2008-2009 Ottawa Senators

[selke71 0]

I am not sure if there are any Ottawa fans here or people who watch the Senators on television a lot, but can someone please shed some light on why Craig Hartsburg is repeatedly and publicly trashing Jason Spezza? It would seem to me that the guy has the 3rd most points on his team, the 2nd most goals (behind only Heatley), and the 2nd most shots (behind only Heatley) showing that he is, in fact, playing aggressively. His shooting percentage is only .1% behind Heatley, too -- again 2nd best on the team.

So for this, Hartsburg puts him on a line with Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Neil, and says that if Spezza doesn't play better he'll get benched? What's the deal? Why is Spezza the one getting all the hate instead of someone like Vermette who has only 6 points in 31 games and a -10 +/-? He and Mike Fisher have roughly the same TOI per game, and they have only 17 points between them. Somehow those two get to play on a line with Alfredsson, post-shakeup, and Spezza's the one that gets put on a checking line. What gives?

[MLSman 22]

If I had to guess...and this is only a guess based on watching him for most of his career...it's because Spezza has always been a streaky player with extremely high expectations from everyone who has ever seen him play at his best. He is a great player, and I think the frustration has always been his lack of consistency. FWIW...I would gladly LOVE to see him traded to the Caps ANY DAY!!!! :P

[Chadd 916]

As a blackhawks fan that had to endure Hartsburg for years, there is no way to explain a lot of the things he does. I have no idea how he got another job in the NHL.

[iron Ghost 0]

I am not sure if there are any Ottawa fans here or people who watch the Senators on television a lot, but can someone please shed some light on why Craig Hartsburg is repeatedly and publicly trashing Jason Spezza? It would seem to me that the guy has the 3rd most points on his team, the 2nd most goals (behind only Heatley), and the 2nd most shots (behind only Heatley) showing that he is, in fact, playing aggressively. His shooting percentage is only .1% behind Heatley, too -- again 2nd best on the team.

So for this, Hartsburg puts him on a line with Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Neil, and says that if Spezza doesn't play better he'll get benched? What's the deal? Why is Spezza the one getting all the hate instead of someone like Vermette who has only 6 points in 31 games and a -10 +/-? He and Mike Fisher have roughly the same TOI per game, and they have only 17 points between them. Somehow those two get to play on a line with Alfredsson, post-shakeup, and Spezza's the one that gets put on a checking line. What gives?

Answer to your question is simple -- Spezza turns over the puck all day. I'm a huge Heatley fan and Spezza is extremely talented however he looks like he's playing pickup hockey and often gets his pocket picked. I watched him live in Columbus on Friday and (honestly, no exaggeration) he had 15-20 unnecesary turnover. He's got to be more responsible w/ the puck on his stick. That line can't produce when every shift they have at least one turnover hence losing opportunituies for that line to put up some goals.

[kovey10 0]

As a blackhawks fan that had to endure Hartsburg for years, there is no way to explain a lot of the things he does. I have no idea how he got another job in the NHL.

Agreed.

[Chadd 916]

You coach the talent, and players, you have. You don't try and make them fit into your style. Blasting a guy constantly is also going to cause problems in the room eventually.

[greech 4]

Ottawa's problem isn't Spezza. The window for teams to be 'elite' in the new NHL is 3 years, max. Ottawa's window closed in March of last year, and the problem is Melnyk is taking this public stance of not giving up on his current team. It's time to make a move, he isn't giving up on them its just they cannot get it done with what's in the room now.

[Law Goalie 147]

Ottawa has coaching issues, but they've been a dysfunctional system for a while now. They turned Vermette from a legitimate top-six winger into Stephane Yelle Jr.. They turned Ilya Zubov from a major prospect into a career AHLer. They chose Wade Redden over Zdeno Chara not just for skill and puck-movement, but leadership. They gave Corvo no support, gave him up for Commodore, and then treated Commodore like crap.

There have been a few really, really good trades in there (the Hossa and Havlat trades, mainly), but by and large, they've been squandering incredible talent to chase some absurd idea of wanting to be like the Leafs teams that lucked into timely goals on Lalime in the playoffs. Well, now they're just like Quinn's Leafs: unsuccessful and absolutely horrible to watch.

[troy 12]

Hartsburg fired. Well I guess there goes part of the problem.

[heatley015 0]

Ottawa's problem isn't Spezza. The window for teams to be 'elite' in the new NHL is 3 years, max. Ottawa's window closed in March of last year, and the problem is Melnyk is taking this public stance of not giving up on his current team. It's time to make a move, he isn't giving up on them its just they cannot get it done with what's in the room now.

Except for Detroit, their window is always open :D

[jds 20]

THE CANADIAN PRESS<P>

OTTAWA — It looks like the Ottawa Senators will be making another coaching change.

The team has called a morning news conference amid reports that Craig Hartsburg has been fired. The Ottawa Sun is reporting that Cory Clouston will move up from the Sens farm club in Binghamton to take over the job.

A Senators spokesman wouldn’t comment.

Hartsburg’s tenure with the team lasted just 48 games. He’s the third different coach the Sens have had since they appeared in the Stanley Cup final in 2007.

Ottawa currently sits 13th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-24-7 record.

Hartsburg previously served as a head coach in Chicago and Anaheim.

[RadioGaGa 162]

"reports" appear to be confirmed:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=265548&lid...s=topStory_main

[Law Goalie 147]

It's a start.

[MLSman 22]

The Sens are a lifeless team

The Caps game yesterday highlighted everything that is wrong with the team. Bad defense, bonehead penalties from their "star" players, and inconsistent goaltending. Alfe is the only guy that seems to come to play every game. As much as I enjoyed the Caps spanking them...its really difficult to watch this team.

[Chadd 916]

So do they promote from within or do they try and bring in an established head coach? Obviously you still have Hartley and Tortorella still floating around out there

[LkptTiger 1]

Don't forget Melrose

[Chadd 916]

Don't forget Melrose

As much as he got screwed by Tampa, I don't see him as a viable candidate to coach again. Especially since he said that he has no desire to coach again.

[greech 4]

Laviolette, anyone?

[LkptTiger 1]

I still don't think Tampa should have taken him seriously when they fired Tortorella.

[Law Goalie 147]

I'm not sure promoting from Bingo is a great idea... their prospects haven't exactly been coming up aces for the last few years.

[mrusse01 0]

So do they promote from within or do they try and bring in an established head coach? Obviously you still have Hartley and Tortorella still floating around out there

Pat Quinn.

I hope he wouldn't do it though, I have to believe he personally does not like Alfie.

[Law Goalie 147]

Oh dear god no.

[kosydar 0]

So do they promote from within or do they try and bring in an established head coach? Obviously you still have Hartley and Tortorella still floating around out there

Pat Quinn.

I hope he wouldn't do it though, I have to believe he personally does not like Alfie.

It would kill me to see Pat coach the Sens. I think that that team is completely screwed and needs a complete overhaul. Hopefully Pat (or any other qualified coach) realizes this and stays clear. Can't help but think that its damn near impossible for a coach to change their fortunes. If I'm the owner I look first at the management and second at the players. Obviously something isn't right and swapping coaches constantly isn't helping anything.

[Chadd 916]

So do they promote from within or do they try and bring in an established head coach? Obviously you still have Hartley and Tortorella still floating around out there

Pat Quinn.

I hope he wouldn't do it though, I have to believe he personally does not like Alfie.

It would kill me to see Pat coach the Sens. I think that that team is completely screwed and needs a complete overhaul. Hopefully Pat (or any other qualified coach) realizes this and stays clear. Can't help but think that its damn near impossible for a coach to change their fortunes. If I'm the owner I look first at the management and second at the players. Obviously something isn't right and swapping coaches constantly isn't helping anything.

I could see Quinn going there if they made him coach and GM.

[chippa13 1844]

They have to do something soon. The Sens look so lost and disinterested recently, one can barely watch their games. With the horses that they have up front, Ottawa shouldn't be floundering as badly as they are.