Dorion Calls On Quality Veterans To Help Young Senators Progress

The ad says: Experienced NHL players are wanted to fill a great body of young people. We want players with a strong character, but also talent. The future is fantastically bright. Come to Ottawa and help make it brighter, faster. Dorion has said in recent months that he would love to sign a top four defender and a top six forward on the Ottawa roster. On Sunday, Dorion openly acknowledged the challenges of recruiting top talent in a smaller Canadian market. He was not kidding when he said he would recruit captain Brady Tkachuk and deputy captain Thomas Chabot to recruit talent, let the players know what a top-tier business this team is, even if it is not exactly on the doorstep of the Stanley Cup Champion. Not yet, however. “When you are not at the top team, unless you pay too much, they will not come here,” Dorion said during a 30-minute interview with the Ottawa media on Sunday morning. “Whether we like it or not, some players do not want to play under the control of the Canadian media. And, unless you can talk to Prime Minister Trinto or Prime Minister Ford about their tax structure, that’s another thing that matters. “We are one of the most taxed gambling venues in North America,” Dorion added. The general manager said that part of the long process for signing Tkachuk last fall was the issue of the Senators’ commitment to create a winner. “Sir. Melnik has made that commitment to him,” Dorion said. Now that Eugene Melnyk is gone, Dorion has hinted that not much will change in the short term. He recently met for two and a half hours with the team’s board and came up with an understanding of an ongoing, shared vision of building a contender. While there is no interest in spending on the ceiling as early as next season (unless we can guarantee 41 home sales, Dorion said), in the end there is a commitment to spend what it takes to become a champion. “As we move forward, we will spend more money,” Dorion promised. “We will go now, maybe we will look for higher quality free agents or higher quality players because that is how we feel (need). “You talk to the players and they feel that this is the direction we have to go.” Dorion shared a funny joke about the issues of the Senators’ exit meetings. They were three common issues, he said. One, that the coaching, medical and auxiliary staff are first class, as good as everything in the league. Second, post-race food is great (never underestimate the urgent need to feed young, hungry athletes – parents will know this). Finally, three players want experienced help on the roster. Dorion noted that Chabot, in particular, is reasonably tired of losing the playoffs in the first five full seasons of the NHL, which happens to coincide with the number of years that have passed since Ottawa’s run in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. Chabot is now 25. “Thomas is one of the best defenders in the league,” said Dorion. “He definitely wants to play meaningful games.” In Dorion’s view, Chabot had his best season to date and would play for Canada if the NHL were to compete in the 2022 Olympics. Among the interesting facts Dorion shared was an honest and open meeting with Chabot after the trade deadline, where Ottawa was again a salesman (although he also brought in Mathieu Joseph and Travis Hamonic). “He (Chabot) said, ‘I have faith in what you’re going to do to take us to the next level,’” Dorion said. “But at the same time, the choices and the prospects only go so far.” Senators’ fans could appreciate this comment. In response, Dorion told Chabot that he could ask for his help to attract one or two players through a free dealership or negotiation. Help sell the player about how tight the Sens team is, how there are no clicks here. Some veterans here now (probably Nick Holden and Austin Watson) have told the organization that this is the best “room” they have ever played with. Dorion’s goal for next season is for this team to play hockey with “meaning” until the end of the season, a challenge for a place in the playoffs, in other words. Like head coach DJ Smith, Dorion said he could be more specific about the goals once the roster is set in September. To that end, he would like to have his roster earlier and possibly play more exposure games to avoid the slow starts that have plagued the last two seasons. The senators will probably go on a pre-season trip to reunite the team.

Tierney, Ennis and Mete are gone. Sanderson is wearing a cast

Other revelations from Dorion’s press: Outstanding UFA strikers Chris Tierney and Tyler Ennis will not return. The same goes for RFA defender Victor Mete. The players’ injuries were more or less covered by Saturday’s media availability, with the exception of this: Defender Jake Sanderson, who underwent surgery in mid-March, injured his arm again this week and will be wearing a cast for six weeks. He is expected to be ready for camping. Regarding veteran Matt Murray, Dorion said he shares Murray’s view that when he is healthy, he has played well for Ottawa. The problem is that it was not healthy on a consistent basis. Dorion named Anton Forsberg the team’s MVP, and also praised the play of Tkachuk, Batherson, Norris, Chabot, Tim Stützle, Alex Formenton and Erik Brannstrom. Dorion says he said bluntly to potential goalkeeper Filip Gustavsson: “In 2021, you were probably the best goalkeeper to play for the Ottawa Senators, this year, of the three, you were probably the worst. “Find a way to get back to being the best.” Gustavsson, by the way, was impressive in Belleville’s victory over Toronto Marlies on Saturday. Gustavsson has a one-way contract starting next season. “There is a possibility we will have three goalkeepers next year,” Dorion said, referring to Forsberg, Murray and Gustavsson.

Norris and Branstrom’s contract talks

Dorion was delighted to hear center-back Josh Norris say during the retirement meeting that he hoped to complete the contract sooner rather than later, avoiding the kind of difficult process that involved Tkatsuk last summer. Norris, a pending RFA, led the team to 35 goals. Expect conversations with Agent Craig Oster to begin very soon. “Josh would love to do something. . . “We hope we can do something fast,” Dorion said. Likewise, Dorion hopes to settle a contract with defender Brannstrom and noted that the 22-year-old had an important season as he came in to fill holes in the squad due to injuries, especially to Chabot. Dorion Overall Assessment for Senators 2021-22: After a slow start, this group “took a big step in the right direction.”

title: “Dorion Calls On Quality Veterans To Help Young Senators Progress Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Lorraine Landeros”

The ad says: Experienced NHL players are wanted to fill a great body of young people. We want players with a strong character, but also talent. The future is fantastically bright. Come to Ottawa and help make it brighter, faster. Dorion has said in recent months that he would love to sign a top four defender and a top six forward on the Ottawa roster. On Sunday, Dorion openly acknowledged the challenges of recruiting top talent in a smaller Canadian market. He was not kidding when he said he would recruit captain Brady Tkachuk and deputy captain Thomas Chabot to recruit talent, let the players know what a top-tier business this team is, even if it is not exactly on the doorstep of the Stanley Cup Champion. Not yet, however. “When you are not at the top team, unless you pay too much, they will not come here,” Dorion said during a 30-minute interview with the Ottawa media on Sunday morning. “Whether we like it or not, some players do not want to play under the control of the Canadian media. And, unless you can talk to Prime Minister Trinto or Prime Minister Ford about their tax structure, that’s another thing that matters. “We are one of the most taxed gambling venues in North America,” Dorion added. The general manager said that part of the long process for signing Tkachuk last fall was the issue of the Senators’ commitment to create a winner. “Sir. Melnik has made that commitment to him,” Dorion said. Now that Eugene Melnyk is gone, Dorion has hinted that not much will change in the short term. He recently met for two and a half hours with the team’s board and came up with an understanding of an ongoing, shared vision of building a contender. While there is no interest in spending on the ceiling as early as next season (unless we can guarantee 41 home sales, Dorion said), in the end there is a commitment to spend what it takes to become a champion. “As we move forward, we will spend more money,” Dorion promised. “We will go now, maybe we will look for higher quality free agents or higher quality players because that is how we feel (need). “You talk to the players and they feel that this is the direction we have to go.” Dorion shared a funny joke about the issues of the Senators’ exit meetings. They were three common issues, he said. One, that the coaching, medical and auxiliary staff are first class, as good as everything in the league. Second, post-race food is great (never underestimate the urgent need to feed young, hungry athletes – parents will know this). Finally, three players want experienced help on the roster. Dorion noted that Chabot, in particular, is reasonably tired of losing the playoffs in the first five full seasons of the NHL, which happens to coincide with the number of years that have passed since Ottawa’s run in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. Chabot is now 25. “Thomas is one of the best defenders in the league,” said Dorion. “He definitely wants to play meaningful games.” In Dorion’s view, Chabot had his best season to date and would play for Canada if the NHL were to compete in the 2022 Olympics. Among the interesting facts Dorion shared was an honest and open meeting with Chabot after the trade deadline, where Ottawa was again a salesman (although he also brought in Mathieu Joseph and Travis Hamonic). “He (Chabot) said, ‘I have faith in what you’re going to do to take us to the next level,’” Dorion said. “But at the same time, the choices and the prospects only go so far.” Senators’ fans could appreciate this comment. In response, Dorion told Chabot that he could ask for his help to attract one or two players through a free dealership or negotiation. Help sell the player about how tight the Sens team is, how there are no clicks here. Some veterans here now (probably Nick Holden and Austin Watson) have told the organization that this is the best “room” they have ever played with. Dorion’s goal for next season is for this team to play hockey with “meaning” until the end of the season, a challenge for a place in the playoffs, in other words. Like head coach DJ Smith, Dorion said he could be more specific about the goals once the roster is set in September. To that end, he would like to have his roster earlier and possibly play more exposure games to avoid the slow starts that have plagued the last two seasons. The senators will probably go on a pre-season trip to reunite the team.

Tierney, Ennis and Mete are gone. Sanderson is wearing a cast

Other revelations from Dorion’s press: Outstanding UFA strikers Chris Tierney and Tyler Ennis will not return. The same goes for RFA defender Victor Mete. The players’ injuries were more or less covered by Saturday’s media availability, with the exception of this: Defender Jake Sanderson, who underwent surgery in mid-March, injured his arm again this week and will be wearing a cast for six weeks. He is expected to be ready for camping. Regarding veteran Matt Murray, Dorion said he shares Murray’s view that when he is healthy, he has played well for Ottawa. The problem is that it was not healthy on a consistent basis. Dorion named Anton Forsberg the team’s MVP, and also praised the play of Tkachuk, Batherson, Norris, Chabot, Tim Stützle, Alex Formenton and Erik Brannstrom. Dorion says he said bluntly to potential goalkeeper Filip Gustavsson: “In 2021, you were probably the best goalkeeper to play for the Ottawa Senators, this year, of the three, you were probably the worst. “Find a way to get back to being the best.” Gustavsson, by the way, was impressive in Belleville’s victory over Toronto Marlies on Saturday. Gustavsson has a one-way contract starting next season. “There is a possibility we will have three goalkeepers next year,” Dorion said, referring to Forsberg, Murray and Gustavsson.

Norris and Branstrom’s contract talks

Dorion was delighted to hear center-back Josh Norris say during the retirement meeting that he hoped to complete the contract sooner rather than later, avoiding the kind of difficult process that involved Tkatsuk last summer. Norris, a pending RFA, led the team to 35 goals. Expect conversations with Agent Craig Oster to begin very soon. “Josh would love to do something. . . “We hope we can do something fast,” Dorion said. Likewise, Dorion hopes to settle a contract with defender Brannstrom and noted that the 22-year-old had an important season as he came in to fill holes in the squad due to injuries, especially to Chabot. Dorion Overall Assessment for Senators 2021-22: After a slow start, this group “took a big step in the right direction.”