GDT: Ottawa @ Atlanta - Sun. Mar. 27 @ 2pm ET

Big Ev wrote:

Every media person/hockey expert says there is no chance.

Is that the right decision - try to be unbiased though. There's no use responding if you're already set that Clouston won't return. If he can coach these guys, guys like Greening, Butler, Condra, Smith, could he not take the reigns next year, considering we're icing a very young team? The only guy that I can agree is better is Muller - and even then, better the guy who coached through the system, no? I was always a Clouston supporter until this year - a year where even with atrocious goaltending he made some terrible choices as head coach - but still, as of right now, we're seeing a team that we could be comfortable with even in loss next year - that is, they seem like they care, they work hard, and they're much faster. I don't see what the team would have to lose by re-signing him right now.

Hard to give credit for the young guys' effort to Clouston when they were pretty much developped by KK in Bingo this year, and are here to audition for a job next year, playing without absolutely no pressure.

This team changed when Anderson came to play his first game and absolutely stole a game they had no business winning. That's the bottom line. He changed the attitude, the feeling inside the dressing room and the guys' confidence.

That being said, CC is still proving like he can coach this team. So I wouldn't mind a one year contract because:
1/ A new coach will not sign for one year
2/ No pressure on the team to go far into the post season next year
3/ He deserves a last chance to prove he can get back to the 09/10 season and that 10/11 was a goaltending issue.

That was a fairly useless point Ottawa got, but it's quite fun to watch them right now.

Dunno why Clouston picked Shannon to go in the shootout again. His move against the Rangers was TERRIBLE, and he tried the exact same move again...and it was STILL TERRIBLE.

Gotta love the way this new team compete's, it never packs it in when the old team 100% would have lost last nights game by 3 or 4 goals. Anderson is a machien and if he plays like that next year in the 60 plus games he should start, The Sens are a playoff team.

It will be very interesting to see what this team will look like with a completely healthy lineup and a ton of youth to start the year will look like next year.

Depending on what this team looks like next season Anderson may not need to play at a ridiculous level to get them into the playoffs. Lots up in the air.

Michalek - Does he pick up where he left off, stay healthy and put in his usual 30ish goals, 60ish points?

Phillips - Does he have a bounce back season?

Spezza - Can he pick up where he left off, still be close to a PPG and be a faceoff and PK machine? Can he be a good to great two way player?

Alfie - Can he stay healthy and play relatively healthy? Can they reduce his roll a little and give him a chance to excel? Will he?

Butler - Can he do it when the games count?

Gonchar - Can he bounce back?

Draft pick - Is it 3rd over all and Landeskog? Do we get 4th or worse?

UFA - Do we get someone who belongs in the top six?

Coaching - Is it Clouston for a year? Does it end up being the right decision?

SpezDispenser wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

Every media person/hockey expert says there is no chance.

Is that the right decision - try to be unbiased though. There's no use responding if you're already set that Clouston won't return. If he can coach these guys, guys like Greening, Butler, Condra, Smith, could he not take the reigns next year, considering we're icing a very young team? The only guy that I can agree is better is Muller - and even then, better the guy who coached through the system, no? I was always a Clouston supporter until this year - a year where even with atrocious goaltending he made some terrible choices as head coach - but still, as of right now, we're seeing a team that we could be comfortable with even in loss next year - that is, they seem like they care, they work hard, and they're much faster. I don't see what the team would have to lose by re-signing him right now.

At this point I don't think it matters if you want him to come back even for one year. John Shannon is very connected and he said Murray should be back (in some role) but Clouston won't. Same thing said by all the guys on the Team.

I don't think it matters if the next coach is better or not. You just can't go into next year with the same exact group of coaches and management. It just wouldn't look good. Murray stays, Clouston goes. I don't think there is any other possibility.

tim1_2 wrote:That was a fairly useless point Ottawa got, but it's quite fun to watch them right now.

Dunno why Clouston picked Shannon to go in the shootout again. His move against the Rangers was TERRIBLE, and he tried the exact same move again...and it was STILL TERRIBLE.

The guy is all over Shannon's nuts and it's pretty sad.

Big Ev wrote:
At this point I don't think it matters if you want him to come back even for one year. John Shannon is very connected and he said Murray should be back (in some role) but Clouston won't. Same thing said by all the guys on the Team.

I don't think it matters if the next coach is better or not. You just can't go into next year with the same exact group of coaches and management. It just wouldn't look good. Murray stays, Clouston goes. I don't think there is any other possibility.

I don't really care either way personally. It would be interesting to see Clouston back, but if it doesn't happen I certainly won't shed a tear.

Who's John Shannon BTW?

He's on Sportsnet. He was a producer at HNIC and I think he was an NHL executive.

Big Ev wrote:He's on Sportsnet. He was a producer at HNIC and I think he was an NHL executive.

Is anyone putting any names out there then?

SpezDispenser wrote:

Big Ev wrote:He's on Sportsnet. He was a producer at HNIC and I think he was an NHL executive.

Is anyone putting any names out there then?

No they're just saying he won't be back.

Dave Cameron would be a strong possibility. I like his personality.

Big Ev wrote:
No they're just saying he won't be back.

Dave Cameron would be a strong possibility. I like his personality.

Dammit, now I have to run. To be continued...

PS - not sure about Cameron personally, but I'll admit to having limited knowledge.

I think the team is winning because of Anderson and a bunch of players trying to earn an NHL job next year. The players are motivating themselves.

I have my doubts about Clouston being able to run an established NHL lineup with playoff expectations.

The way the team collapsed this year (with the worst GF in the NHL) tells me it wasn't just goaltending.

Hoags wrote:I think the team is winning because of Anderson and a bunch of players trying to earn an NHL job next year. The players are motivating themselves.

I have my doubts about Clouston being able to run an established NHL lineup with playoff expectations.

The way the team collapsed this year (with the worst GF in the NHL) tells me it wasn't just goaltending.

I agree but I don't think anyone should have realistic playoff expectations for next year. Yes it could happen, but whoever the coach is, he shouldn't be Dung upon for not making the playoffs.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

Every media person/hockey expert says there is no chance.

Is that the right decision - try to be unbiased though. There's no use responding if you're already set that Clouston won't return. If he can coach these guys, guys like Greening, Butler, Condra, Smith, could he not take the reigns next year, considering we're icing a very young team? The only guy that I can agree is better is Muller - and even then, better the guy who coached through the system, no? I was always a Clouston supporter until this year - a year where even with atrocious goaltending he made some terrible choices as head coach - but still, as of right now, we're seeing a team that we could be comfortable with even in loss next year - that is, they seem like they care, they work hard, and they're much faster. I don't see what the team would have to lose by re-signing him right now.

Umm, why??!

Coaching career

Muller began his coaching career with the Queen's University Golden Gaels. In 2005-06, Muller was Head Coach of the Queen’s University Golden Gaels, in his hometown of Kingston, posting an 8-13-1-2 record in the Ontario University Athletics Conference.

Muller also held the title of Assistant Coach to Marc Habscheid with Team Canada, winning the gold medal at the 2005 Lotto Cup Tournament in Slovakia. In March 2006, he served as Assistant Coach to Greg Gilbert at the Under-18 World Championship.

Kirk Muller returned to the Montreal Canadiens organization on June 20, 2006, when he was named Assistant Coach of the Canadiens. He continues to serve in this post.

What, in that resume, screams that he's better than Clouston?

By comparison, here is Clouston's *NHL* coaching record: 116 games, 63 wins, 43 losses, 10 OTLs. He's also had a ton more coaching experience outside of the NHL.

tim1_2 wrote:That was a fairly useless point Ottawa got, but it's quite fun to watch them right now.

Dunno why Clouston picked Shannon to go in the shootout again. His move against the Rangers was TERRIBLE, and he tried the exact same move again...and it was STILL TERRIBLE.

Management told him he could only get *one* point?

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

Every media person/hockey expert says there is no chance.

Is that the right decision - try to be unbiased though. There's no use responding if you're already set that Clouston won't return. If he can coach these guys, guys like Greening, Butler, Condra, Smith, could he not take the reigns next year, considering we're icing a very young team? The only guy that I can agree is better is Muller - and even then, better the guy who coached through the system, no? I was always a Clouston supporter until this year - a year where even with atrocious goaltending he made some terrible choices as head coach - but still, as of right now, we're seeing a team that we could be comfortable with even in loss next year - that is, they seem like they care, they work hard, and they're much faster. I don't see what the team would have to lose by re-signing him right now.

Umm, why??!

Coaching career

Muller began his coaching career with the Queen's University Golden Gaels. In 2005-06, Muller was Head Coach of the Queen’s University Golden Gaels, in his hometown of Kingston, posting an 8-13-1-2 record in the Ontario University Athletics Conference.

Muller also held the title of Assistant Coach to Marc Habscheid with Team Canada, winning the gold medal at the 2005 Lotto Cup Tournament in Slovakia. In March 2006, he served as Assistant Coach to Greg Gilbert at the Under-18 World Championship.

Kirk Muller returned to the Montreal Canadiens organization on June 20, 2006, when he was named Assistant Coach of the Canadiens. He continues to serve in this post.

What, in that resume, screams that he's better than Clouston?

By comparison, here is Clouston's *NHL* coaching record: 116 games, 63 wins, 43 losses, 10 OTLs. He's also had a ton more coaching experience outside of the NHL.

By this logic why is any coach ever fired? You could say that Clouston wasn't any beter than the guy he replaced.

Edit: Clouston wouldn't be fired, he'd just not be extended. We have to fnid a coach.

Big Ev wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:That was a fairly useless point Ottawa got, but it's quite fun to watch them right now.

Dunno why Clouston picked Shannon to go in the shootout again. His move against the Rangers was TERRIBLE, and he tried the exact same move again...and it was STILL TERRIBLE.

The guy is all over Shannon's nuts and it's pretty sad.

? seriously? Shannon has been one of our best players and has shown nice hands (see Tampa Bay shorthanded goal). Why is it that he picks one of our better performing players and suddenly clouston is in love with shannon? Diddle I know ppl can't wait for clouston to be gone, but it gets ridiculous when people look for everything and anything to attack the guy with.

Get no credit when the team actually does something right, and take all the blame when nothing goes their way....its a bogus 'rule' that unfortunately brainwashes too many fans.