The enigmatic Alexei Kovalev

[KennyBanyeah]

Lets hope so. I have a feeling Murray's going to be in his spot behind the bench in the near future though.

I like Clouston, he's got a good system. It's just that Murray needs to bring in players who excel in that system. Not bring in guys like Kovalev or Gonchar who don't fit his system.

But Murray is going to have to cover his ass soon and he'll do it by firing Clouston and taking his spot. I pretty much guarantee that.

And I want to make it clear that I don't like that move at all.

I'm a pretty patient fan, but that move would drive me nuts.

 

[Urkie]

I'm a pretty patient fan, but that move would drive me nuts.

It would drive me nuts too. The last thing we need is Murray to go behind the bench again. What he should do is see how this team responds to the adversity and if they are still out of the playoff picture by January or February, then a new direction is needed.

At that point, there's no turning back. No more band-aids, no more excuses. Just suck it up and do what this team needs.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

It would drive me nuts too. The last thing we need is Murray to go behind the bench again. What he should do is see how this team responds to the adversity and if they are still out of the playoff picture by January or February, then a new direction is needed.

At that point, there's no turning back. No more band-aids, no more excuses. Just suck it up and do what this team needs.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Urkie]

I just saw this quote from Alfie over on HF. It happened after the game against the Oilers.

Then came the loud public disagreement between coach Cory Clouston and captain Daniel Alfredsson.

Among the many criticisms of his team, Clouston said the Senators took the Oilers "lightly" and "didn't respect our opponent," comments that drew a sharp response from Alfredsson.

"I don't know if I agree with that," said the captain, suggesting the Senators' second-period parade to the penalty box was responsible for taking away early momentum. "If you can say taking penalties is taking another team lightly. ... He's probably got a better view than I do, but I didn't feel that way."

Maybe Clouston isn't that great? When does Alfie ever speak out publicly against a coach?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I just saw this quote from Alfie over on HF. It happened after the game against the Oilers.

Then came the loud public disagreement between coach Cory Clouston and captain Daniel Alfredsson.

Among the many criticisms of his team, Clouston said the Senators took the Oilers "lightly" and "didn't respect our opponent," comments that drew a sharp response from Alfredsson.

"I don't know if I agree with that," said the captain, suggesting the Senators' second-period parade to the penalty box was responsible for taking away early momentum. "If you can say taking penalties is taking another team lightly. ... He's probably got a better view than I do, but I didn't feel that way."

Maybe Clouston isn't that great? When does Alfie ever speak out publicly against a coach?

Alfredsson works as hard as any player in the game. That comment probably upset him, especially given the slump both he and the team are in.

I don't think he's speaking out against the coach. He's just taking issue with the notion that he's taking teams lightly.

 

[Urkie]

Alfredsson works as hard as any player in the game. That comment probably upset him, especially given the slump both he and the team are in.

I don't think he's speaking out against the coach. He's just taking issue with the notion that he's taking teams lightly.

Yeah, maybe I was just reading too much into it. Alfie may have been upset that the coach said he slacked off.

Bottom line is that Murray can't go behind the bench again though. That would not be good.

 

[forty_three]

I just saw this quote from Alfie over on HF. It happened after the game against the Oilers.

Then came the loud public disagreement between coach Cory Clouston and captain Daniel Alfredsson.

Among the many criticisms of his team, Clouston said the Senators took the Oilers "lightly" and "didn't respect our opponent," comments that drew a sharp response from Alfredsson.

"I don't know if I agree with that," said the captain, suggesting the Senators' second-period parade to the penalty box was responsible for taking away early momentum. "If you can say taking penalties is taking another team lightly. ... He's probably got a better view than I do, but I didn't feel that way."

Maybe Clouston isn't that great? When does Alfie ever speak out publicly against a coach?

I get the sense that Clouston holds players' feet to the fire and he does not care who you are, if you are not giving him what he wants he will not hold back. On a team that is not used to that, it can probably get on your nerves and even someone as reserved as Alfredsson will speak out. Or at least say something easily misconstrued, as is likely the case here.

It's a fine line. But more often than not, I side with a coach like that.

The scary part is it puts pressure on management to find players who respond to that. And Murray makes bad decisions regularly, adding pressure....