Management UPDATE: Steve Staios GM and POHO, Dave Poulin Senior VP of Hockey Operations

[Loach]

I didn't catch that article, but in general the coverage has always been a bit washy on the realities the team was facing. When they tried to ramp it up during the worst of times, Melnyk tightened the noose with his media bullying threatening to bury them, kicking them off planes, and threatening lawsuits. It's a shame so much time was wasted.

Obviously Dorion shouldn't have ever been hired as an NHL GM, but at the time, according to our former Melnyk water bottle carrying Bruce Garrioch, Randy Lee was the only other person ever rumored to be a candidate. Randy "Rick" Lee. Probably just smoke to keep Dorion on his toes, but imagine that timeline taking course with the active GM and what transpired with Lee.

It's in a link at the top of the gdt.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

It all started when Bryan Murray took over as GM. Muckler had this team humming and it completely fell apart when Murray took over, summer of Heatley, the entire Redden fiasco, Soezza give away, Alfie of course and it just got so toxic everyone wanted out And here we are.

Been honestly 15 years since we’ve iced a team that is responsible to the details of winning and not dragged along by Erik Karlsson.

Brutal 15 year run. Embarrassing. Stupid. Incompetent. But I’m still here, just demoralized.

This was while he was only Coach, no?

 

[Loach]

It all started when Bryan Murray took over as GM. Muckler had this team humming and it completely fell apart when Murray took over, summer of Heatley, the entire Redden fiasco, Soezza give away, Alfie of course and it just got so toxic everyone wanted out And here we are.

Been honestly 15 years since we’ve iced a team that is responsible to the details of winning and not dragged along by Erik Karlsson.

Brutal 15 year run. Embarrassing. Stupid. Incompetent. But I’m still here, just demoralized.

Muckler took over a machine and then ruined it. Murray's main job was to keep EM in check and explain things like why we traded for Phaneuf when it was clearly a money move.

This was while he was only Coach, no?

It's Halibut911

 

[Micklebot]

This was while he was only Coach, no?

Perhaps he means when we tried to trade Redden? I seen to recall we had a trade lined up to SJ for Marleau?, but Redden blocked it then became a UFA, or maybe I'm misremembering,

 

[Tuna99]

This was while he was only Coach, no?

No he traded Redeen in the media after Reds refused to waive his NTC and it was just shitty thing to do to a long time Sens who gave everything to this team to try and pressure you out of town by getting the fans on your back.

Anyways, Murray also had a botched trade for Comrie he announced in the media when he was GM in Anaheim so it was his style, made Ottawa look like amateurs especially after the botched Heatkey to Edmonton trade Murray announced in the media as well

 

[Golden_Jet]

It all started when Bryan Murray took over as GM. Muckler had this team humming and it completely fell apart when Murray took over, summer of Heatley, the entire Redden fiasco, Soezza give away, Alfie of course and it just got so toxic everyone wanted out And here we are.

Been honestly 15 years since we’ve iced a team that is responsible to the details of winning and not dragged along by Erik Karlsson.

Brutal 15 year run. Embarrassing. Stupid. Incompetent. But I’m still here, just demoralized.

What if John Muckler’s amateur scouting staff drafted Central Scouting’s highest rated European skater in Anze Kopitar instead of reaching on Brian Lee (Central Scouting’s 15thranked North American skater) when the organization was gift-wrapped a 2005 top 10 pick through the league’s weighted lottery system following the 2004-05 lockout?
For the purpose of this piece however, I wanted to focus on general manager John Muckler’s inability to land Gary Roberts at the 2007 NHL trade deadline.

As the Senators headed towards the February 27, 2007 deadline, the second place Senators sat more than 10 points back of the Northeast Division leading Buffalo Sabres. With blown opportunities, detrimental injuries and bad luck marring Ottawa’s postseason success over the previous few seasons, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk reportedly pressed Muckler to acquire Gary Roberts in a trade.

Having lost four playoff series to the Leafs in five seasons (1999-2000 through 2003-04), Senators fans and the Melnyk with his Toronto roots, were quite familiar with Roberts.

As the story goes, Muckler balked at the asking price and Martin eventually moved Roberts to the Pittsburgh Penguins for an underwhelming return – defensive prospect Noah Welch, a 2001 second-round pick who wound up playing in only 29 NHL games for the Panthers.
Note: Muckler’s lone moves at the 2007 deadline involved trading a second round pick to Phoenix for Oleg Saprykin and Andy Hedlund and a sixth-round pick to Washington for Lawrence Nycholat.)

 

[bicboi64]

No he traded Redeen in the media after Reds refused to waive his NTC and it was just shitty thing to do to a long time Sens who gave everything to this team to try and pressure you out of town by getting the fans on your back.

Anyways, Murray also had a botched trade for Comrie he announced in the media when he was GM in Anaheim so it was his style, made Ottawa look like amateurs especially after the botched Heatkey to Edmonton trade Murray announced in the media as well

Murray was really bad with airing dirty laundry and not doing trades on the down low.

We should never have even heard about a Heatley offer from EDM if they were on his no trade list.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

No he traded Redeen in the media after Reds refused to waive his NTC and it was just shitty thing to do to a long time Sens who gave everything to this team to try and pressure you out of town by getting the fans on your back.

Anyways, Murray also had a botched trade for Comrie he announced in the media when he was GM in Anaheim so it was his style, made Ottawa look like amateurs especially after the botched Heatkey to Edmonton trade Murray announced in the media as well

Gotcha. Tough situation. He was looking on his way to being washed at that point and I wanted him traded too and was annoyed at the use of the NTC, so didn't take it quite the same. At that point it was clear they'd kept the wrong guy over Chara and Corvo was basically a better option offensively.

Not sure about the 2nd one. Can't complain about the Edm one imo, nothing wrong with putting pressure on Heatley. I've always felt NTC/NMC's should be nullified if a trade is demanded.

I liked Murray though. Helped keep the crazy man at bay. Who knows how bad it could have gotten without him, we saw how it got much worse under Dorion.

 

[BigRig4]

Murray was really bad with airing dirty laundry and not doing trades on the down low.

We should never have even heard about a Heatley offer from EDM if they were on his no trade list.

Kinda slandered Alfie on the way out too re: whether they promised to up his salary to make up the last year.

 

[Tuna99]

What if John Muckler’s amateur scouting staff drafted Central Scouting’s highest rated European skater in Anze Kopitar instead of reaching on Brian Lee (Central Scouting’s 15thranked North American skater) when the organization was gift-wrapped a 2005 top 10 pick through the league’s weighted lottery system following the 2004-05 lockout?
For the purpose of this piece however, I wanted to focus on general manager John Muckler’s inability to land Gary Roberts at the 2007 NHL trade deadline.

As the Senators headed towards the February 27, 2007 deadline, the second place Senators sat more than 10 points back of the Northeast Division leading Buffalo Sabres. With blown opportunities, detrimental injuries and bad luck marring Ottawa’s postseason success over the previous few seasons, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk reportedly pressed Muckler to acquire Gary Roberts in a trade.

Having lost four playoff series to the Leafs in five seasons (1999-2000 through 2003-04), Senators fans and the Melnyk with his Toronto roots, were quite familiar with Roberts.

As the story goes, Muckler balked at the asking price and Martin eventually moved Roberts to the Pittsburgh Penguins for an underwhelming return – defensive prospect Noah Welch, a 2001 second-round pick who wound up playing in only 29 NHL games for the Panthers.
Note: Muckler’s lone moves at the 2007 deadline involved trading a second round pick to Phoenix for Oleg Saprykin and Andy Hedlund and a sixth-round pick to Washington for Lawrence Nycholat.)

So you’re saying it would have been a good idea for Muckler to let Melnyck run the team and make hockey decisions like Bryan Murray did?

Like drafting Brad Peltz?

 

[Tuna99]

Murray was really bad with airing dirty laundry and not doing trades on the down low.

We should never have even heard about a Heatley offer from EDM if they were on his no trade list.

I obviously have issues with Murray’s management of the team but just look who was around him - Dorion, his nephew, all the coaches he hired, Rick Randy Lee - are any of these people still working in the NHL? Like honestly, the management tree is not good.

Sometimes I think Murray was the special one in a group of nitwits and that’s where the love comes from, that and being one of the last old boys from the old boys club, there’s always notalgia for those guys.

 

[Golden_Jet]

So you’re saying it would have been a good idea for Muckler to let Melnyck run the team and make hockey decisions like Bryan Murray did?

Like drafting Brad Peltz?

No Muckler screwed up huge, Brian Lee instead of Kopitar. I remember yelling at the TV over that one.

Everyone in Ottawa including EM wanted Roberts, and every fan was pissed when the idiot took Saprykin.

 

[bicboi64]

I obviously have issues with Murray’s management of the team but just look who was around him - Dorion, his nephew, all the coaches he hired, Rick Randy Lee - are any of these people still working in the NHL? Like honestly, the management tree is not good.

Sometimes I think Murray was the special one in a group of nitwits and that’s where the love comes from, that and being one of the last old boys from the old boys club, there’s always notalgia for those guys.

I'm open to naming Murray as the best of that group of nitwits, but bloody hell, looking at those other names is like how tf did we have any on ice success at all lol

 

[Tuna99]

No Muckler screwed up huge, Brian Lee instead of Kopitar. I remember yelling at the TV over that one.

Everyone in Ottawa including EM wanted Roberts, and every fan was pissed when the idiot took Saprykin.

Were all of these put together worse then the Spezza trade?

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Were all of these put together worse then the Spezza trade?

Yes.

Also, Spezza's low value put them in a tough spot. Like Heatley before him, they had a better deal and he said no.

 

[Loach]

Yes.

Also, Spezza's low value put them in a tough spot. Like Heatley before him, they had a better deal and he said no.

We all know who the common thread is

 

[Tuna99]

Yes.

Also, Spezza's low value put them in a tough spot. Like Heatley before him, they had a better deal and he said no.

I don’t think making bad trades because your hands are tied is a good excuse for a GM, just tell Heatkey to go f*** himself like Colorado did to Duchesne and Van did to Bure and wait for your trade, and if the trade isn’t there for Spezza go to the deadline and create a better market. Ridiculous the trades he made for those two - got nothing out of it. Pizza line turned into the diarrhea line

 

[Loach]

Drowning isn't exceptable, I don't care if you can't swim and have a 50lb weight tied to your neck. Do better.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I don’t think making bad trades because your hands are tied is a good excuse for a GM,

Muckler made a lot of bad trades and decisions.

 

[bicboi64]

I don’t think making bad trades because your hands are tied is a good excuse for a GM, just tell Heatkey to go f*** himself like Colorado did to Duchesne and Van did to Bure and wait for your trade, and if the trade isn’t there for Spezza go to the deadline and create a better market. Ridiculous the trades he made for those two - got nothing out of it. Pizza line turned into the diarrhea line

I really wish they made Heatley just play but even Alfie said that the situation was awkward and tense. I'd like to believe that everyone would be professional and play to the best of their ability, but emotions can run high and maybe it could've messed with the rest of the guys on ice performance.

Spezza also asked for a trade, but I think they could've been a bit more stern with him and gotten a similar return to the one they did for him at the deadline. If he performed during a contract year, may have been easier to move him and get a better return.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I don’t think making bad trades because your hands are tied is a good excuse for a GM, just tell Heatkey to go f*** himself like Colorado did to Duchesne and Van did to Bure and wait for your trade, and if the trade isn’t there for Spezza go to the deadline and create a better market. Ridiculous the trades he made for those two - got nothing out of it. Pizza line turned into the diarrhea line

You're unhinged. I don't agree with that narrative. Their value had dropped because the writing on the wall was starting to show and they had significant trade protection. Both vetoed better deals. The cracks were there for both players. Heatley had slowed down and was basically a one time machine by then, and Spezza had the back issues and an extension needed. Heatley had one more good season and started the quick trend down.

 

[umma gumma]

It all started when Bryan Murray took over as GM. Muckler had this team humming and it completely fell apart when Murray took over, summer of Heatley, the entire Redden fiasco, Soezza give away, Alfie of course and it just got so toxic everyone wanted out And here we are.

Been honestly 15 years since we’ve iced a team that is responsible to the details of winning and not dragged along by Erik Karlsson.

Brutal 15 year run. Embarrassing. Stupid. Incompetent. But I’m still here, just demoralized.

Can you name a significant player (or players) that were drafted and developed under Muckler's rein here that went on to have outstanding NHL careers?

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

No Muckler screwed up huge, Brian Lee instead of Kopitar. I remember yelling at the TV over that one.

Everyone in Ottawa including EM wanted Roberts, and every fan was pissed when the idiot took Saprykin.

Bro, Saprykin was excellent during his short time in Ottawa. Everyone wanted him back.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Bro, Saprykin was excellent during his short time in Ottawa. Everyone wanted him back.

Nice satire,
one big goal he had, everyone wanted GR not OS.

 

[Tuna99]

Can you name a significant player (or players) that were drafted and developed under Muckler's rein here that went on to have outstanding NHL careers?

Nick Foligno