The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

The big shakeup for the Ottawa Senators amounted to another coach firing. Craig Hartsburg is out, and Cory Clouston is in. Cory who? Yes, I didn't know much about him either. He's the AHL Binghamton Senators coach and apparently has done a decent job there, and had success in the junior ranks over in the WHL for a number of years. That's all fine and dandy, but I have no idea why the Senators are going in this direction when they have already tried two other coaches with little or no NHL experience and they have not worked out. Pat Quinn is looking for a job last time I checked and like him or not, commands and gets respect amongst his NHL peers. Clouston might turn out to be okay, but Ottawa needs someone with a proven track record right now, not someone the players can run roughshod over.

I firmly believe Jason Spezza's days are numbered. Heatley has a no-trade clause, Daniel Alfredsson will retire a Senator, Mike Fisher also has a no-trade stipulation in his contract. Spezza has a no-trade clause but I believe it does not kick in until next season. So, the time to move him is now.

The team cannot be turned around on a quick fix. I like what I see in goaltender Brian Elliott so far, despite being lit up yesterday (the team in front of him wasn't doing him any favours though) but he may or may not work out. One half of the defensive corps: Brian Lee, Alexandre Picard, Brendan Bell, are all playing like young, inexperienced players as that's exactly what they are. They may pan out in a couple of seasons or so, but it's nothing but potential now.

Secondary scoring has been non-existent and the pizza line, when they decide to play, can still be effective. In sum, this team has turned into the Tampa Bay Lightning: a one line team that is so discouraged by their losing they can't be bothered to try anymore. They have no reason to think their fortunes will change and bringing in an AHL coach isn't going to solve anything.

It's a big mess right now, and as I sit here and criticize, I really do not know what you can do to change things for the better. But, I have to remember this team has made the playoffs 13 seasons in a row. It's not unexpected for a team to struggle from time to time and maybe this is the time patience will be needed before they can contend again. So with that thought, I'll end with another:

Sens 4 Life.