Muck Raking In Ottawa
What does a Stanley Cup Finals appearance get you in Ottawa? Well, if you are a GM entering a contract year, it gets you fired. Almost a month after losing a Cup bid in the finals, the Ottawa Senators showed GM John Muckler the door and handed the throne over to current, and soon to be ex, head coach Bryan Murray.
Reports broke over the weekend in the Ottawa Sun making it to TSN and other Canadian outlets but the Sens leadership remained quiet until it was made official at a press conference today.
Citing a team at a crossroads, owner Eugene Melnyk felt that the Sens were better off handing front office control to Murray rather than re-upping his coaching contract and waiting to renegotiate with Muckler next year. Muckler had one year left on a contract and began his tenure in Ottawa in 2002.
I think it is premature to evaluate this move. In terms of the GM position, Murray is no step down. He was GM of the 2003 Ducks team that went to the finals and seems to know how to put together a good team. The tale of this move will be who ends up behind the bench in Ottawa. Since Murray will not continue as head coach, the Sens will be breaking up a coaching staff that seemed to have clicked with the players this year, especially in the playoffs. Depending on how the new coach works out, this could be a good or bad move for the Sens. We won't know until the new coaching staff takes over and Murray gets done with the off season tasks, the likes of which include Ray Emery, Mike Comrie, and the bloated salary of Martin Gerber.
Muckler's legacy in Ottawa will most likely differ from fan to fan. Some will argue that Muckler has been a failure for years of playoff futility and no Cup. Some blame Muckler for not pulling the trigger on the Gary Roberts deal, which could have helped them against Anaheim, but some also credit Ottawa's strength the past two seasons to Muckler's trade giving up Marien Hossa while bringing in Heatley. Either way, Muckler's tenure in Ottawa will be debated for months to come.
I don't see Muckler going to a new club. I know that he said he was having too much fun in Ottawa to consider retiring, but that was after years of building Ottawa into the club they are today. Does he have the energy to start over with a new club that would most likely need rebuilding and a lot of patience? He would probably say yes, but at 73, other clubs may not be so sure.
It will be interesting to see how Murray handles the off-season and how the coaching staff unfolds in Ottawa as well as if I am wrong about Muckler's career being done. Since Calgary hired Mike Keenan, anything seems possible these days.
Reports broke over the weekend in the Ottawa Sun making it to TSN and other Canadian outlets but the Sens leadership remained quiet until it was made official at a press conference today.
Citing a team at a crossroads, owner Eugene Melnyk felt that the Sens were better off handing front office control to Murray rather than re-upping his coaching contract and waiting to renegotiate with Muckler next year. Muckler had one year left on a contract and began his tenure in Ottawa in 2002.
I think it is premature to evaluate this move. In terms of the GM position, Murray is no step down. He was GM of the 2003 Ducks team that went to the finals and seems to know how to put together a good team. The tale of this move will be who ends up behind the bench in Ottawa. Since Murray will not continue as head coach, the Sens will be breaking up a coaching staff that seemed to have clicked with the players this year, especially in the playoffs. Depending on how the new coach works out, this could be a good or bad move for the Sens. We won't know until the new coaching staff takes over and Murray gets done with the off season tasks, the likes of which include Ray Emery, Mike Comrie, and the bloated salary of Martin Gerber.
Muckler's legacy in Ottawa will most likely differ from fan to fan. Some will argue that Muckler has been a failure for years of playoff futility and no Cup. Some blame Muckler for not pulling the trigger on the Gary Roberts deal, which could have helped them against Anaheim, but some also credit Ottawa's strength the past two seasons to Muckler's trade giving up Marien Hossa while bringing in Heatley. Either way, Muckler's tenure in Ottawa will be debated for months to come.
I don't see Muckler going to a new club. I know that he said he was having too much fun in Ottawa to consider retiring, but that was after years of building Ottawa into the club they are today. Does he have the energy to start over with a new club that would most likely need rebuilding and a lot of patience? He would probably say yes, but at 73, other clubs may not be so sure.
It will be interesting to see how Murray handles the off-season and how the coaching staff unfolds in Ottawa as well as if I am wrong about Muckler's career being done. Since Calgary hired Mike Keenan, anything seems possible these days.
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