It was announced via a press release that the GM of the Ottawa Senators, Bryan Murray, would be stepping down from that role. He will still have a role as a senior advisor on the team as Pierre Dorion moves into the General Manager position.
The front office shakeup has been met with some trepidation as many don’t know exactly how to feel about it. Murray has been dealing with terminal colon cancer, a terrible, terrible diagnosis and has somehow been able to still manage the club. It is tough to imagine ownership telling him to move on while dealing with that but by the same token the Senators have taken a step back once again. Is that a symptom of Murray still being in charge?
Over at the 6th Sens they talk about Dorion in relation to Murray and it looks like it may be more questions than answers when it comes to the Senators organization.
“Without first-hand knowledge of the hockey operations department, it’s impossible to know what these assistant general managers brought to the conversation. Did Bryan Murray surround himself with like-minded yes men? Did these assistants bring more to the table than they’re given credit for? How will Murray handle a change in which he’s no longer has the final decision-making power? Will Dorion have credible ideas or opinions on how to positively effect change? How is Dorion’s relationship with Eugene Melnyk? Can he deftly handle his duties while working under the stresses placed upon him by one of the most eccentric owners in hockey?
Unfortunately, they are all unknown.”
It will be tough to predict how the regime will do with Murray still apart of the front office, but I doubt much change will take place. It wouldn’t make much sense for them to make a dramatic overhaul. The team is known for maintaining the status quo and it looks like that will only continue.
