Phase 2 for Senators rebuild … Coaching search beginning immediately
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion said that next six to 12 months for the organization are pivotal.
“We have to hire the right for coach for this rebuild to move it along as quickly as possible,” Dorion said. “We have an important draft coming up, a development camp with as good a group of prospects as you’ve seen, a rookie camp and then training camp. We’re not just in a rebuild, we’re now building. We’re in Phase 2 of the rebuild.
“The worst is behind us. And, we feel as a hockey group, really passionate about that. I know there’s been some tougher times, but we feel the good times are ahead. Next year we need to start contending for the playoffs, two years from now we need to be a playoff team and three years from now we need to be a team that contends in the playoffs. Those are words from the general manager and it has to be like that.”
Dorion plans on beginning his head coaching search immediately. Interim head coach Marc Crawford will be a candidate for the position. They’ll get their list down to five or six for interviews.
Notes on Senators pending free agents
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Senators will have decisions to make with regards to pending UFAs Brian Gibbons, Oscar Lindberg and Magnus Paajarvi, and RFA Anthony Duclair.
Duclair will likely be qualified. They will likely try to re-sign Gibbons, but maybe not Paajarvi and Lindberg.
If the Senators aren’t able to come to terms with RFA Cody Ceci, they could look to move him.
Ben Harpur could become a trade option for some help up front.
If goaltender Anders Nilsson is looking for a multi-year deal, it likely isn’t coming from the Senators. The Sens still have Mike Condon, and Marcus Hogberg may be ready to backup Craig Anderson.