How is it that the Senators, who won quite a few of their games of late, have wound up in the basement if the league? Simple really, all the other basement teams have been hot and are winning more games.

It's the push for a slot in the playoffs now. As much as the last team in the league has a better chance at the draft lottery for first pick, there still the stigma of being dubbed as "the last place team in the league". No one wants the title.

Yet the title means nothing for Ottawa right now. All that really matters is the effort on a game-by -game basis. A lot of decisions are being made right now, all the way from the top to the very bottom of the Sens organization. Think of it as an extended training camp where the newbies get to show their stuff for real in the bigs.

Cory Clouston's system also gets to be tested with new players. Perhaps the clean-up in the change room allows for a fair evaluation of Clouston's coaching methods. As a note, I don;t believe for one second that Clouston will be extended even for one season... but stranger things have happened.

Finally, there's Bryan Murray who may or may not get the confidence of Eugene Melnyk. It would be nice for him to stay a year or two more just to see the resuolts of his moves. After all, you have to give a GM about 5 years to see the results of his moves. But I'm not sure if Melnyk will give Murray that leeway. If he doesn't, who should replace Clouston and Murray?

GO SENS GO!!