Perhaps not the long-term contract extension everyone was waiting for this week but an important move just the same.
This afternoon, the Ottawa Senators announced that they have extended the contract of General Manager Pierre Dorion through the duration of the 2024-25 campaign. The deal also includes a team option in 2025/2026.
It wasn’t drawing the same level of attention as a particular RFA, Dorion’s contract status heading into the season was an interesting side-story. This move takes away any potential distractions on that front.
While Dorion has had some missteps along the way, there’s no doubt that he has this rebuild pointed in the right direction. With a combination of big trades and effective drafting, Dorion has restocked the cupboards in Ottawa to the point that now the Senators have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league. And he’s done that while absorbing at times ridiculous amounts of criticism from the fan base and at the same time, navigating the unique challenges that come with being GM of a hockey team owned by Eugene Melnyk.
Of course, the accumulation of picks and prospects is the easy part of a rebuild. Or the easier part, anyway. For Dorion, the next step is finding a way to turn this incredible collection of young talent into a serious contender.
The off-season hiring of Pierre McGuire raised a few eyebrows around town about where Pierre Dorion fit in going forward but this silences that storyline completely. Clearly Eugene Melnyk is confident that Pierre Dorion is the guy to help the team take that next step.
And now with both the General Manager and the Head Coach locked up, the Senators ensure they’ll have some level of stability during these crucial years of the rebuild.
Here’s the Owner on today’s news.
“We’re very pleased to sign Pierre to a second extension as Senators general manager. Dating to when he was named GM in 2016, Pierre has worked tirelessly towards building an organization that can compete with the National Hockey League’s best. He’s dedicated, detailed and maintains a sound hockey mind. Under Pierre’s leadership, we have the utmost confidence that this team will soon be recognized as one that is consistently meriting success.”
Okay now about that other long-term extension…
