Pierre McGuire could be Sens next GM

[esls79]

He was a candidate for the Wild's GM vacancy a couple of offseasons ago as well. You know, looking back at things, he wouldn't be the worst possible GM out there. It's not like the Fletcher/Richards regime in Minny has done anything noteworthy (other than trading their first rounder Leddy for a #5 defenseman)

The bar has been set pretty low recently by some GM's, and I think Pierre could at least hold his own.

 

[thedddd]

He wouldn't be all that bad with his knowledge in scouting. I guess the big unknown is his man love for certain players will he over value them come trade time?

Just think of the positive here we wouldn't have to listen to his creepiness anymore on TV! Only if a team was dumb enough to take Mike Milbury then maybe a game on NBC would be tolerable.

 

[Urkie]

Murray coy on Clouston?s future as coach

This is a quote from Murray's media scrum earlier today:

“I’m not going to answer a question like that, because I don’t know,” Murray said, when asked if Clouston would finish the season. “We go to Chicago (Friday). We come and play Tampa (Saturday). We go on the road the following week. I can’t answer that honestly and I’ve talked to the (coaching) staff about that. We’re all in a position where we have to do a better job.”

So it pretty much sounds like Murray wouldn't hesitate to fire Clouston if things keep going south.

I was happy to read in the article that Murray is working with Melnyk on planning for the future. They both pretty much realize that making the playoffs now will be quite the uphill battle.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I was happy to read in the article that Murray is working with Melnyk on planning for the future. They both pretty much realize that making the playoffs now will be quite the uphill battle.

This is good to see. I'd love to see them go on a run and play in the playoffs but realistically it's probably better to get a top 8 pick this year and get a few more 2nd - 5th round picks.

On the plus side this year, Cowen has looked amazing in the WJHC. His skating has improved drastically. That ability to assess the weakness in your game and improve upon it bodes well for his future at the pro level. Rundblad has been one of, if not the, best d-man in the SEL. He should be able to step right in next year.

 

[Urkie]

This is good to see. I'd love to see them go on a run and play in the playoffs but realistically it's probably better to get a top 8 pick this year and get a few more 2nd - 5th round picks.

On the plus side this year, Cowen has looked amazing in the WJHC. His skating has improved drastically. That ability to assess the weakness in your game and improve upon it bodes well for his future at the pro level. Rundblad has been one of, if not the, best d-man in the SEL. He should be able to step right in next year.

I don't expect much out of this group now. I can clearly see some kind of disconnect between Clouston and the players. Wayne Scanlan even wrote an article about it in the Ottawa Citizen if you want to read it. Something just doesn't seem right and I've thought that for about a month. The reason is that Clouston has lost the room and I'm quite positive that's the case.

Yeah, I have loved Cowen's game so far. He's improved a lot since last years WJ's and that's pretty exciting. By next year he should be ready to step in I think and I can see a little bit of offensive upside in him too.

Same with David Rundblad who is, as you mentioned, one of the best defensemen in the SEL this year. I can't comment on his play too much since I haven't seen him play at all this year but the SEL is one of the best leagues in the world and for him to be one of the defensemen at 20 is pretty impressive.

I could definitely see both Rundblad and Cowen make the team next year. With that in mind I think Phillips days as a Senator might be over and Kuba's are definitely over. I can see a buyout coming for him. I wouldn't be against keeping Phillips but he needs to improve his game from now until the trade deadline. If he does then he might be a good mentor for these young guys.

 

[Urkie]

On another note, I did see that Luke Richardson is back with the team now and I have to say that he's a guy that I would fully support to be the next coach. All the players absolutely respect the guy.

Hopefully it gives them a spark right now though and who knows, maybe it will.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

On another note, I did see that Luke Richardson is back with the team now and I have to say that he's a guy that I would fully support to be the next coach. All the players absolutely respect the guy.

Hopefully it gives them a spark right now though and who knows, maybe it will.

Richardson knows the game but he needs to work his way up. I don't think that he's ready to be a head coach.

If, and I think it's a bad idea, the Sens fire Clouston then I think Andy Murray would be a good choice. He provides structure at all costs.

 

[Urkie]

Richardson knows the game but he needs to work his way up. I don't think that he's ready to be a head coach.

If, and I think it's a bad idea, the Sens fire Clouston then I think Andy Murray would be a good choice. He provides structure at all costs.

Well, that could be true about Richardson. Seems like he's definitely being mentored right now though and in the future he'll probably be a coach one day.

Andy Murray? Maybe but I'm kind of skeptical of him. I guess he might be good for younger players though and the Sens will definitely need somebody who's good with young players. Kind of like a Jacques Martin I guess.

 

[Urkie]

Some of the posters on HF really really piss me off.

Serious kool aid drinkers over there. You probably know about that already though, right Kenny?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Some of the posters on HF really really piss me off.

Serious kool aid drinkers over there. You probably know about that already though, right Kenny?

I never go to that board. I'll check it out just for laughs though.

 

[Urkie]

I never go to that board. I'll check it out just for laughs though.

Yeah, it's good for a laugh every once in a while. It's sad because there are some good posters there but they get drowned out by the kool aid drinkers like Minister of Offense for example.

According to him Murray has done nothing wrong at all and deserves no criticism what so ever. Now, I will admit he's done a pretty good job of drafting but he's sucked at everything else.

And he also thinks that this team will rebound next year. I honestly just don't see it. There just aren't going to be enough players who can score.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Yeah, it's good for a laugh every once in a while. It's sad because there are some good posters there but they get drowned out by the kool aid drinkers like Minister of Offense for example.

According to him Murray has done nothing wrong at all and deserves no criticism what so ever. Now, I will admit he's done a pretty good job of drafting but he's sucked at everything else.

And he also thinks that this team will rebound next year. I honestly just don't see it. There just aren't going to be enough players who can score.

I don't see how he, or you for that matter, can declare how good the team will be by April 2012.

A lot will depend on what trades are made at the deadline and the draft and what free agency brings.

I'm fairly confident that they won't be in this year's playoffs, though.

 

[Urkie]

I don't see how he, or you for that matter, can declare how good the team will be by April 2012.

A lot will depend on what trades are made at the deadline and the draft and what free agency brings.

I'm fairly confident that they won't be in this year's playoffs, though.

I'm fairly confident about them missing the playoffs this year too. By the time the other teams have made up all of their games in hand on the Sens, the eigth seed will be at least 10, 12, maybe even 14 points ahead. This season is done really.

I agree that a lot will depend on the trades too but imo I don't think Murray is going to have that many options other then Phillips and Ruutu. Guys like Fisher, Spezza and Kuba, if they are traded or whatever, will have to be dealt with this summer. Kovalev will be extremely hard to move. Same with Gonchar and I don't really want to move any younger guys like Foligno or Regin.

As for his 2012 thing. I hope we can recover and be a good team again by then. But in order for this turn around to happen, we're going to need some excellent drafting and definitive direction. This team needs Melnyk to figure out what is best for the future and go with that. The sooner that happens the faster the turn around will be.

 

[esls79]

If the Sens need a new coach at any point in the near future, they should go after Randy Cunneyworth...

 

[Urkie]

If the Sens need a new coach at any point in the near future, they should go after Randy Cunneyworth...

He'd be a good choice. Former Sens captain and he's had some success at the AHL level.

It would be nice just to get a coach who could be there for more then a couple years though.

 

[Urkie]

I just saw that Robin Lehner has been called up to replace Pascal Leclaire so I'd assume he'll get a few starts coming up here. Especially if Elliott continues to struggle.

 

[Urkie]

I also should say that Leclaire just sickens me. Can the guy not play through any pain what so ever? Especially with him knowing this is a contract year? No one is going to want this guy if he hardly plays any games but I guess he's either a pussy or he's retarded. I'm leaning towards the former.

All I can say is good riddance. I'm glad he's leaving after this year.

 

[devs30rko]

hey this could be a good thing for the sens.


pierre would sell his left nut to get.......richards phaneuf parise toews.


the sens will be stacked in no time

 

[Urkie]

hey this could be a good thing for the sens.


pierre would sell his left nut to get.......richards phaneuf parise toews.


the sens will be stacked in no time

Well, on second thought...maybe he's the perfect guys for the job.

 

[forty_three]

Some of the posters on HF really really piss me off.

Serious kool aid drinkers over there. You probably know about that already though, right Kenny?

I've never noticed

And everyone seems to be forgetting that Barry Melrose is available either as coach OR GM.

Randy Cunneyworth would rock. Loved that guy when he played. But truthfully I don't know if anyone could get their arms around that room.