OTTAWA - Pierre Dorion sees great things ahead for the Ottawa Senators, he just doesn鈥檛 know if he鈥檒l be around to see them through.
The Senators general manager met with the media Monday morning and admitted he鈥檚 in a bit of a unique situation with new ownership set to take over the reins in the next couple months.
Dorion was named GM in April 2016 and the Senators have only made the playoffs only once under his guidance 鈥 during his first season. If he were to stay in charge past this season, Dorion would be the first general manager in the salary cap era to keep his job after missing the playoffs for six straight seasons.
Once new ownership is in place, expectations will be high for this team next season after missing out on the final wild card in the Eastern Conference by just six points.
The 50-year-old Dorion said he鈥檚 met with a number of the potential ownership groups and outlined his plans for the future.
鈥淔or us, I think it鈥檚 to hit the next level as a team,鈥 said Dorion. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to make any bold predictions as far as next year, but I feel confident that we鈥檝e built a good program here and I鈥檒l be back.鈥
Dorion did walk back that comment a couple times, using the word 鈥渋f鈥 when talking about his role, saying, 鈥淚鈥檒l let those people decide my faith.鈥
In a radio interview with the host broadcast later Monday morning Dorion expanded slightly on his thoughts.
鈥淚鈥檝e known that at some point in time, moving forward, I could be the general manager, I hope to be the general manager, but there鈥檚 a chance I could not be the general manager and that鈥檚 OK because it鈥檚 part of the game,鈥 he said.
There鈥檚 no denying the Senators are in a good position to take that next step Dorion speaks of, but it appears head coach D.J. Smith鈥檚 future could also be in question, even if Dorion returns as GM.
On Friday, Smith eluded to the fact that he was unsure about his own future with the organization due to new ownership, and Dorion didn鈥檛 give his head coach a full endorsement on Monday.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to sit down, obviously over the next little while and debate everything internally,鈥 said Dorion. 鈥淏ut I think what we鈥檝e asked of him he鈥檚 delivered on and at that point in time I鈥檒l make my recommendation to new ownership.鈥
Smith has one more year remaining on his contract, with a club option for 2024-25.
Dorion did confirm goaltender Cam Talbot will not return next season. The 35-year-old was acquired last summer from Minnesota in exchange for Filip Gustavsson. Talbot played just 36 games, posting a 17-14-2 record with a 2.93 goals-against-average and .898 save percentage.
The two sides discussed a new contract, but were unable to come to terms and so the decision was made to move on.
The Senators will once again be looking to solidify its goaltending tandem. At this point Anton Forsberg is the only goalie confirmed to be in Ottawa next season. The other could be an internal candidate, or someone acquired via a trade or free agency.
Mads Sogaard was called upon when both Forsberg and Talbot went down to injury this season and played well enough, posting an 8-6-3 record, but it doesn鈥檛 appear Dorion is convinced he鈥檚 ready to be a full-time NHL goaltender.
鈥淲e feel (Sogaard) is our goalie of the future,鈥 said Dorion. 鈥淗e鈥檚 someone that鈥檚 going to be able to take the helm at some point in time, but in everything you do you鈥檝e got to show patience.鈥
In addition to goaltending, the Senators will look to shore up their bottom six. In a perfect world they would find the right group of players who can offer some grit, while also offering some offensive production, which was lacking this season.
Dorion also provided a couple updates on unrestricted free agents Derick Brassard, Travis Hamonic, Austin Watson and Patrick Brown. Nick Holden had already been told he would not be returning.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens through the summer and through his injury,鈥 said Dorion of Brassard. 鈥淟eft the door open for him to come back, same situation as this year, see if he makes it through a (professional tryout)."
He didn鈥檛 close the door on Watson, but it appears the Senators would only be interested in a one-year deal, while the 30-year-old Watson said he鈥檚 looking for a multi-year deal. Dorion said they would be interested in having Hamonic back for a one-year deal, and there could be a possibility of Brown returning depending on who doesn鈥檛 return.
Pointing out the positives of this season, Dorion was quick to note that numerous players, including rookie Jake Sanderson, Erik Brannstrom, Shane Pinto, Claude Giroux and Hamonic, all exceeded expectations.
Dorion couldn鈥檛 say enough about Giroux, who signed in Ottawa as a free agent last summer, and his contributions both on and off the ice.
In Dorion鈥檚 eyes, Tim Stutzle has become a superstar.
鈥淚 think (Stutzle) will be a top-five, top-10 player in this league,鈥 admitted Dorion. 鈥淗e鈥檚 21 years old and he鈥檚 pretty good.鈥
Whether he鈥檚 back or not, Dorion feels confident this group will provide plenty of excitement in the nation鈥檚 capital for years to come.
鈥淥ur fans have been patient through all this,鈥 Dorion said. 鈥淚 think for us the biggest stride we took is that we got to see how our players responded in playing really important games down the stretch 鈥 we鈥檝e faced a lot of adversity in the last few years and I think it鈥檚 only going to make us grow for the long term.鈥
This report by 春色直播was first published April 17, 2023.
