Senators Decide to Rebuild

[Phil The Thrill]

It’s over.

The Ottawa Senators have taken a corporate decision to pull the plug on the 2010-2011 NHL season and move full force into a rebuilding program the likes of which the Edmonton Oilers are currently undertaking.

The decision was taken by senior executives in the days before the team’s latest embarrassments on the ice: a 7-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens Friday night and a 6-2 defeat by the Philadelphia Flyers the previous night.

...

The Globe and Mail, however, has learned certain aspects of the plan.

- General manager Bryan Murray will finish out the year in his position but will move on to a senior advisory role similar to that held by coaching legend Scotty Bowman with the Chicago Blackhawks. Murray, who stayed on this season at Melnyk’s request, is open to this change as friends say the results of this season have left him “sickened.”

- coach Cory Clouston will also play out the year, but is highly unlikely to stay on as head coach. The new GM will have full responsibility for naming the coach of his choice.

Murray’s immediate task will be the “selling off” of player assets heading into the Feb. 28 NHL trading deadline. If playoff-bound teams are interested in the likes of forward Alexei Kovalev or defenceman Sergei Gonchar, two unhappy and underperforming expensive veterans, deals could be forthcoming. It is even possible that longtime stalwarts such as captain Daniel Alfredsson and defenceman Chris Phillips could be moved it they agree to the deals.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/sens-move-into-rebuilding-mode/article1880105/

Lol