Senators fire Paddock, Low

The Ottawa Senators have fired coach John Paddock and assistant coach Ron Low. Speculation and rumours have surrounded the coach's future during the recent spell of bad games. GM Bryan Murray will take over coaching duties for the stretch run, while Paddock has been offered a job somewhere in the organization. Source

According to the Montreal Gazette, the Montreal Canadiens are believed to have offered forwards Michael Ryder, Maxim Lapierre and Mikhail Grabovski to the Atlanta Thrashers for Marian Hossa. GM Bob Gainey mentioned that the Thrashers wanted "4 elements", 3 of which were playing on Tuesday. Source

The Thrashers apparently wanted Antoine Vermette, Nick Foligno and 1st round pick in 2008 for Hossa, the Ottawa Sun reports. Source

Rumours are flying that Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero received orders from the owners to make a serious playoff run this year, leading to the acquisition of Hossa.

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that Vancouver Canucks GM Dave Nonis offered defenseman Luc Bourdon, goaltending prospect Cory Schneider, and Mason Raymond to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Brad Richards. Rumours are that the Lightning really wanted defenseman Alex Edler and forward Ryan Kesler.

Sundin for Kesler, Bourdon, Schneider and a 1st?

Team 1040 radio in Vancouver and TSN is reporting a rumour that the asking price for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin is Ryan Kesler, Luc Bourdon, Cory Schneider and a 1st round pick in 2008 from the Canucks.

The Ottawa Citizen is reporting that Ottawa Senators coach John Paddock made the four-hour trip to Binghamton from Ottawa after practice on Wednesday to check out the AHL Binghamton Senators in action against the Philadelphia Phantoms. Paddock was there to watch which players would fit on the big club if a roster player was traded. There are rumors that Antoine Vermette, Joe Corvo and Andrej Meszaros could be dealt at the deadline. When asked which players he was looking at, Paddock said: "Any one of the young players. (Alexander) Nikulin and (Ilya) Zubov have each had one game, or a few games up, and Brian Lee, and the goaltenders (Jeff Glass and Brian Elliott). And we know what Lawrence Nycholat can do as a call-up." Source

These following trade rumors are from TSN's Backchecking column:

The Ottawa Sun is reporting that Senators prospects Brian Lee, Ilya Zubov and Nick Foligno could be part of a deal to land a top-6 forward.

The New York Post is reporting that the New Jersey Devils have some cap room available and may target Chicago Blackhawks forwards Robert Lang and Martin Havlat. The paper also reports that they are interested in Edmonton Oilers defenseman Joni Pitkanen.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Red Wings might consider moving Dan Cleary if they can't get him signed to a contract extension, and if the Wings could get a top-six forward in return.