Saturday, February 28, 2009
Bill Guerin traded (m4)
Bill Guerin was a scratch tonight after the warmup. My sources tell me that Washington is the destination.
Chris Neil to the Wings (M3)
My sources are telling me that Bryan Murray has had interest from the Detroit Red Wings in rugged winger Chris Neil. The Wings are looking to toughen up for the playoffs and are willing to ante up a second round pick to do it. More to come. Chris Neil is about to become a hot commodity in the coming days as sources also tell me the Ducks have also called.
I wouldn't be surprised if Neil garners a 1st round pick or decent prospect as a return.
I wouldn't be surprised if Neil garners a 1st round pick or decent prospect as a return.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
OK, Now what for the Sens.
Since my last writing, the Ottawa Senators have fired the morbidly awful coach Craig Hartsburg and replaced him with AHL affiliate Binghamton's head coach, Cory Clouston. One reason I like this move so far... OK, two reasons... one, they fired Hartsburg and two, Coach Cory, like myself has trained trotting and pacing race horses.
On to my thoughts on the latest shakeups in Sensland.
I was a fan of the firing of Hartsburg, but wasn't sure what to make of the hiring of Clouston, a no name minor league coach when bigger named, proven coaches were out there. I couldn't help but think that perhaps Sens owner, Eugene Melnyk handcuffed Murray and forced him to bring in an interim guy as a premonition to his imminent firing leaving his successor free to bring in his own coach. In retrospect, however, I am under the impression that Murray has been looking for his next Babcock and figured the third try was the charm after failing miserably with John Paddock and the aforementioned Hartsburg.
The team responded with an unbelievable 9 out of 10 points on the road of all places and provoking talk of a run to the playoffs.
Since returning home, the Sens have lost two straight making them 5-3-1 under Clouston.
To further the shake-up, Murray has managed to become both a buyer and seller nearing the trade deadline by unloading little used veteran Dean McAmmond along with the San Jose 1st round draft pick in the upcoming draft to the Islanders for center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli.
Good trade in my books as McAmmond and Comrie are unrestricted free agents at season's end with Comrie bringing more to the table now in his second stint as a Sen while Campoli is a puck young moving defenseman who is under a cheap contract for two more years. All things being equal, if Comrie and McAmmond both don't re-sign with their new club, the Campoli for the SJ first is a good deal as Campoli has NHL experience and is closer to helping the club than anything Murray would pick up with a 26-30th pick in the draft. The Senators simply don't have 3 or 4 years to do a full rebuild via the draft. The fans and ownership simply won't stand for it and with a decent core locked up long term, a minor retooling is more in order.
Campoli immediately proved this by potting 2 assists in his debut against Montreal.
Does this signal more moves by Murray prior to the deadline or on draft day? You bet. What will he do with impending unrestricted free agents, Chris Neil and Filip Kuba? Mt thoughts on that later.
Something to ponder in the meantime, however. I challenge all you anti-Neilers to the following:
Find me a player with the following criteria:
NOT on an entry level contract.
Has a minimum of 20 points for 3 seasons in a row.
Scored more than 15 goals at least once.
Has a minimum of 150 PIMS in EVERY one of his NHL seasons.
Has a mimimum of 8 fighting majors EVERY one of his NHL seasons.
Contributed to a SCF run.
AND makes under $1.5million/year.
Off you go now......... good luck!
On to my thoughts on the latest shakeups in Sensland.
I was a fan of the firing of Hartsburg, but wasn't sure what to make of the hiring of Clouston, a no name minor league coach when bigger named, proven coaches were out there. I couldn't help but think that perhaps Sens owner, Eugene Melnyk handcuffed Murray and forced him to bring in an interim guy as a premonition to his imminent firing leaving his successor free to bring in his own coach. In retrospect, however, I am under the impression that Murray has been looking for his next Babcock and figured the third try was the charm after failing miserably with John Paddock and the aforementioned Hartsburg.
The team responded with an unbelievable 9 out of 10 points on the road of all places and provoking talk of a run to the playoffs.
Since returning home, the Sens have lost two straight making them 5-3-1 under Clouston.
To further the shake-up, Murray has managed to become both a buyer and seller nearing the trade deadline by unloading little used veteran Dean McAmmond along with the San Jose 1st round draft pick in the upcoming draft to the Islanders for center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli.
Good trade in my books as McAmmond and Comrie are unrestricted free agents at season's end with Comrie bringing more to the table now in his second stint as a Sen while Campoli is a puck young moving defenseman who is under a cheap contract for two more years. All things being equal, if Comrie and McAmmond both don't re-sign with their new club, the Campoli for the SJ first is a good deal as Campoli has NHL experience and is closer to helping the club than anything Murray would pick up with a 26-30th pick in the draft. The Senators simply don't have 3 or 4 years to do a full rebuild via the draft. The fans and ownership simply won't stand for it and with a decent core locked up long term, a minor retooling is more in order.
Campoli immediately proved this by potting 2 assists in his debut against Montreal.
Does this signal more moves by Murray prior to the deadline or on draft day? You bet. What will he do with impending unrestricted free agents, Chris Neil and Filip Kuba? Mt thoughts on that later.
Something to ponder in the meantime, however. I challenge all you anti-Neilers to the following:
Find me a player with the following criteria:
NOT on an entry level contract.
Has a minimum of 20 points for 3 seasons in a row.
Scored more than 15 goals at least once.
Has a minimum of 150 PIMS in EVERY one of his NHL seasons.
Has a mimimum of 8 fighting majors EVERY one of his NHL seasons.
Contributed to a SCF run.
AND makes under $1.5million/year.
Off you go now......... good luck!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Hartsburg Fired..... FINALLY!!
Thank the lord above, Murray finally woke up and fired coach Craig Hartsburg. As this blog has mentioned for months now, this coach was simply not suited to this team. He
was trying to force feed a system that was not only boring as hell to watch but it was not suited to the team he had before him.
"You can't coach the players you wish you had. You have to coach the ones you have." - Brent Sutter
Having one guy go in on the forecheck only to have his linemates wait inside the blue line for him to gain possession BEFORE going on the offensive was ridiculous. Having all the forwards backcheck at the same time gives the defense no one to spring the breakaway pass to once they gain possession. No puck moving defenseman? What good is one when he has no one up ice to move the puck to? Antoine Vermette scored many, many goals on the breakaway over the past two seasons. Hard to start a breakaway from your own faceoff circle.
Bottom line: the players hated the system, knew it wouldn't work and quit on their coach when he refused to adjust.
Cory Clouston is a band-aid for this season as for as coaching goes, but I suppose there was no sense paying for a big name NHL coach like Quinn or Hartley when the season is already toast and Sens owner Eugene Melnyk is already paying two coaches NOT to coach on top of two goaltenders NOT to tend goal.
Let the rebuild begin in earnest. This should be a very interesting trade deadline, Sens fans. Stay tuned.
was trying to force feed a system that was not only boring as hell to watch but it was not suited to the team he had before him.
"You can't coach the players you wish you had. You have to coach the ones you have." - Brent Sutter
Having one guy go in on the forecheck only to have his linemates wait inside the blue line for him to gain possession BEFORE going on the offensive was ridiculous. Having all the forwards backcheck at the same time gives the defense no one to spring the breakaway pass to once they gain possession. No puck moving defenseman? What good is one when he has no one up ice to move the puck to? Antoine Vermette scored many, many goals on the breakaway over the past two seasons. Hard to start a breakaway from your own faceoff circle.
Bottom line: the players hated the system, knew it wouldn't work and quit on their coach when he refused to adjust.
Cory Clouston is a band-aid for this season as for as coaching goes, but I suppose there was no sense paying for a big name NHL coach like Quinn or Hartley when the season is already toast and Sens owner Eugene Melnyk is already paying two coaches NOT to coach on top of two goaltenders NOT to tend goal.
Let the rebuild begin in earnest. This should be a very interesting trade deadline, Sens fans. Stay tuned.
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