Sens Writer: Guest Writer: Potential Senators Coaching Options

Yes, there's a FR fanbase in Ottawa. Myself and the other two individuals are quite excited about the upcoming coaching changes.

Seriously, I do hope the HC committee passes on Julien, Alfie and Kelly for the reasons you mentioned. I think I'd go for McLellan, Sullivan, or Quenneville in that order based on what your wrote.

(pis oui, j'suis français et un amateur des Sénateurs)

Oh, and thank you for the blog - much appreciated!

Nice write up. Lots of potential choices for coach. A couple more to add:

Jay McKee

Kevin Dineen


Personally, I would look at Sullivan if available. Then Gruden/McKee/Dineen. Any of the other currently available guys you would think would be here already if they wanted it badly enough.

I should have made a 7th attribute for a coaching candidate:
Must be under the age of 60.
LOL

Flyers will trade you Torts for a 1st round pick.

Todd McLellan: Fired by the Los Angeles Kings with a winning record this season. Well-respected league-wide and has the experience and pedigree the position needs in Ottawa… BUT his teams missed the playoffs in six of the last nine seasons. Still, I like him better than most.

Pass. Hard no. Nice guy. Spurts of success. But the guy doesn't adjust in-game. Stubborn with his lines. About the worst 3v3 coach in the game.

Pass. Hard no. Nice guy. Spurts of success. But the guy doesn't adjust in-game. Stubborn with his lines. About the worst 3v3 coach in the game.
- Only_A_Ladd

The lack of in-game adjustments scares me, since that was a major complaint about DJ. Still....has to be better than DJ??

The lack of in-game adjustments scares me, since that was a major complaint about DJ. Still....has to be better than DJ??

- GrimmdaGoalie

Interesting. He's now Hiller's assistant in LA and Hiller has been getting it right with in-game changes a lot since he arrived. Maybe DJ just makes a better assistant. He can play "good cop" which is his strength, and he doesn't have to make pressure decisions on the fly.

Interesting. He's now Hiller's assistant in LA and Hiller has been getting it right with in-game changes a lot since he arrived. Maybe DJ just makes a better assistant. He can play "good cop" which is his strength, and he doesn't have to make pressure decisions on the fly.
- Only_A_Ladd

That's just it - some coaches are more effective as an assistant vs. being the head coach. I would argue the same is actually true of Martin, who I wound up really disliking near the end of his original tenure with the team when they were Cup contenders. But he's a very smart defensive coach, and I have no doubt the team will benefit in the long-run from having been exposed the remedial defensive education he's been providing since DJ left. But they really need a head coach who understands the modern game, and how to help the players navigate momentum swings.

What about Alexander Burrows, he's been paying his dues in Montreal, well liked, used to play for Ottawa.

I’m a Blues guy and I love Chief but I feel he has to coach a heavy team ,which Ottawa is not. Sully is not getting fired unless Sid is traded which is highly unlikely. I personally would hire Dean Evason he did a great job In Minnesota with limited resources provided him. I don’t think he’s a meh pick. Whoever they pick until they fix the idiotic signing of Korpisalo they are in trouble.

What about Alexander Burrows, he's been paying his dues in Montreal, well liked, used to play for Ottawa.
- smccuaig

I don't think he's ready for a head coach position

I like Chris Kelly. He understands team defensive hockey and the importance of work ethic. Boston gets so much from their depth players and their overall defensive play. Kelly, as a player, always reminded me of Rod Brind'Amour (with less offensive upside). Would Kelly get the same respect from the players as Brind'Amour?

The league and players have changed a lot. Not sure if older recycled guys would fit into the Ottawa dressing room.

I think the question that needs to be asked when assessing coaching candidates is, do you think the Sens can win a Stanley Cup with this guy running the team

Benoît Groulx

Cory Clouston lololololokolilo

Sens go on 5 game win streak and fans are stupefied into silence.

It is hard to watch.

So many fans believe in the talent of this team. So, when it finally offers some year end results people are pushed into thinking what it could have been.

Regardless, of other factors, like the draft, it is better for team in multiple ways to end the season with a burst of positive play and results.

I have never thought of making the playoffs as a great measure of success. Winning in the playoffs matters.

Sens go on 5 game win streak and fans are stupefied into silence.

It is hard to watch.

So many fans believe in the talent of this team. So, when it finally offers some year end results people are pushed into thinking what it could have been.

Regardless, of other factors, like the draft, it is better for team in multiple ways to end the season with a burst of positive play and results.

I have never thought of making the playoffs as a great measure of success. Winning in the playoffs matters.
- spatso

they have done this the last 2 years and for the last 2 years they suck out the gate in OCT, these meaningless wins dont help them in any way and hurt their drafting position which could end up helping them.

they have done this the last 2 years and for the last 2 years they suck out the gate in OCT, these meaningless wins dont help them in any way and hurt their drafting position which could end up helping them.
- Mithos

Yeh, its easy to be fooled again by these late runs.
But at least there is some enjoyment from watching them . It was getting tedious beyond loyal sens fans tolerance.
I dislike the dumb narrative now, there was too much expectations on them or we ( experts,lol) overvalued the team.... to make the playoffs. Come on, making the playoffs should be expected by them and the minimum standard. No excuses.
Or another dumb narrative... andlauer isnt on the same time line as the fans, and this may take several years to fix. He didnt spend a billion to have to tinker with a team for years just to make the playoffs. His absolute goal and priorty is to make the playoffs next year. Undoubtly this year was a huge disapointment for him. AlsoThe timeline is ticking for tkachuk. If they want to have a winning team built around tkachuk , it better start next year.

Excuses dont work anymore. The negativity will be huge next season by fans and players if they are not preforming well above where they are today in the standings

Besides from the on ice fixings and coaching that are required, because those are just small tasks.

Andlauer should do a hostile buy out of the melynks. Circle the wagon back to ryan reynolds and offer him the shares of the previous melynks. Let reynolds do his media magic , create his docustory. Reynolds in the fold would create excitement and bring attention to the team. I believe the timing would be perfect. The team is going to make a quantum jump next season and what better way to highlight it.

Yes theres the pissibilty that next year isnt the year to move forward....but that only means part 2 of the reynolds docuseries.

One more unrelated thought. I just noticed last night for the first time. Korpisalo has marvin the martian on his mask. Wasn't there another sens goalie with the same character on his mask at some point? Its becoming the unofficial sens logo/ mascot.

Back to back games where goalies got the fire fighter helmet after the game. I swear everytime this happens, the Sens go on a losing streak. So next game it'll be 5-1 against the Sens.

Back to back games where goalies got the fire fighter helmet after the game. I swear everytime this happens, the Sens go on a losing streak. So next game it'll be 5-1 against the Sens.
- PogBoi

I pray to god. Because if the Sens draft 9th or after, what a f'ing waste of a season (and possibly a rebuild)

Same old, same old. I don't think anybody is falling for the winning at the end of the season anymore. Fools gold, it is meaningless. If it was "good for the players", or "helps teach them", or "changes the feelings in the dressing room" ..... or whatever cliche you want to invoke, then we would see it reflected in the stats to start the season. Changes are coming .... is it meaningful or just window dressing, we shall see this off season.
1) Goaltending ... we just can't trot out Korpisalo, Forsberg, Sogaard again.
2) Defence .... we need a top 4 right defence (as does almost every other team in the league) .... gone should be Hamonic, Brannstrom and Chychrun.
3) Top 6 forward (right side) who is fast, can play a 200ft game, can score when needed. Something that 32 NHL teams are also searching for.
4) Re-sign Pinto .... maybe 6 years at 6 million.
5) New head coach .... obviously. Not the player friendly guy, but someone who light a fire under the players and hold them accountable if they do not play up to standards the team sets.
6) Implement playing systems ..... defensive, offensive, PK, PP.


As for bringing in Ryan Reynolds. That ship sailed long ago. He has moved on. At this point he brings nothing to the team ... other then "documentary" rights. Who cares if other people like us and it brings us recognition. All I care is that Andlauer/Staios/Poulin/Bowness et al do their jobs and create a winner. I don't need to see the players preening as a documentary is made about them.

There is a definite lack of enthusiasm over this latest late season pushback from the team and its players, where in the past it is has given the fanbase hope and raised expectations.

Just "more of the same" vibe.

There is a definite lack of enthusiasm over this latest late season pushback from the team and its players, where in the past it is has given the fanbase hope and raised expectations.

Just "more of the same" vibe.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Yeah because the team has done this so many times. Winning games after the trade deadline is done (no pressure), not playoffs in sight (no pressure), golf incoming (no pressure)..... these guys are ready to go have a long off season. I do believe guys like Tkachuk and Giroux don't want to stop playing but I never liked Josh Norris and Drake Batherson in terms of how badly they want to be competing for a cup. I get Norris had injuries but that's even more reason. I am done giving long term deals to young players unless your a top 5/6 pick, then I'll consider it.