SENS’ BOUCHER WILL BE ON SHORT LEASE

How did Guy Boucher save his job?

What did he say to Senators GM Pierre Dorion that earned himself and his coaching staff another chance?

Surely, there was more to it than Boucher promising to take over the power play. And what guarantee does that bring? No way Boucher didn’t have significant input — and probably even last word — while the Senators power play dropped from a sub-standard 23rd to a woeful 27th last season.

If the Senators trade Erik Karlsson over the summer, that’s not going to help turn it around.

Dorion sounded very optimistic about the Senators being better next season when he chose TSN1200 as the platform for the first of what should be an off-season full of big announcements. The Senators have decided the fall guy for the most disappointing season in team history will be the coach of their AHL affiliate. At least, other than the front office housecleaning, Kurt Kleinendorst seems to be the only person losing his job on a team that finished 30th.

Why didn’t Boucher lose his, when Dorion’s unhappiness with him was so apparent at the end of the season?

We may never know for sure, but unless it was a money issue (paying yet another coach not to coach here) or an unwillingness to have a 10th bench boss (counting Bryan Murray’s two stints) during Eugene Melnyk’s 15 years as owner, here’s a theory: Three days after Dorion took over as GM, he fired coach Dave Cameron and his staff, and it was not something he enjoyed doing. That was just 24 and a half months ago. When he interviewed Boucher for the job at a Hawkesbury restaurant about 23 months ago, Dorion knew he was the man for the job.

Together, they did some very good things last season, as Dorion let his coach do the coaching.

During this season’s stumble, Dorion was given a contract extension, which in itself was confusing. Why should a GM in his second year on the job need an extension when most men in that position get at least 3-5 years to make their mark?

Anyway, I think Dorion still believes in Boucher, but he’s now going to speak up more if he sees things he doesn’t like with the team. I also think that if the Senators have not shown signs of improvement by U.S. Thanksgiving, Boucher will be gone.