'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
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
India's mammoth election is more than halfway done as millions begin voting in fourth round
Millions of Indians across 96 constituencies began casting their ballots on Monday as the country's gigantic, six-week-long election edges past its halfway mark. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term with an eye on winning a supermajority in Parliament.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.