly negative to the Senators.

The Good:

• Played 28 games with the Senators, tallying a goal and five assists.

• Became director of player personnel from 1999 to 2002

• Helped draft players like Martin Havlat, Chris Kelly, Anton Volchenkov, Antoine Vermette, Jason Spezza, Ray Emery, and Brooks Laich.

The Bad:

• Didn't stop the Senators from drafting Mathieu Chouinard for a second time.

• Blasphemously wore number 11 for the Senators.

• Deserted the Senators to become assistant GM in St. Louis.

The Ugly:

• The first draft after Kekalainen left, the Senators' first two picks were Jakub Klepis and Alexei Kaigarodov, neither of which have ever been seen again.

USA: Joe Corvo

Joe’s self-prescribed bad boy image didn’t sit well with the local Ottawa media in his first stint with the team, but it should be fine now that hockey media coverage has died down.

The Good:

• Averaged .50 points per game with Ottawa in one and a half seasons; an impressive pace for a defenceman.

• Averaged .50 new tattoos per game over that same stretch; an impressive pace for an entire biker gang.

• Founding member of Crazy Town:

Story continues