Pierre Dorion will no longer serve as the Ottawa Senators’ general manager, as announced by the team’s new owner, Michael Andlauer. Following an eight-year stint as the franchises’ general manager, Dorion has stepped down and been relieved of his duties.
The announcement of Dorion’s departure arrives not long after the Sens were obliged by the National Hockey League to surrender a first-round draft pick due to the ensuing fallout from Evgenii Dadonov’s 2021 trade. This occurred merely a week subsequent to Shane Pinto, the team’s forward, receiving a 41-game suspension for violating the NHL’s sports gambling rules.
Reflecting on his initial tenure as the new Senators owner, Andlauer spoke to the highs and lows of the past month. The first thirty days met and exceeded his expectations. However, the past ten days which included three consecutive match losses, injuries to defensemen, and two distressing calls from the NHL served as a sobering reminder of the challenges that come with the new role.
Effective immediately, Steve Staios, the Senators’ new President, will fulfill the role of interim general manager.
Dorion’s legacy, extending over eight years, heralded him as the Senators’ eighth general manager. His service to the team witnessed a range of roles, from scouting to player personnel direction, that culminated in his tenure as the general manager, a position he assumed in 2016. The team even clinched a spot in the eastern conference final against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017, marking Dorion’s final years.
A recent incident involving Dorion arose when the NHL ordered the Sens to forfeit a first-round draft pick. This punitive measure stems from their involvement in an invalidated deal made by Las Vegas Golden Knights involving Evgenii Dadonov’s trade to the Anaheim Ducks in 2022.
The punitive measure was a consequence of Dorion providing incorrect information about Dadonov’s 10-team ‘no-move’ clause to the Golden Knights. The miscommunication, dating back to the Sens trade of Dadonov to Vegas in 2021, led to complications during the 2022 trade deadline.
Dadonov’s presence on a ‘no-trade’ clause resulted in voiding a deal between the Golden Knights and the Ducks. Dadonov now plays for the Dallas Stars after first joining the Senators as a free agent in 2020.
In addressing whether Dorion’s dismissal was a direct result of the penalty inflicted on the Senators, Andlauer stated that though the degree of the penalty could be debated, responsibility lay with the hockey club. The onus of this accountability fell on Dorion, the Google operations’ main in charge.
Expressing frustration at the lingering punishment from past management, Andlauer voiced his displeasure at having inherited the lingering penalty. He disclosed his meeting with Dorion before the announcement and the mutual decision for separation.
