SPRING IN HIS STEP
Sens’ GM Bryan Murray full of hope on eve of training camp
Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray is undecided about his own future.
Murray, now 70 and on the eve of his “30th or 31st” year as either a general manager or coach in the National Hockey League, has made no decisions beyond the 201314 season.
“I don’t know, I really haven’t thought that far,” Murray said while watching the team’s prospects at their weekend rookie tournament in London, Ont. “There’s no question this is the last year of my deal, and whether I continue on, we’ll have to see. I want to see as we go forward. I certainly think there’s a time for everybody and I just have to decide if that’s for me.”
Murray joined the Senators as head coach in 2004 and replaced the fired John Muckler as general manager after the club lost to the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup final in 2007. Before joining the Senators, he had stints as a GM and or coach with the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Ducks.
While Murray could possibly step out of the spotlight and into retirement following the coming season, that shouldn’t be misunderstood as a slight on the current Senators squad. He firmly believes it will be a highly competitive team.
Like all NHL general managers at this time of year, he’s full of optimism. After last season’s parade of players to surgeons and training tables, he’s keeping his fingers crossed for much improved overall health. He claims “we’re a better team, absolutely” from the squad that defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs and lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2. He has also experienced a natural adrenalin boost for the opening of training camp
‘There’s no question this is the last year of my deal, and whether I continue on, we’ll have to see. I want to see as we go forward. I certainly think there’s a time for everybody and I just have to decide if that’s for me.’ BRYAN MURRAY Senators GM
on Wednesday after watching “the energy and enthusiasm” of the rookie tournament.
Just the same, Murray is coming off a stressful summer that included the departure of former captain Daniel Alfredsson to the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent.
Murray attempted to keep Alfredsson by stickhandling around owner Eugene Melnyk’s internal salary cap. (According to capgeek.com, the Senators face a cap hit of $53.835 million for the 2013-14 season, 28th in the 30-team NHL. Once restricted free-agent defenceman Jared Cowen signs a new deal, the Senators will likely jump to 27th.)
In addition, Murray was dealing with Alfredsson’s pride and the impact he had on the organization, with most of the dialogue going through J.P. Barry, Alfredsson’s influential agent.
Gradually, the disappointment of losing Alfredsson is fading. Murray has no choice but to turn the page, banking on the promise that incoming veterans Bobby Ryan and Clarke MacArthur and the club’s younger players can deliver points, though it will take several players to try to fill the leadership vacuum.
“Players like Alfie certainly deserve a lot of recognition for what he did for the organization,” Murray said. “He played a long time. He was certainly a leader, certainly a guy who was a good example for all our younger players, the way he developed his body, the way he worked on and off the ice. But you have to understand, in our business, players go. I’ve had so many great players … the (Steve) Yzermans, the (Scott) Stevens. When their time in the organization is done, you have to hope that there’s somebody moving up to at least try and fill that role, and that’s what we have to try and do now.”
During his long tenure in the business, Murray has seen plenty of change for better or worse. Old concerns are replaced by new ones. Barring a last-minute solution, it appears as if the Senators will begin training camp without Cowen, who is expected to serve as a top-four defenceman.
“It’s not any easier (being a general manager) now,” Murray said. “I think you become more familiar with people, with the agents and who you deal with, who makes deals and who doesn’t make deals. It’s an annual occurrence. There’s always a player or two that you can’t get done during the summer. I haven’t had many players that have missed training camp, though. You hope that doesn’t happen with anybody, but there are always issues in our game. You’re dealing with different personalities.”
If there’s any consolation for the Senators while they play the waiting game, it’s that they somehow managed to find a way to survive last season without Cowen, who played only seven regular-season games following hip surgery.
The Senators also made the postseason despite long-term injuries to centre Jason Spezza, defenceman Erik Karlsson and No. 1 goaltender Craig Anderson. The players who earned additional ice time while replacing them — including centre Mika Zibanejad, defencemen Patrick Wiercioch and Erik Gryba — experienced the race for a playoff spot and tasted two rounds of the playoffs.
All of that provides reason for Murray’s confidence about the upcoming season.
“What I’m happy about is we’re starting healthy,” he said. “Our depth is going to allow us to play a number of people. Getting Spezza and Karlsson and (winger) Milan Michalek — it sounds like he’s fairly healthy coming into camp — should not only help us win games, but also get other guys fitted into spots. (Centre Kyle) Turris doesn’t have to face the top pair of defencemen all the time.
“You never know until you play the game, but I think we’re deeper. We’ll have more experience now. We believe we have really good goaltending now. I’ve got to think we’re going to be a better hockey team. Does that translate into winning more games? We’ll have to see. We had a lot of character, we won a lot of games with the reputation as the pesky Sens. Guys didn’t quit. I want to see that characteristic continue.”
Murray also has high expectations for Spezza, a player he claims was “devastated” at the thought of back surgery only five games into last season. With Alfredsson gone, Spezza, now 30 and the odds-on favourite to become the club’s new captain, inherits more leadership responsibilities. The arrival of Ryan, a perennial 30-goal scorer, should also make for a dynamic combination.
“I’ve watched (Spezza) around the gym,” Murray said. “He’s mentally and physically in better shape than he has been for a couple of years, and I think he’s going to be much better as a result. So much of this game is about maturity and attitude. He has got to be one of the leaders on this hockey team, and that means there are lots of demands put on you, too.”
If Murray is to have success in what could be his swan song in the NHL, Spezza will need to play a pivotal role. Again, though, Murray acknowledges that hanging around with NHL players and the scouts who keep bringing in generations of new players, is keeping him young.
“I bumped into Scotty Bowman (in London) and he’s still involved,” Murray said as he took in the action alongside the Senators scouts at the rookie tournament. “It’s good, being able to hang out with the scouts. They’re energetic, enthusiastic people. And watching the kids … that’s the real fun part of this business.”