Classic Posts: Murray Should Pull A Lou?

John Paddock. The man who was given a golden opportunity. The man who had in many respects, the perfect team. The man who has single handedly let his fully functional unit implode into a variance of mouth, stupidity, and porous play by those who are under his ‘control’. It’s about time we start acknowledging who is really responsible for the Senators midseason hangover.

Ray Emery. Sure, blame the guy for being a pessimist, and blame the guy for not keeping his head on his shoulders at all times, but should Paddock not be the one to jump in and stick his foot down? Ray Emery was benched for a game and a half after his foolishness after new years, which saw Washington slam seven goals down Gerber’s throat, followed by another three goals the following game in something near eight shots. And what did we gain? Emery was back in net as though nothing had happened, and Paddock made a weakness visible.

How about Nick Foligno? One of Ottawa’s most promising rookies has been flopped back and forth from Binghamton to Ottawa, even with the big guns injured on the Sens lineup. After bringing up Bass and skating McGrattan for a few games, Paddock finally came to his senses and called up Nick, only to throw him on the top line with Jason Spezza. Is that how you treat your rookies? Apparently there was some speculation that he was showcasing some talent to scouts at the game, but if he had any control of his rosters (and half a brain) he would have definitely put Foligno on the second or third line.

The Big Three. Alfredsson, Heatley, and Spezza. Any coach’s dream line, Paddock has run this grouping through more than Murray could have done in a season and a half. Two of the three currently injured, and is that coincidence? Maybe, but it could also be karma. If Ottawa wants secondary scoring, the coaching staff is going to have to give more ice time to the players they want actually into the flow of the game. If it means keeping the big three apart when they are all finally healthy, so be it. Murray will get his man before the deadline, and that will certainly work to solidify two very solid lines.

The clear perception here is that Paddock has strangled any form of team unity Ottawa’s core players had amassed during their time playing together. Murray and Melnyk should most definitely acknowledge that and work towards bringing someone into the organization that is willing to call out the players as a whole, not individually. Paddock has so many illogical holes in his coaching style, and Ottawa can’t afford to wait for him to figure them out.