Rick Wamsley hired as Senators' goaltending coach

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Rick-Wamsley-Named-Senators-Goaltending-Coach-1296796.htm



OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 28, 2010) - Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the club has hired former National Hockey League goaltender Rick Wamsley to serve as the team's goaltending coach.

Wamsley joins head coach Cory Clouston and assistants Greg Carvel, Brad Lauer and Luke Richardson, along with video coach Tim Pattyson and conditioning coach Chris Schwarz on Clouston's staff.

A native of Simcoe, Ont., Wamsley has spent the last four seasons working in the St. Louis Blues' organization and served most recently as the interim head coach of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. In 43 games with the Rivermen in 2009-10, he guided the team to a 17-20-6 record. He was hired by the Blues on July 7, 2006, as assistant/goaltending coach after spending the previous seven years as goaltending coach and professional scout with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his coaching career as a goaltending consultant with the Toronto Maple Leafs when he retired from professional hockey during the 1992-93 season. With the Maple Leafs he also served two seasons as assistant coach (1996-97 to 1997-98) and one season as an amateur scout (1998-99).

Originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens with their fifth pick (58th overall) in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, Wamsley earned a record of 204-131-46 over a 12-season career with Montreal, St. Louis, the Calgary Flames and Toronto. He was a recipient of the William Jennings Trophy (along with Canadiens teammate Denis Herron) as a member of the goaltending tandem who allowed the fewest goals against in the 1980-81 NHL season.

Following three-plus seasons with the Canadiens, he was traded to St. Louis in 1984, where he enjoyed the greatest success of his career. He currently ranks fifth among Blues goaltenders in games played (154) and sixth in victories (75). Following four seasons in St. Louis, he was traded to Calgary where he helped the Flames to their only Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1989.

Wamsley, 51, represented Canada on two occasions in international play, winning a bronze medal at the 1983 world hockey championship before winning silver at the same tournament in 1985.

solid resume I feel. Hope he works out well for the sens!

A native of Simcoe, Ont., Wamsley has spent the last four seasons working in the St. Louis Blues' organization and served most recently as the interim head coach of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. In 43 games with the Rivermen in 2009-10, he guided the team to a 17-20-6 record. He was hired by the Blues on July 7, 2006, as assistant/goaltending coach after spending the previous seven years as goaltending coach and professional scout with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his coaching career as a goaltending consultant with the Toronto Maple Leafs when he retired from professional hockey during the 1992-93 season. With the Maple Leafs he also served two seasons as assistant coach (1996-97 to 1997-98) and one season as an amateur scout (1998-99).

Interesting... was he the goalie coach for Leclaire during that time or does his time with the Jacket's pre-date Leclaire's arrival?

Michallica wrote:solid resume I feel. Hope he works out well for the sens!

Yeah, nice resume for sure. And I think he was Leclaire's goalie coach back when Leclaire was good.

strachattack wrote:
A native of Simcoe, Ont., Wamsley has spent the last four seasons working in the St. Louis Blues' organization and served most recently as the interim head coach of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. In 43 games with the Rivermen in 2009-10, he guided the team to a 17-20-6 record. He was hired by the Blues on July 7, 2006, as assistant/goaltending coach after spending the previous seven years as goaltending coach and professional scout with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his coaching career as a goaltending consultant with the Toronto Maple Leafs when he retired from professional hockey during the 1992-93 season. With the Maple Leafs he also served two seasons as assistant coach (1996-97 to 1997-98) and one season as an amateur scout (1998-99).

Interesting... was he the goalie coach for Leclaire during that time or does his time with the Jacket's pre-date Leclaire's arrival?

No, I think you're right, I heard he was Leclaire's goalie coach in Columbus.

SpezDispenser wrote:

strachattack wrote:
A native of Simcoe, Ont., Wamsley has spent the last four seasons working in the St. Louis Blues' organization and served most recently as the interim head coach of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. In 43 games with the Rivermen in 2009-10, he guided the team to a 17-20-6 record. He was hired by the Blues on July 7, 2006, as assistant/goaltending coach after spending the previous seven years as goaltending coach and professional scout with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his coaching career as a goaltending consultant with the Toronto Maple Leafs when he retired from professional hockey during the 1992-93 season. With the Maple Leafs he also served two seasons as assistant coach (1996-97 to 1997-98) and one season as an amateur scout (1998-99).

Interesting... was he the goalie coach for Leclaire during that time or does his time with the Jacket's pre-date Leclaire's arrival?

No, I think you're right, I heard he was Leclaire's goalie coach in Columbus.

If not by coincidence, I guess this shows a clear commitment by the organization to provide all the help Leclaire needs. I hope it works out.

I hope so too.

strachattack wrote:

If not by coincidence, I guess this shows a clear commitment by the organization to provide all the help Leclaire needs. I hope it works out.

I think it's coincidence to be honest. Leclaire's got a lot of pressure to be sure, but he won't be our goalie of the future. This might help him a little for his contract year - but the chances of us retaining Leclaire would be very small IMO. Unless he's looking for 2 million a year, then that might give us some time for Lehner to excel at the AHL level. But again, a lot of quality goalies come and go in the summers, most of them for under 2 million. I think the only goalie this summer to get over 3 was Halak for example.

Talking about goalies, Turco was lamenting to a friend of mine that he'd like to come here, but there's no room.

He wants to be in Ontario for family etc.

SpezDispenser wrote:Talking about goalies, Turco was lamenting to a friend of mine that he'd like to come here, but there's no room.

He wants to be in Ontario for family etc.

I know, he's been talking about that a lot. Since even before the end of last season. I have a coworker who is a close friend of his too.

SensGirl11 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Talking about goalies, Turco was lamenting to a friend of mine that he'd like to come here, but there's no room.

He wants to be in Ontario for family etc.

I know, he's been talking about that a lot. Since even before the end of last season. I have a coworker who is a close friend of his too.

League minimum for when Pazzy breaks his (insert body part here)?

Wow GoalieGuild predicted this 2 days ago

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Talking about goalies, Turco was lamenting to a friend of mine that he'd like to come here, but there's no room.

He wants to be in Ontario for family etc.

I know, he's been talking about that a lot. Since even before the end of last season. I have a coworker who is a close friend of his too.

League minimum for when Pazzy breaks his (insert body part here)?

Come on Not this again.

Seriously, you have to be positive. The negativity and pessimistic attitudes are not healthy.

I realize a lot of it is tongue in cheek, and while I don't entirely agree with the whole PMA thing, if you think negative things, that's usually what you will focus on and all you will get.

Let's try the opposite and say Leclaire will start 63 games for the Sens, and go 31-26-6 (SO/OTL), with a GAA of 1.98 and SV% of 0.913, and record 6 SOs.

Dash wrote:Seriously, you have to be positive. The negativity and pessimistic attitudes are not healthy.

I realize a lot of it is tongue in cheek, and while I don't entirely agree with the whole PMA thing, if you think negative things, that's usually what you will focus on and all you will get.

Let's try the opposite and say Leclaire will start 63 games for the Sens, and go 31-26-6 (SO/OTL), with a GAA of 1.98 and SV% of 0.913, and record 6 SOs.

Not sure if that's a positive attitude or wishful thinking Dash. Leclaire's made of glass.

The guy to be excited about is Brian Elliott. IF by some miracle Leclaire is prepped and ready and puts up huge numbers, then that's a completely different story. As of this moment though, there is absolutely and positively NO basis for that opinion.

If you want positives, I'll give you these:

1.Brian Elliott is ready, he took his knocks in the last playoffs. Technically he blows Leclaire out of the water, skill-wise Leclaire has a little on Elliott, but the gap is closing by the month.

2.Gonchar adds the punch our backend has been missing for literally years and years and years.

3.This team - when healthy and assembled - is powerful, strong, has character and has some chances to do some amazing things

4.This team will challenge for the NE title.