Scanlan critical of Bryan Murray

[Urkie]

Murray has managed little as Sens? GM

Usually Scanlan is right on the money and I'm with him here. Murray's time as GM is coming to an end and rightly so.

I just wish that the majority of other Sens fans would wake up and see what a failure this guy has been. He promised that he would take the team that just went to the finals and bring them to the next level. Instead, we've only seen the team regress and he's failed to make the necessary adjustments.

The end of the line is near for Murray. I can sense it and I think he can too. I wouldn't be surprised if Melnyk is looking for a replacement at this very moment.

 

[dash]

I think Cory Clouston will be fired tomorrow, Urkie, and it's too bad, but something has to be done.

 

[Urkie]

I think Cory Clouston will be fired tomorrow, Urkie, and it's too bad, but something has to be done.

Well, I don't know though. I don't think it's fair to pin this on Clouston at all. Now I'll admit he's made several coaching mistakes this year but he was given a bad hand to start with. He was nearly a Jack Adams finalist last year and now he's going to be fired halfway through the next season? That just doesn't sit well with me and I'm sure Kenny or even Forty would agree with that.

Something stinks about the current roster and it's coming from the team leaders. They're the problem with this team imo. As this season has gone on, that's becoming more and more apparent to me.

So if Clouston does get fired then Murray should get the boot too. He's the one who put this joke of a team together.

 

[dash]

So if Clouston does get fired then Murray should get the boot too. He's the one who put this joke of a team together.

I think Murray will probably get gassed as well, but probably at the end of the season. I just think you need to put a different guy behind the bench to shake things up.

 

[Urkie]

I think Murray will probably get gassed as well, but probably at the end of the season. I just think you need to put a different guy behind the bench to shake things up.

You could be right and it will be Murray that goes behind the bench if Clouston does happen to be fired. I don't think it will help but there's really no options left for him.

I have to say that the parallels between the Sens and the Flames is pretty eye opening though. Both teams are pretty much in the exact same spot. Only difference is that Daryl Sutter stepped down and Murray hasn't yet. As you mentioned though, he'll probably be let go this summer...I'm hoping earlier then that. He's just been a total joke of a GM. You look at all his moves, other then drafting, and they're all just terrible.

 

[dash]

I have to say that the parallels between the Sens and the Flames is pretty eye opening though. Both teams are pretty much in the exact same spot. Only difference is that Daryl Sutter stepped down and Murray hasn't yet.

He was asked to step down by Ken King and he agreed to do so...I assume Darryl Sutter would have been fired if he didn't agree

I hope the Sens can right the ship, I like that team (much more than the other team in Ontario)

 

[Eddie_Shack]

He was asked to step down by Ken King and he agreed to do so...I assume Darryl Sutter would have been fired if he didn't agree

I hope the Sens can right the ship, I like that team (much more than the other team in Ontario)

The Marlies?

 

[dash]

The Marlies?

Yup, those dastardly Marlies...

 

[Urkie]

He was asked to step down by Ken King and he agreed to do so...I assume Darryl Sutter would have been fired if he didn't agree

I hope the Sens can right the ship, I like that team (much more than the other team in Ontario)

Well, hopefully Jay Feaster is a bit better then Sutter was. Sutter just made too many head scratching decisions, especially over the last few years. Kind of like Murray has the last few seasons.

Don't worry, the Leafs aren't going to do much anytime soon. Burke made sure of that when he traded 2 first rounder for Phil Kessel.

The Sens are much more likely to rebuild the right way. At least, I hope so...

 

[BostonAJ]

The Sens are much more likely to rebuild the right way. At least, I hope so...

What does that entail, in your opinion? Tank for picks? Trade the vets? Fire sale? Kovalev, Leclaire, and Phillips come off the books at the end of the season. That's ~12 mil. You're stuck with Gonch. Michalek and Fisher might be decent trade options. I don't see Alfie going anywhere. That's a complicated rebuild.

I think the Sens are really missing Volchenkov, but what the hell do I know...

Also not a fan of Clouston this year. There's enough talent on that roster to not totally blow.

 

[Destroydacre]

I think Murray will probably get gassed as well, but probably at the end of the season. I just think you need to put a different guy behind the bench to shake things up.

I hear Iron Mike is looking for employment.

 

[anderwho2513]

I always liked Clouston. I think I picked him at the beginning of last year to win the Adams. But when your GM replaces Heatley and Volchenkov with Kovalev and Gonchar, there's only so much you can do.

 

[Urkie]

What does that entail, in your opinion? Tank for picks? Trade the vets? Fire sale? Kovalev, Leclaire, and Phillips come off the books at the end of the season. That's ~12 mil. You're stuck with Gonch. Michalek and Fisher might be decent trade options. I don't see Alfie going anywhere. That's a complicated rebuild.

I think the Sens are really missing Volchenkov, but what the hell do I know...

Also not a fan of Clouston this year. There's enough talent on that roster to not totally blow.

The thing the Sens have going for them is their defensive prospects. Cowen and Rundblad look like they'll be amazing in the near future and then there's obviously Karlsson.

I think some of the vets like Alfie and Spezza will stay around. I won't say the same for Fisher or Phillips though. I have a feeling Phillips is going to be dealt sometime before the trade deadline and Fisher will be shopped around this summer. Kovalev will be shopped but no one will want him. At least he'll be gone this summer.

Michalek is young and might as well be kept around.

Gonchar is pretty much unmoveable and maybe he'll be better next year.

Kuba will be bought out this summer.

In the end I think it will be a couple years of sucking and then maybe they'll make a comeback when they get some forward talent to go along with the nice pieces they've got on defense right now.

 

[dash]

I hear Iron Mike is looking for employment.

Oh boy, that's a rep.

 

[Urkie]

I always liked Clouston. I think I picked him at the beginning of last year to win the Adams. But when your GM replaces Heatley and Volchenkov with Kovalev and Gonchar, there's only so much you can do.

I agree here and Clouston did an excellent job with a pretty average team last year. This year it's on the players for underachieving and the Gonchar signing not paying off. There's really not a whole lot Clouston can do when it's the GM who shit the bed.

 

[BostonAJ]

Thanks for the input. Maybe should start keeping an eye open for a good goalie, too. That can go a long way. Vokoun is a UFA this summer.

 

[Urkie]

Thanks for the input. Maybe should start keeping an eye open for a good goalie, too. That can go a long way. Vokoun is a UFA this summer.

Probably not a bad idea to get a goalie. I'm hoping Robin Lehner can be the guy next year but he hasn't progressed this season as they've hoped. Who knows, maybe he'll have a good second half but the organization needs to be patient with him.

Bringing in somebody for a couple years wouldn't be a bad idea though. Vokoun or somebody else until Lehner is ready.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Thanks for the input. Maybe should start keeping an eye open for a good goalie, too. That can go a long way. Vokoun is a UFA this summer.

Lehner is the future in Ottawa. 6'4 and 220 lbs, he is a fiery competitor who has put up good-to-excellent numbers in Sweden, the OHL and now the AHL. Vokoun makes no sense for this team moving forward. I wouldn't be shocked to see them make the playoffs next year but they won't contend for the Cup. Might as well go with the cheap, young option in goal until you are ready to make the jump.

They have about $14 M coming off of the books this offseason. They should look for this year's Hawks and poach some salary cap casualties. Then sign a solid UFA who can score a little. Combined with what looks like a top 5 pick this year and the rebuild is well underway.

I think they should hang on to Clouston and see how he can mold a bunch of young talent. I really believe he is a good coach. The players aren't delivering for him, but he showed last year that he has a system that can get a lot out of middle of the road talent.

 

[Urkie]

Lehner is the future in Ottawa. 6'4 and 220 lbs, he is a fiery competitor who has put up good-to-excellent numbers in Sweden, the OHL and now the AHL. Vokoun makes no sense for this team moving forward. I wouldn't be shocked to see them make the playoffs next year but they won't contend for the Cup. Might as well go with the cheap, young option in goal until you are ready to make the jump.

They have about $14 M coming off of the books this offseason. They should look for this year's Hawks and poach some salary cap casualties. Then sign a solid UFA who can score a little. Combined with what looks like a top 5 pick this year and the rebuild is well underway.

I think they should hang on to Clouston and see how he can mold a bunch of young talent. I really believe he is a good coach. The players aren't delivering for him, but he showed last year that he has a system that can get a lot out of middle of the road talent.

I think Clouston is better then he's being given credit for, especially this year. He's made some mistakes this year but he's also been trying to find things that work and nothing has so that's on the players. There's really only so much he can do.

I do like how he deals with younger players though. That's why I agree with you about keeping him around. Seems like he might be the ideal guy to have while rebuilding. The new GM might not agree though and Murray might just go ahead an fire him.

Murray really has shit the bed though....

 

[forty_three]

Gonchar is pretty much unmoveable and maybe he'll be better next year.

This has been the catch phrase for Gonchar for going on ten years.

They shouldn't fire Clouston, he's a good coach. But then again, they should have never fired Hartsburg, You would hope they'd look at who is available to coach before making the decision. Who? Melrose? Milbury? Hasn't this franchise failed enough?

The future in Goal and on D looks solid. I think they need to make a serious effort to keep Phillips and give him someone to play alongside. My dream would be to trade Gonchar for Volchenkov, but even the Devs aren't that stupid.

Fisher is gone. The instant he got married his days were numbered. That is going to leave a HUGE hole at center (and in heart) that I don't think you can wait to fill with a draft pick. They are going to have to spend for a center. Then pick up a veteran winger or two who can teach the kids. The talent is there. The problem is no one gives a shit.