'I've had a few sleepless nights': Senators general manager discusses the team's start to the season
Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion says players, coaches and management must all be better for the Senators to turn around their season.
After winning five of the first 21 games this season, Dorion admits sitting in last place in the NHL this season was not what he expected.
"I've had a few sleepless nights. I have not enjoyed this stretch of our team but it's not for a lack of effort," said Dorion during a media conference at Canadian Tire Centre Saturday morning.
"The players are playing hard, but sometimes players don't play up to their potential and they know it too. The buck stops with me, and I am not afraid to say that. We did not anticipate this and we're going to battle through it. Last year, we had a tough stretch, battled through it and finished strong."
The Senators won one of 12 games in November, and had three games postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the club. The Senators beat Carolina 3-2 on Thursday night.
"There's still 60 games left, I know the work ethic is there, the will to win is there and we're going to continue on that path," said Dorion.
Before the season, Dorion declared the rebuild was over for the Ottawa Senators. On Saturday, the general manager said he made the statement while caught up in the excitement of the new season.
"Probably what I should have said is pretty much all the core pieces of the rebuild are in the organization right now," said Dorion.
"I didn't see foresee us winning just five games after 21 games, but probably how I should have phrased it, and that's on me and no one else, is that most of the core pieces I feel, and we might be one piece away, are in the organization at this time."
Injuries have hit the Senators this season, with centres Colin White and Shane Pinto suffering shoulder injuries, while defenceman Erik Brannstrom broke his arm. Ten players and a coach were placed in the NHL COVID protocol last month.
With three quarters of the season remaining, Dorion says everyone needs to "step up" to help the team improve.
"I’m not going to name players, but a lot of the players on this team have underperformed this year to the level they performed to especially in the second half of last year," said Dorion.
"The players have to step up, coaching staff have to step up, the general manager and the management have to step up – we all have to be better. I still think there's a lot of hockey left, I've never questioned the players work ethic, never questioned the coaches work ethic – we've got to get out of this together."
The Senators host the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre, followed by games Monday night in New Jersey and at home Tuesday night against the New York Islanders.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honored short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Significant police presence as Israeli flag flies at Ottawa City Hall
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.
Hot history: Tree rings show that last northern summer was the warmest since year 1
The broiling summer of 2023 was the hottest in the Northern Hemisphere in more than 2,000 years, a new study found.
What to pack during an emergency
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.