13 replies to this topic

[Jennifer1515]

OTTAWA -- Jacques Martin was fired as coach of the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, two days after his team was eliminated by Toronto in the first round of the playoffs.

Martin had been behind the Ottawa bench for 8½ seasons -- the longest-serving coach in the league.

The Game 7 loss Tuesday marked the fourth time in five seasons the Senators have been eliminated by the Maple Leafs.

"In order to take the next step, towards winning a Stanley Cup, we must select a new face, a new voice with a fresh approach and with new ideas," general manager John Muckler said at a news conference.

Martin was given a two-year contract extension in January with a club option for a third in case of a lockout next season.

Assistant coach Don Jackson and goaltending coach Phil Myre also were fired. Perry Pearn, another assistant, was not let go. He is still under contract but Muckler said he will not be a candidate for the head coaching job.

Muckler said some of the blame "has to sit in the dressing room."

"But it's like the oldest cliche in the world in our industry, you can't fire 29 people. Is it right?" he said. "Sometimes it's not, but I know one thing that's right. We needed a change."

"We need someone to come in and take us over the top of the mountain," he added.

Muckler said the new coach will have to "fix" the Senators and find more leadership. The GM said he had no interest in returning behind the bench.

Martin was the NHL's coach of the year in 1998-99, when Toronto's Pat Quinn was runner-up. Martin has been a finalist for the award three other times.

While the Senators became a better team under Martin, a 31-38 postseason record was deemed insufficient. The Senators won four of 12 playoff series and two of their last four under Martin.

The Senators had their best season in franchise history in 2002-03, winning the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the regular season before reaching the conference final for the first time.

That led to big expectations this season. Ottawa finished fifth in the East with a 43-29-10 record before falling to Toronto.

[Dark Knight]

What can we get out of them? They seem to like Swedes, so we can send them Havelid for Hossa maybe?

[Just Duckie]

Ya think the Ducks can catch the Sens in transition mode?

I'll take Wade Redden

And for a young gun, Jason Spezza would be nice.

Just wishful thinking.

[Hollander]

What can we get out of them? They seem to like Swedes, so we can send them Havelid for Hossa maybe?

:lolsg: You can try I love Hossa; he's one of the best in the game.

Although it is sad to see JM go, I think it is best for the team. I hope they hire Scotty Bowman!

[ADHB]

I doubt the Sens will trade anyone, or at least anyone important. They have so much young talent it's ridiculous, which is why they want a new coach, not new players. But if for some odd reason they're selling guys, I'll take Havlat... he held out, so maybe they don't like him. Or maybe Bonk... he has been in trade rumors before. I would ask for Redden or Hossa or Spezza, because they are studs, but I'm trying to be at least 10% realistic.

[Hollander]

I doubt the Sens will trade anyone, or at least anyone important. They have so much young talent it's ridiculous, which is why they want a new coach, not new players. But if for some odd reason they're selling guys, I'll take Havlat... he held out, so maybe they don't like him. Or maybe Bonk... he has been in trade rumors before. I would ask for Redden or Hossa or Spezza, because they are studs, but I'm trying to be at least 10% realistic.

I think Bonk is on his way out and so are (probably) de Vries, Bondra, Simpson, Van Allen, White, and maybe even Smolinski. Just rumours of course...

[ADHB]

I think Bonk is on his way out and so are (probably) de Vries, Bondra, Simpson, Van Allen, White, and maybe even Smolinski.  Just rumours of course... 

Haha well yeah, as many of those are old UFA's. I meant anyone super talented and further than a few steps from retirement. Of the ones you mentioned, only Bondra and Smolinski would qualify, and even they're kinda old. I was just laughing along with the people fantasizing about getting Spezza, Redden, etc. Not that I would mind that of course!

[lvsprt]

White, yeah I always liked that guy.

[Dark Knight]

Their new coach could be Quenneville.

[Veca]

I like deVries. I think he's a good, gritty player....

[Hockey_Crazy]

Next on the list to eliminate for the Senators: Patrick Lalime.

[Francaise]

I think le goalie needs to go. I have said it for two years, Lalime chokes when it matters the most. True, through most of the playoff series, he didn't allow many goals, but when it mattered the most, ala game seven, he coughed it up big time. BTW hockey crazy, you and I seem to have a lot of the same views, AND....I like your avatar. :>)))))) My favorite player.
Yikes! My Ducks calendar just fell down off the wall. About gave me a heart attack! Sorry, if my scream came through!

[Veca]

:lolsg:

[Stanislav Chistov]

Ottawa's my favourite team (the secret's out, it's not the Ducks!). I think the owner/gm is overreacting and letting his ego get in the way of things. Changes are needed, definetly, but this is almost the same team that got to the Eastern Conference Finals game 7 against New Jersey. This is a team that would've taken the Toronto series in 5 had Belfour not gone on a hotstreak. Lalime is a big questionmark, but Ottawa wants a proven playoff goaltender, and until next season's trade deadline when we see who's in the playoffs and who isn't, that's going to be pretty tough to get. The most they can do is leave the number one job up for grabs and let Lalime and Prusek battle it out. Otherwise, there aren't many options unless Belfour wants to play another year, or Hasek suddenly decides he wants to play another season in the NHL.
The offense is there, the deffense is there. All they lack are skilled physical top six forwards to crash the net in case they run into a hot goaltender who stops everything the Ottawa forwards can throw at them. Considering the one factor that defeated us in the playoffs was Belfour... you can understand why I think management is grossly overreacting.

Edit: Not Lalime, BELFOUR, sorry.