Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse for the Ottawa Senators.
Players of the team were caught on camera ripping into the coach and the state of the organization in an Uber video released Monday. Chris Wideman, Matt Duchene, Thomas Chabot, Colin White, Alex Formenton and Dylan DeMelo were riding in a vehicle in Phoenix and didn’t appear to know they were being recorded.
The recorded video was somehow obtained by the Ottawa Sun and the Ottawa Citizen.
The videostamp indicates the video was recorded in January of 2017, but the Ottawa Citizen is reporting it occured October 29th or 30th while the Senators were travelling in Phoenix during their Western-Canada road trip.
While it’s interesting to hear the players give their unfiltered thoughts on the team, this is an invasion of privacy by the Uber driver to release this footage.
Forward Matt Duchene is front-and-center in this video. He clearly isn’t happy in Ottawa after saying he wanted to play for a “playoff team” while he was a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
“Marty Raymond, the only coach in NHL history to have the worst power-play and the worst PK within a calendar year,” says Duchene, in reference to assistant coach Martin Raymond.
Defenceman Chris Wideman, sitting in the front passenger seat, replies “Do you notice that when (Raymond) runs the video, if you actually do pay attention, he doesn’t ever teach you anything? He just commentates what’s happening.”
Duchene can be heard replying: “Here’s the other thing, too. We don’t change anything, ever. So why do we even have a meeting? I haven’t paid attention in three weeks.”
The Ottawa Senators have since issued an apology:
From the players in the Uber:
“We want to apologize publicly to Marty Raymond, our teammates and coaches for our comments in Phoenix Arizona on October 29. Our private conversation was recorded without our knowledge or consent. We’re passionate about our team, and focusing on growing together. We are grateful for the support of our fans and organization. This is an important learning experience, and we will do better.”
From head coach Guy Boucher:
“Nothing is more important to us during this rebuild than making sure our players and coaches are fully committed to our plan, our values and our system of play. We have every confidence in Marty Raymond’s coaching; in the effort and determination of our team; and in the sincerity of our players’ apology. We are now treating this as a team matter, and will be making no further comment to the media.”
Just an ugly situation for everyone involved.