It's time to 'promote' Murray

I like Bryan Murray as a GM, but his time is up. He's put together team after team that can't bulge the twine, has made some questionable trades and now, for the third time in 4 years, is having a difficult time with his team.

Cory Clouston's shine is starting to where off, but do you start at the top and work your way down?

Seems to me that it's time for a fresh perspective, a new voice at GM, who has the power to change what he thinks needs changing.

SpezDispenser wrote:I like Bryan Murray as a GM, but his time is up. He's put together team after team that can't bulge the twine, has made some questionable trades and now, for the third time in 4 years, is having a difficult time with his team.

Cory Clouston's shine is starting to where off, but do you start at the top and work your way down?

Seems to me that it's time for a fresh perspective, a new voice at GM, who has the power to change what he thinks needs changing.

There's no doubt in my mind that Clouston and Murray won't be re-signed for next season. We need an entire culture change, no more Murrays plase.

You have the power to do it now if you're Melnyk. Promote Murray to another position and bring in someone to take a good, long look at the pieces on this team.

SpezDispenser wrote:You have the power to do it now if you're Melnyk. Promote Murray to another position and bring in someone to take a good, long look at the pieces on this team.

He's not going to do it until after the season is over. That's clear to me because just 2 days ago Melnyk was talking about how he still believes in this team etc. etc.

I think we need some new management for sure though. It's times to clear out the old guard and start building a new one.

Urkie wrote:He's not going to do it until after the season is over. That's clear to me because just 2 days ago Melnyk was talking about how he still believes in this team etc. etc.

I think we need some new management for sure though. It's times to clear out the old guard and start building a new one.

That's such a big gamble to take though when you have some significant decisions to make by the deadline. Someone needs to come in here with a fresh perspective and a new take - and do the things that some of us simply couldn't, like trade Phillips - which will be horrifically unpopular, but we all know it has to be done.

Urkie wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:You have the power to do it now if you're Melnyk. Promote Murray to another position and bring in someone to take a good, long look at the pieces on this team.

He's not going to do it until after the season is over. That's clear to me because just 2 days ago Melnyk was talking about how he still believes in this team etc. etc.

I think we need some new management for sure though. It's times to clear out the old guard and start building a new one.

I cringed when I heard him compare our current team to Montreal's team last year. That kind of playoff magic doesn't happen very often Eugene and we don't have Jaro Halak between the pipes - quit dreaming.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Urkie wrote:He's not going to do it until after the season is over. That's clear to me because just 2 days ago Melnyk was talking about how he still believes in this team etc. etc.

I think we need some new management for sure though. It's times to clear out the old guard and start building a new one.

That's such a big gamble to take though when you have some significant decisions to make by the deadline. Someone needs to come in here with a fresh perspective and a new take - and do the things that some of us simply couldn't, like trade Phillips - which will be horrifically unpopular, but we all know it has to be done.

or trade....Alfie

SpezDispenser wrote:That's such a big gamble to take though when you have some significant decisions to make by the deadline. Someone needs to come in here with a fresh perspective and a new take - and do the things that some of us simply couldn't, like trade Phillips - which will be horrifically unpopular, but we all know it has to be done.

It does need to be done. This team is clearly going to be a bubble team at best this season. It's time to make big changes and try to become a contender again and that can only be done by making some tough decisions. The last thing I want to see happen is what happened to the Leafs and that's letting the old guard stay longer then they should have.

This would probably be more unpopular then trading Phillips but I feel like Alfie should maybe be traded too. He deserves another chance at a cup somewhere. He really does.

Big Ev wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Urkie wrote:He's not going to do it until after the season is over. That's clear to me because just 2 days ago Melnyk was talking about how he still believes in this team etc. etc.

I think we need some new management for sure though. It's times to clear out the old guard and start building a new one.

That's such a big gamble to take though when you have some significant decisions to make by the deadline. Someone needs to come in here with a fresh perspective and a new take - and do the things that some of us simply couldn't, like trade Phillips - which will be horrifically unpopular, but we all know it has to be done.

or trade....Alfie

Has Alfie played in the last 3 weeks?

SDH89 wrote:Has Alfie played in the last 3 weeks?

I think his age is finally starting to catch up to him. Sad to say it but I really think that's the case this time.

The offseason surgery probably isn't helping either though.

Don't dream, Alfie will never be traded even if this team is last in the league.
Eugene can start to find a new flourishing business if that happens because I can tell you the attendance would drop to 10 000 a game without Alfie on this team.

marakh wrote:Don't dream, Alfie will never be traded even if this team is last in the league.
Eugene can start to find a new flourishing business if that happens because I can tell you the attendance would drop to 10 000 a game without Alfie on this team.

Alfie doesn't get moved unless he quietly goes to management and says that he wouldn't oppose a trade to a contender if it is the best thing for the organization. Also he still has two years left on his deal at 4.9M, what contender can take that hit.

I doubt Phillips gets moved unless he wants to move on, Fisher may get moved in the summer because his NMC becomes a limited NTC.

If we are out of it at the deadline and Murray is still in place the only guys moving out would probably be Kovalev, Ruttu and Campoli. Wouldn't mind any of those moves.

As mentioned, the only way Alfie is moved IMO is if he quietly asks - and he won't. He's never leaving this city, Melnyk has too much of a 're-tool' attitude and he'll keep Alfie around and just keep changing the pieces around him and Spezza. I would never trade him if I was in charge, he's too good a player, good role model for the new players, the face of the franchise, the captain.

It's time for the sens to Cussing go skate at central park again...and send David hale back down already if you're not trading lee. It's clear alfie needs to sit out some games and we can't even call up anybody to inject some new life into this hapless squad.

Quite a few need to sit. Phillips, Gonchar (what's his +/1?), Fisher, Ruutu, Foligno -- I'd even throw Regin and Michalek there, for good measure. Alfie needs an "injury", nothing major, maybe just a torn ACL so he could miss a couple of games.

Problem is, we have not room to make the moves we need to make. Who has sat this season? Lee, Hale, Karlsson, Carkner and I think Winchester? One of those is not like the others. Seriously, apart from Spezza missing some games due to injury, has any forward been a healthy scratch this year? Like I said, I *think* Winch sat a couple of games, but I can't even be sure.

Sending Hale down will clear a roster spot but not a lot of cap space. Then, again, we're not looking to bring in a hefty salary, just Butler or O'Brien or someone like that. We can't wait until the deadline.

In fact, that's what I'd say to them in the room: If we keep going like this, we're going to be sellers at the deadline; take a look around -- you'll be saying 'good bye' to a few of these faces".

We need to sit some forwards *NOW*. If they won't make a move, then Clouston can still suit up Carkner and Campoli as forwards and give Fisher and Foligno the key to the press suite.