Which is more likely; a Trade of Coaching change?

A lot of rumbling around the blogs and sites the last couple of days about what should be done with the Senators. The discussion on Jason Spezza is divided, especially after his game against Edmonton, but he remains the number one pick for a trade so far. There are other rumblings about possible trades involving Vermette or Volchenkov, but neither of these seem to be a viable option. As for the coaching change the Canada World Juniors toppled the powerhouse of the United States under coach Quinn. As the rival to the Ottawa Senators for so long with the Maple Leafs, Quinn would be an ideal choice for many because he is familiar with this market. Which is more likely then?

A blockbuster trade would not signal a run for the cup, but rather that the Sens are admitting that this season is lost. I have had my issues with Spezza's play over the last couple of years, but I am not ready to say he should be traded. Vermette is an option to trade out, but we would not see a return on him even though a change of scenery may help. Volchenkov, when healthy, is tandems with the best shut down pair in the NHL that hold the blue line and there is no way he would be leaving. Goals against, overall, have not been a huge issue this season and it has to be the first time I have ever written or said that our defence is not the problem. That said, the rumblings seem to be focused primarily around Spezza and I can see how this trade would benefit the Senators, but like the Chara release it could come back to bite us.

What about the coach then? I was never a fan of bringing in a junior coach on board to the Senators. It seemed very counter intuitive to me that we would watch the boys go to the top of the pile and lose to the Ducks only to hire the assistant coach who had no backbone and then wind up with a junior success. Perhaps this is why the players are having issues? Maybe they see Hartsburg as more of a small fry in a big potato field. He is a good coach, for sure, but this is a team that believes they should be back at the cup within the next two years and unless they start playing for the logo and their coach the situation will not change. That said, when players stop listening to the coach in the NHL, the coach always gets the boot.

Quinn is a good option for coaching young players, like Hartsburg, but let's face the reality; in 15 playoff appearances he has two conference champs and no Stanley Cups. He knows how to win, but only to a certain extent. For the Ottawa Senators they may be looking to Bryan Murray to hire someone who has the experience in the playoffs and has won the big hardware. Hartsburg, no matter how many international championships and junior league titles to his credit, simply does not have the experience and Quinn is a 15 time loser on the big stage. Who are my options?

My least favourite pick is Bob Hartley, who has a cup ring with Colorado in 2000-01, but has an up and down record with Atlanta where he was fired from last year. John Tortorella is also up there who can be a pain in the ass to players and media, but won the cup with Tampa in 2003-04. He is also great for young upstarts who refuse to play quality games and can condition players to a system. However, my favourite is Pat Burns. Yes, the Pat Burns. Prior to his pulling out of the game he won a cup in 2002-03 with the Devils, but he has been looking to return to coaching the last time I had checked. Burns had health issues that we are all aware of, but has managed to overcome them and is an inspiration to the hockey world. Not only that, but he has been around the league a long time and has a firm understanding of the game where as my other candidate choices have not.

What remains to be seen is what Ottawa will do come the end of this road schedule. There is little doubt in my mind Murray is working on something, but I do not think he will lift a finger until the Senators come back to Ottawa in a week's time. However, by mid-point in January we should see what Murray feels about this club. Either there will be a trade, a coaching change or he is willing to ride it out and start over again in the summer. That remains to be seen.