Music: {allcanada} SENS GM MURRAY WON'T TIP HIS HAND ON CLOUSTON'S JOB

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

{allcanada} SENS GM MURRAY WON'T TIP HIS HAND ON CLOUSTON'S JOB

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray is playing his cards close to his vest when it comes to the status of head coach Cory Clouston.

Murray met with reporters at Scotiabank Place on Wednesday and would not tip his hand on whether Clouston would still be coach by the end of the season.

"I'm not going to answer a question like that because I don't know," he told a scrum at practice. "We go to Chicago, we come home to play Tampa and go on the road the following week, I can't answer that honestly and I have talked to the staff about that. We're all in a position we have to do a better job."

Clouston, hired by the club in February of 2009, is in the final year of his contract.

Their fate in the nation's capital could ultimately be up to owner Eugene Melnyk, who raised some eyebrows in November when he said his team was going 'all the way' this year. Murray was on the defensive when asked about his employer, denying a recent report that said he called Melnyk to discuss dismissing Clouston.

"First thing that I'd like to clear up that is wrong, is that I never called Eugene Melnyk and suggested that we fire the coach," Murray said. "I don't know where that started. I just know you guys (media) wanted the truth out there. And that is factual."

The Senators are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with a 16-19-5 record, eight points out of a playoff spot.