Sens Pulling the Plug on Season?

[RGM81]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle1880105/

It’s over. The Ottawa Senators have taken a corporate decision to pull the plug on the 2010-2011 NHL season and move full force into a rebuilding program the likes of which the Edmonton Oilers are currently undertaking.
The decision was taken in the days before the team’s latest embarrassments on the ice: a 7-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens Friday night and a 6-2 defeat by the Philadelphia Flyers the previous night.
Quietly, the franchise has solicited key members of its fan base and corporate support and subsequently concluded that disgruntled fans are eager for a shift in direction. They are sick of the losing.
A decision was made to have faith that the often-fickle Ottawa fan base will enthusiastically embrace a re-building program, even at the cost of this year’s faint hopes – and perhaps even at the cost of some of the team’s most beloved veteran players.
Owner Eugene Melnyk broke his silence on his team’s season from hell on Saturday when he told the Ottawa Sun that, “The time has come to make some of the most difficult decisions that any owner can make.”
Melnyk said he has a plan “in motion” but refused to elaborate.
The Globe and Mail, however, has learned certain aspects of the plan.
- General manager Bryan Murray will finish out the year in his position but will move on to a senior advisory role similar to that held by coaching legend Scotty Bowman with the Chicago Blackhawks. Murray, who stayed on this season at Melnyk’s request, is open to this change as friends say the results of this season have left him “sickened.”
- coach Cory Clouston will also play out the year, but is highly unlikely to stay on as head coach. The new GM will have full responsibility for naming the coach of his choice.
Murray’s immediate task will be the “selling off” of player assets heading into the Feb. 28 NHL trading deadline. If playoff-bound teams are interested in the likes of forward Alexei Kovalev or defenceman Sergei Gonchar, two unhappy and underperforming expensive veterans, deals could be forthcoming. It is even possible that longtime stalwarts such as captain Daniel Alfredsson and defenceman Chris Phillips could be moved it they agree to the deals.

Discuss.

[cardscardscards]

I'm happy Murray's getting the boot. I don't think Clouston did all that awful.

[flemingc04]

Interesting article. It's a tough decision to throw your arms up and "give up" or "tank", but it looks like Melnyk thinks it's necessary and he has some support behind him for it. I'm not personally a fan of tanking a season and just giving up, but with the way the Sens have been, I can understand the decision.... especially considering:
- All of their top forwards are not performing well
- they already have a decent group of young guys (some of which who are performing well now)
- Clouston and Murray both had to go (mostly Clouston)
- the Sens have been under constant pressure to go deep into the playoffs year after year, but haven't won a playoff series after 2007 when they reach the SC finals

From the looks of things, I think it's safe to say goodbye to at least one of Fisher, Spezza, or Alfredsson. I wonder if having $2.4million locked up until the end of next season in buyouts also had something to do with the decision. Obviously this would be a smaller concern of theirs, but from the looks of their payroll on capgeek.com, they have just under $1.1million in cap space free now. They didn't have much cap room to improve the team now, but the buyout money will become free by the time they are coming out of the rebuild.

[RGM81]

Of those "big three" I'd imagine that the only one that's really move-able is Fisher. A guy of his calibre @ $4.2M for two years would be a very worthwhile move. I don't see too many wanting Spezza at his huge contract, and Aflie just ain't what he used to be.

[Syncope]

I think Ottawa should try and get anything for Alfredsson, He will probably retire either this year or next.

[marekschwarz33]

I'd like to see Mike Fisher playing for the Blues.

[cygnusx1]

I'd be shocked if Alfredsson were traded. He is absolutely adored by fans in Ottawa (even with his diminished abilities) and intends to finish his career here.

[flemingc04]

Of those "big three" I'd imagine that the only one that's really move-able is Fisher. A guy of his calibre @ $4.2M for two years would be a very worthwhile move. I don't see too many wanting Spezza at his huge contract, and Aflie just ain't what he used to be.

You know, I completely forgot about Spezza's contract and didn't even pay attention to his when I looked at some of their Sens' salaries. If anything, Fisher is the most likely of the three to go. But if Ottawa were willing to part with Alfredsson and they got a decent offer, I think they would get rid of him. Sure, he's not what he used to be, but somebody with a bit of cap space and want some depth for the playoffs might take the risk. Off hand I can't think of anybody who could use him and has the cap space, but sometimes GMs make deals that throw everybody off guard.