Senators Hit Rock Bottom. Again.

SensChirp December 13, 2017 1,164

FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS

-And just like that, a new contender for rock-bottom has emerged.  The game in Winnipeg was a complete debacle. The loss in San Jose was infuriating because it looked just like the game against the Jets. And this game, against one of the two teams below them in the standings, was a complete embarrassment. They pushed back at times but this was the Buffalo Sabres and until third period goals by Cody Ceci and Derick Brassard, this was a fairly one-sided game. Still not generating enough offensively, still not getting the saves when they need them and still not playing with anything even slightly resembling the structure that was once the trademark of this hockey team. This was another game where we all sort of fooled ourselves into thinking there might be some sort of push back from this group. And outside of a few bursts in the final twenty minutes, it just wasn’t there.

-The TSN broadcast was locked in on Guy Boucher all night and it made for some great shots of a Head Coach that is clearly feeling the heat. He has been making a conscious effort to remain calm in his recent interviews but you could tell that when the game got to 3-0, the walls were starting to close in around him a little bit.  Bruce Garrioch and Darren Dreger both suggested that a Coaching change is unlikely at this point of the season but to me, Boucher looked terrified behind the bench last night.  AJ Jakubec, from TSN 1200, mentioned that Boucher was on thin ice coming into this game and has a meeting (with Dorion? With Melnyk? With Spartacat?) that might determine his fate.

-Perhaps it’s the type of question that’s frowned upon in a post-game or pregame scrum but it really would be interesting to have Guy Boucher talk through some his line up decisions with concrete examples. I am entirely willing to accept that there are things that some players are doing on a nightly basis that I completely miss that the Coach is happy with and that’s why it would be helpful to hear him explain what those things are. Defensive zone assignments? Safe plays under pressure? Specifically, I’d like to hear him talk through what he has seen from his defenceman (Claesson, Oduya, Ceci, Harpur, Chabot) this year that is informing his line up choices on a nightly basis. I really want to believe it’s more complicated than age and experience.

-During this stretch, which has quickly become one of the worst in recent memory for this franchise, there have been plenty of complaints about Guy Boucher and his system. But watching this team over the last month or so, the biggest concern is the system they use, it’s the fact that they don’t even have one. The neutral zone, where the Senators were so good last year, is wide open. A team that once did a good job of limiting high-quality chances and forcing teams to the outside seems to have no idea where to be in their own end of the rink.  Boucher can try to make adjustments but it doesn’t matter once the message isn’t getting through, particularly to the team’s best players.

-And even though three of the four thoughts to this point have been directed at the guy behind the bench, he’s not necessarily the one to blame for this mess. The bottom half of the line up just isn’t good enough and the team’s best players have clearly checked out. Not exactly a recipe for success. A change behind the bench probably isn’t fair to Boucher but if it helps the organization avoid a panic trade involving a core player (which by all accounts they are seriously considering), well then thanks for your time Mr. Boucher.  The reality is the lingering problems that exist for this organization have always started at the very top. That’s where change is needed the most.
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