You can't blame the coach for a one line team that can't perform.
Bill, 2008-02-27 20:57:53

Yes it was. The team wasn't responding to Paddock anymore. Of course the real issue during the off season will be to change the goalie situation. Buying out Gerber would be a start. Then hire Pat Burns to coach this team. He's a proven winner and he won a Stanley Cup. He will lit a fire under those millionaires' bottoms.
Nate Dogg, 2008-02-27 19:48:28

The firing was a necessity. Paddock obviously was not firing up the troups nor could he , or did the players really not want to play for him. ,Go Sens Go!
Russ Desserre, 2008-02-27 19:21:44

Unfortunatly yes it was. The players were not working as a team and not responding at all. Something had to be done and as we are all aware, coaches will always go before players.
Mike K, 2008-02-27 19:13:19

Something stinks when a club goes from first to worst. Murray did the best thing he could to fire Paddock.

Now no matter how the season ends, Murray will have to straighten out whats going on in the dressing room.
Andy V., 2008-02-27 19:01:54

Moving in a postive direction. Note to

Ray Emery

"when you spend most the

game in the blue ice, optional practices are no longer optional" Pick it up!!!
dan morgan, 2008-02-27 18:52:41

John Paddock's firing was not justified in my opinion. The team is certainly struggling, but to fire the coach of a top 3 team because a couple of lackluster performances is not reasonable. Making trade deadline deals is always tricky, it upsets a team's balance for a couple of weeks at least. The Sens had a solid team which, apart from the goaltending debacle, seemed destined for a long cup run. Though there is some merit in having the man who put the team together take it over, one wonders what Mr. Murray expects will change now that he has reassumed the coaching duties? This smacks of a desperation move by a team that sees it's Cup window closing (faster than they would have liked). I can only imagine how the players (particularly the new ones) feel about such an act this close to the playoffs... it's amazing.

You can't help but see this as an indication of panic in the boardroom, in my view.
John Bladen, 2008-02-27 18:21:50

He paid the price for his predecessor's and his indiscretions vis-a-vis certain players. To much rope for to many players. It take special skills to handle millionaire children, something beyond coaching. To many egos in that locker room and they need to be able to check them at the door or this is an first round exit, assuming they even get in. I am a fan. Diehard! Even own an "Emery" jersey. Attended all the playoff games and that feeling of disappointment then is being relived with the firing of Paddock!
Pierre Azzi, 2008-02-27 18:21:16

Got to feel badly for him. but Melnyk wants a winner and obviously would not put up with this skid.

They had better get rolling or Murray will walk the plank too

In Leafland, Paddock would get an extension and a bonus
Goober, 2008-02-27 18:07:25

too bad it wasn't that easy to fire Gerber and Emery also....
Concerned Fan, 2008-02-27 17:53:44