If the Ottawa Senators are going to announce long-predicted changes to the team’s Front Office, that seems like as good a time as any to emerge from The Void.
For the record and for those of you worried about my well-being, what I found is that The Void ended up merging with Appreciation a little bit and I am now slowly but steadily making my way through the steps of Sens-related sadness. I have spent the last couple weeks appreciating two things mostly – the first is the gradual yet deliberate demise of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I wish I wasn’t so petty but the fact is, each shot of a sad Leaf fan helps with my own healing.
More importantly though, the thing I have really gained a new appreciation for is the Ottawa hockey fan. It ended in sadness obviously but that Game 6 crowd was unlike anything we’ve seen in this city and it honestly felt like a moment where we distinguished ourselves from everyone other fan base in the league.
And as someone who has spent the better part of two decades as the optimistic Sens blogger and often took a lot heat for that I approach, I would be lying if I said I didn’t take a little personal satisfaction in seeing the fan base support the team in that way.
That’s who we are now and I can’t wait to get back in that rink in a few months time and pick up where we left off.
At the same time, Ottawa hockey fans are still showing up in that uniquely Ottawa way for the PWHL team. I had a chance to bring my two daughters to the game earlier this week and that building was ELECTRIC. I am talking “worried about the structural integrity of this place” level of excitement. Honestly, if you haven’t been to a game yet, get down there tonight.
The Ottawa Charge are building something special.
Now, where was I?
Oh right, the news of the day. As expected, yesterday the Senators announced that Matt Turek is being hired as the General Manager of the Belleville Senators (no surprise to those of you that follow my cryptic comment section contributions) while the very recently retired Sam Gagner is being added as the team’s Director of Player Development.
This news comes on the heels of the somewhat surprising departure of Ryan Bowness. Details on exactly how that departure came to be are limited and Staios ducked the issue during his season-ending press conference but there were rumours that they actually did try to keep him around, although possibly in a lesser role and for less money. Can’t help but wonder if that is the “GM of Belleville” position they just handed Turek actually.
This kind of change is inevitable as Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios continue to put their stamp on the organization and bring in their people but the fact is, the Senators lost a good one in Ryan Bowness and by all accounts, he woulda been happy to stick around.
Turek comes highly regarded based on his work with Brantford in the OHL and obviously, he knows Steve Staios well. Meanwhile Gagner is just 35 years old and while new to the Front Office world, was widely respected in his time as a player and should be able to provide a fresh voice and perspective to the team’s management group.
The news release doesn’t specify but it does seem like the team’s AGM role remains vacant even after these additions. For those of you wondering, yes they have my resume which was sent shortly after my interview with Cyril Leeder a few weeks back.
It’s good to be back.
