What in the world is going on with Ray Emery?

For the second time this season, the Ottawa goaltender has been late for practice and has not been allowed on the ice. He has caused a lot of problems in the Ottawa dressing room with his antics. This awkward behavior is not as bad when you are playing well, but Emery has struggled all season and cannot grab the number one goaltending job in Ottawa.

The Senators are in a bad position as they could do without the distractions of Emery, but are unsure as to whether or not number one netminder Martin Gerber is capable of leading them to the Stanley Cup. Ottawa could have the best team in the league and as of now are probably the top team in the East (although Montreal is closing in quickly), but the Sens cannot be happy with their goaltending situation heading into the playoffs.

Ottawa would be best served by trading Emery and getting rid of the headache. Los Angeles and Tampa Bay both need goaltending, but it seems that the Kings should wait and give Jonathan Bernier the shot he deserves in the next year or two, since they are not legitimate playoff contenders right now.

That leaves the Lightning, who really need a goaltender to turn things around. The Lightning definitely have enough offense with Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis and if Emery could play like last season, a trade would make Tampa Bay a force to be reckoned with in the post-season, should they make it.

Ottawa would be relying an awful lot on Martin Gerber, should a trade be made, but it would make the dressing room a lot happier place to be in Ottawa.