Under The Bus
Former Ottawa Senators’ head coach John Paddock sounded like a man betrayed yesterday, and like a man who wanted to take a little parting shot at the player he felt had a lot to do with his dismissal.
After a few days of silence, Paddock finally addressed the media about being fired, and things he may have done differently if time were rewound.
“One of the things I would do over would be the Razor stuff. And it’s not really the tardiness,” Paddock said about Emery showing up late for practices. ”The tardiness has never changed. That’s been there for two seasons. When it came to (showing up) five minutes before practice or five minutes after, I didn’t let him (dress).”
Clearly a shot at Emery’s work ethic and commitment to the team, and by Paddock’s tone when he said it, he sounded defeated and resigned. He did say that Emery showed a lot of remorse for his conduct this season and whatever contribution it may have made to Paddock’s current lack of employment.
But Paddock wasn’t done there. He was asked about Emery’s actual work habits for practices he did attend, to which he responded:
”I should have pulled him off the ice in some of those practices where he wasn’t working,” said Paddock of Emery’s work ethic. ”I think it’s a minor thing to kick somebody off the ice at practice but I think it’s major in this (case).”
”I don’t know what else we could have done. I met with him three or four times (to discuss) tardiness and about working,” Paddock said. ”Everything Bryan (Murray) spoke to him about three or four times prior. There are only so many things you can do. There is one more – I wish I just did it.”
The very last part of that quote seems to imply either benching Emery or putting him on waivers. Paddock didn’t have the leeway to do either, in my opinion. The situation seems to be hinged on Bryan Murray, who is responsible for Emery’s big contract, and seems to want to back his guy until the end. Emery has been given so much rope that he will inevitably end up hanging someone (or himself) with it. And yet, when Murray stepped behind the bench, it was Emery who had the start.
Clearly Paddock is bitter, and he has every right to be. But a lot of the blame for the team’s poor play has to be attributed to decisions he made as coach. He kept giving Emery starts despite his pitiful work habits and bad attitude, not to mention mediocre play. He didn’t enact his right as coach to keep the cancer on the bench or in the press box. He is the man who stood broodingly behind the bench and never seemed to interact with his players or the officials.
There are deeply rooted problems in the Senators’ system right now, and one thing is for sure: Eugene Melnyk will be making vast changes in the summertime if things don’t improve.
Author Bio
A new author at RMT, I've had previous experience at TheFourthPeriod.com and am currently the owner of Sportsfiend.ca, which is a multi-sports site.
I have been a hockey fan my entire life. I remember watching as a child as my father would tune in to any games with Czechoslovakia versus the Soviet (my family is Czech). It was those early childhood memories that engraved my love for hockey into the fabric of my person.
One thing I have learned is that hockey is a sport best enjoyed for its players, not its teams. Steve Yzerman is a rare commodity, meaning that rooting for a particular team may mean losing touch with your idols.
While Jagr is the player I admire most from a skill standpoint, I think Yzerman is the epitomy of professional sports, because of his genuine nature, his passion for the game, and his gentlemanly approach to what can be quite a soap-opera at times.
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Paddock should have have been the lone fall guy in Ottawa. Murry shares in the blame just as much.
I agree with you Dan. If the Sens falter down the stretch or have a bad playoff run, Melnyk will no doubt make wholesale changes.
by Alin Mateescu on March 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 PM EST
I don’t believe paddock should have been fired, perhaps the Sens should buy out emery’s contract.
by Bryen Owen on March 4th, 2008 at 5:08 PM EST