What Now For The Senators?

Since my last article, the Ottawa Senators fired 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—is because one, they fired Hartsburg and two, Clouston, 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 nine 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 a first round draft pick from San Jose in the upcoming draft to the Islanders for center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli.

It was a 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 Sharks' 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 three or four 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 two 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 three 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 eight fighting majors EVERY one of his NHL seasons.

Contributed to a SCF run.

Makes under $1.5million/year.

Off you go now. Good luck!