Newspaper headlines sell papers, of that there is no doubt. But, I need to learn how to drink my first coffee before looking at the paper, otherwise, like this morning, coffee may end up all over the front page.
Even before my first sip is down, I'm slapped in the face with a bold, all caps headline, "Time to Pull the Coach". The writer even goes so far as to agree with the idea (his own idea), therefore in essence - agreeing with himself.
It seems this sports columnist - Don Brennan - is hell-bent on making sure he creates some unreal controversy in the Ottawa Sports scene - must have been a slow news day!
Well, I decide to read this drivel nonetheless and head to the proper page. His first several paragraphs are filled with facts and stats, always a good way to justify a non-news story. But then- in paragraph 8 he adds his own opinion. From this point on he contradicts himself and history.
The Senators are screaming for an injection of something, and with four full days of practice before their next game, this would appear the right time for it to be administered. This would seem to be the appropriate moment to put coach Cory Clouston out of his misery.
Lets go backwards in time and look at Sens history of firing coaches and hiring new ones and the effect it had shall we? Only 1 coaching change had the desired effect. The hiring of Bryan Murray from Jacques Martin, all the other coaching changes have had their usual, temporary result, just like every other coach replacement... temporary.
The 1990's hiring of Jacques Martin was more to replace a coach who should have never been in the NHL in the first place - Dave Allison. I won't go back any further than this. I'm still trying to forget the first 7-8 years of Sens futility! Jacques Martin was an NHL coach with experience and a well know trap-based system. Should the obstruction rules have not changed and the strike/lockout never happened, the Sens would have won a cup with Martin as head coach.
The fact of the matter is that the Sens have been coach killers. Since the Jacques Martin era, Sens have replaced coaches in this order: Jacques Martin for Bryan Murray - then Murray for John Paddock - Paddock got fired and replaced with Craig Hartsburg, who was then fired and replaced by Cory Clouston. Murray retook the helm and then gave it up several times during all this. FYI: Cory Clouston's NHL record: 156 Games, 79 W, 62 L, 15 OTL (a .554 winning%)
Anyways, back to reading Brennan's column!: Eeeeeek he is contradicting himself, oops there he does it again, and again, and again.
Likely, this group just isn’t good enough no matter who is coaching it. Not helping is that young guys like Peter Regin, Nick Foligno and Milan Michalek have not produced as expected, that veterans like Alex Kovalev, Sergei Gonchar and Filip Kuba have mostly stunk, that high-priced help like Jason Spezza and Pascal Leclaire are injured, and that the goaltending has been as bad as everyone knew it was.
I am not sure why Don Brennan even wrote this column? He contradicts himself at every corner. First he wants the coach replaced, then he writes (above). I think what he's saying is that the Sens need an injection to spurn them onto another futile playoff run. This way, we can earn an extra few Million $ in revenue and guarantee a poor draft pick, another season of mediocre hockey and then we can go onto next year and do it all over again.
Is Clouston a good coach? Guess yes. But we don’t really know. Is he the problem? There are rumblings some of the players don’t like him. But if that’s why they’re playing like they are, they’re the problem
He goes on to suggest there is a dressing room problem (above). But - if what you say here is true Don, then why fire the coach?
BUT STOP!!!! This is great news ..... we've got it all figured out - lets look at the real roots of the problem in Ottawa - these are recent quotes from the media and players:
1. "There is a problem in the dressing room"
2. "Guys aren't moving their feet"
3. "We're trying too hard, just gotta simplify it"
4. "They are holding the sticks too tight"
5. "They have lost respect for the coach"
6. "We're over thinking too much"
Cliche anyone?
Don continues to make me drink my coffee with smaller and smaller gulps. He insinuates the best thing for Ottawa and Clouston is that he should be replaced now and put him out of his misery.
Maybe a coaching switch does save this season. But with former coach John Paddock finally off the books and Hartsburg only due a few more cheques, Melnyk probably isn’t going to be too crazy about the idea of paying yet another man to be the coach of the team this season.
Don Brennan is worried about saving the season. Don, please don't become a GM!
- Don, this is a team without talent! A sophomore defenseman is leading the team in scoring!
- Don, this is a team that doesn't give a hoot - 70% of them are overpaid anyways.
- Don, a coaching change isn't needed, a player change is.
It's really this simple:
Follow what Edmonton is doing, make some trades for the future, get rid of over-priced, non-performing talent. Get rid of a few of the 15 - 3rd line players we have, and bring up some enthusiasm.
Now All I need to do is refill my coffee and order a clean newspaper!
Wonderfully expressed ,,,, Thank you so much for this ..
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