The search for Ottawa’s next coach is well underway with D.J. Smith being let go back in mid-December and Jacques Martin serving in the interim role until the end of the season. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch suggests that long-time Senators center Chris Kelly is someone they may want to speak to. Kelly, who spent parts of eight seasons in Ottawa and also served as a development coach with them, is currently an assistant in Boston. Among the names speculated to also be under consideration are AHL Toronto’s Jon Gruden, recently-fired veteran bench bosses Todd McLellan, Dean Evason, and Craig Berube, along with Philadelphia associate coach Brad Shaw. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Sens wait until deeper into the offseason to see who else might also become available so it may take a while yet for them to find their next head coach.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
- Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray faced shots briefly before practice today as he continues to work his way back from hip surgery, notes TSN’s Mark Masters (Twitter link). The veteran has missed the entire season and when he had the procedure done in October, it came with a recovery timeline of six to eight months. We’re five months into that timeline so Murray still has a long way to go before being cleared to play. With Toronto’s cap situation, they wouldn’t be able to afford to activate him until the playoffs anyway.
- Bruins winger Pat Maroon skated for the first time yesterday as he continues his rehab from back surgery, relays Steve Conroy of The Boston Globe. He underwent the procedure six weeks ago but is still a ways from returning; head coach Jim Montgomery termed Maroon as still being week-to-week. Boston picked up the 35-year-old at the trade deadline from Minnesota after Maroon put up 16 points and 71 hits in 49 games before the surgery.
I have always enjoyed Pat Maroon’s lunch bucket approach to his game, I have admired the 4th line grinders for decades but this Bruins acquisition is a head scratcher.
You certainly do spend an inordinate amount of time scratching your melon over simple hockey stuff. Gotta be painful at this point.
‘Wouldn’t be able to afford to activate him…anyway’, this statement is the problem. There is not check and balance on this. If he was ready, before the end of the season,there should be a requirement for teams to activate and deal with the consequences. Had a few questionable magically healthy for day 1 of playoffs players in the last few years.