Former Canadian World Juniors and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds head coach Craig Hartsburg was introduced as the new bench boss of the Ottawa Senators today, signing a three-year agreement with the club.

''I know it's a great challenge and I can't wait,'' Hartsburg said at a news conference. ''I love challenges.''

Hartsburg takes over for current general manager Bryan Murray, who replaced John Paddock late in the season.

Earlier in the week it appeared that the job would go to Kitchener Rangers' coach Peter DeBoer, who had met with Melnyk in the Barbados on Wednesday. However, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement. DeBoer is expected to interview for the vacant head coaching job with the Los Angeles Kings this weekend and is also among the candidates for the same position with the Florida Panthers.

"It's a good team that needs some structure and some accountability," Hartsburg told the Sault Star on Thursday. "And if it gets that, then it should be a good hockey club."

Last season, the Senators got off to a fast start before struggling down the stretch and squeaking into the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins then swept the Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

Hartsburg's last job in the league was as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers between 2002 and 2004. Prior to that he worked as a head coach for the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks.

He also helped Canada capture gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant to Brent Sutter in 2006. He was then handed the head coaching reigns and capture back-to-back gold medals in 2007 and 2008.



Egyértelmű miért őt hoztuk. Sorolnám: Lee, Foligno, Bass, Mészáros, Vermette, Spezza, Volchenkov. Azaza a fiatalok mellé lett kiválasztva. A nyitóoldal cikke alapján egyes rutinos edzők épp a fiatalokkal való türelmetlenségük miatt lettek menesztve.
Másrészt Murray olyan edzőt akart aki nemcsak a fiatalokkal tud jól bánni, hanem neki sem riválisa a csapat kijelölt irányvonalának követésében. Egy Kvinnek, Hartleynek, Burnsnek fura lett volna ha megmondja, hogy én vagyok a atapasztaltabb jóval és én mondom a frankót.:)

Sok sikert Mr. Hartsburg!:telefon::rock: