Senators Article: Paddock: NHL job still not a done deal
June 30, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

Paddock: NHL job still not a done deal

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- John Paddock continues to have discussions about being an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators, but nothing is imminent.

A report in an Ottawa newspaper indicated Paddock, coach of the Senators' AHL club in Binghamton, would be named an assistant to new Ottawa coach Bryan Murray as early as Tuesday. "That's somewhat premature," Paddock said Tuesday from his Connecticut home.

"I've had a couple of discussions with Bryan and (general manager John Muckler), but there's still a lot of stuff to iron out or work out," Paddock added. "I'm not saying it's not going to happen, but I don't think there's anything forthcoming."

Paddock, the winningest coach in AHL history, remains a frontrunner for one of two assistant coach positions. One of the hold-ups, Paddock said, is the uncertainty over the increasingly probable NHL work stoppage in September when the collective bargaining agreement expires.

Asked if there's a chance he could be named an Ottawa assistant but still open the season as Binghamton's coach if the NHL shuts down, Paddock said, "It hasn't been ruled out, but those aren't my decisions to make."

Paddock, who is five victories shy of 500 in his AHL coaching career, attended the NHL draft last weekend in Raleigh, N.C., but said he won't help oversee the Senators' annual development camp, which starts Thursday in Ottawa.

Several players who spent last season in Binghamton, including defensemen Neil Komadoski and Jan Platil, goalie Billy Thompson and forwards Charlie Stephens, Grant Potulny, Greg Watson and Brian McGrattan are expected to participate in the nine-day camp run by Ottawa strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee and director of player personnel Anders Hedberg.

Andrej Meszaros, an 18-year-old defenseman selected by the Senators in the first round (23rd overall) of last weekend's draft, will also attend the camp. Meszaros is expected to play in his native Slovakia next season.

Elsewhere, the B-Sens announced Tuesday that 14 percent of the season-ticket plans purchased for the 2004-05 season are new sales. The B-Sens, who sold out 18 of their 39 home games last season, were one of nine AHL teams to see an increase in their average attendance.

Fans that held full-season ticket packages last season have until 5 p.m. on Friday, July 2 to place a $100 per ticket deposit in order to retain the same seats for the upcoming season.