(Before we get to Andrew's column, I just want to apologize for the lack of blogs this week. I started a new job this week - producing The First Word with Gary Williams on Mad Dog Radio on Sirius XM Radio (Sirius Ch 123, XM Ch 144). If you're looking for a morning all-sports talk show, this is the show to be listening too. Oh, and I've been back and forth to eye doctor's all week because I had a guitar pick accidentally thrown in my eye by James Hetfield at a Metallica concert on Sunday. All of that being said, FTS returns on Monday)
Is it time for Senators GM Bryan Murray to go?
We should all enjoy the same job security Senators GM Bryan Murray does in Ottawa these days. His team woke up Wednesday morning at 17-25-7. Those 41 measly points are good for 13th in the Eastern Conference. Since November 19, 2007, the Senators are 44-57-15, including last year’s first round sweep at the hands of the Penguins. That for a team that compiled 105 points in the 2006-07 season, then went 12-3 en route to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Monday, Murray canned head coach Craig Hartsburg, whom he hired last summer to replace himself…after firing John Paddock in the spring. Cory Clouston is the fourth head coach in Ottawa in less than two seasons. Yet, owner Eugene Melnyk still employs Murray. He has now swung-and-missed on two coaches and failed himself to salvage the end of last season. And it was Murray who let Ray Emery hijack last season. Instead of sending the disgruntled goalie home, he let Emery spoil the locker room by showing up late for practices and getting into scuffles with teammates.
It was Murray who over-committed financially to Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley. They are still a fairly dangerous duo, but have failed to lift this team out of its doldrums. We’ve written in this space more than once that Spezza should be moved to fix Ottawa’s depth issues. A trade is difficult, though, with his cap hit at $8 million over the next five seasons.
It was Murray that miscast Martin Gerber as #1 goaltender. And it was Murray who allowed a deep and talented blueline to disintegrate. The coaches certainly deserve some of the blame for failing to get the most out of this roster. There is no reason the Senators should not have or be close to a playoff spot right now. However, we can only point our finger at them for so long. It’s time for Murray to follow Paddock and Hartsburg out the door.
* * *
The Shootout…Our apologies to the Los Angeles Kings, whom we wrote off for dead in last week’s playoff predictions when in fact they were just four points out of the postseason picture as of Wednesday morning. A playoff berth might not happen, but Dean Lombardi’s rebuilding plan is working well…
Gary Bettman told NHL Radio’s NHL Live Friday that warm-weather locales like Las Vegas were not being considered for the next Winter Classic. Chief Operating Officer John Collins floated that possibility during All-Star Weekend, but the Commissioner says the League will focus on member cities with the appropriate climate. Thank whichever god you root for – the Winter Classic should be held in every League city before someplace like Vegas is considered…
Finally, congratulations to Adam Graves on having his #9 retired by the Rangers Tuesday night. Graves is one of the best men you could meet and is a hockey player in the truest sense of the term.
Monday, Murray canned head coach Craig Hartsburg, whom he hired last summer to replace himself…after firing John Paddock in the spring. Cory Clouston is the fourth head coach in Ottawa in less than two seasons. Yet, owner Eugene Melnyk still employs Murray. He has now swung-and-missed on two coaches and failed himself to salvage the end of last season. And it was Murray who let Ray Emery hijack last season. Instead of sending the disgruntled goalie home, he let Emery spoil the locker room by showing up late for practices and getting into scuffles with teammates.
It was Murray who over-committed financially to Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley. They are still a fairly dangerous duo, but have failed to lift this team out of its doldrums. We’ve written in this space more than once that Spezza should be moved to fix Ottawa’s depth issues. A trade is difficult, though, with his cap hit at $8 million over the next five seasons.
It was Murray that miscast Martin Gerber as #1 goaltender. And it was Murray who allowed a deep and talented blueline to disintegrate. The coaches certainly deserve some of the blame for failing to get the most out of this roster. There is no reason the Senators should not have or be close to a playoff spot right now. However, we can only point our finger at them for so long. It’s time for Murray to follow Paddock and Hartsburg out the door.
* * *
The Shootout…Our apologies to the Los Angeles Kings, whom we wrote off for dead in last week’s playoff predictions when in fact they were just four points out of the postseason picture as of Wednesday morning. A playoff berth might not happen, but Dean Lombardi’s rebuilding plan is working well…
Gary Bettman told NHL Radio’s NHL Live Friday that warm-weather locales like Las Vegas were not being considered for the next Winter Classic. Chief Operating Officer John Collins floated that possibility during All-Star Weekend, but the Commissioner says the League will focus on member cities with the appropriate climate. Thank whichever god you root for – the Winter Classic should be held in every League city before someplace like Vegas is considered…
Finally, congratulations to Adam Graves on having his #9 retired by the Rangers Tuesday night. Graves is one of the best men you could meet and is a hockey player in the truest sense of the term.
