Senators name Pierre Dorion GM, Bryan Murray takes advisory role

The Ottawa Senators have wasted no time in shaking up the front office.

General manager Bryan Murray has announced he's stepping down as general manager, handing the reins to Pierre Dorion, who had been serving as assistant GM since 2014.

The news came less than than 24 hours after the Senators won their season finale and knocked Boston out of playoff contention.

Murray, who's engaged in an ongoing battle with Stage 4 colon cancer, has been contemplating such a move for over a year. He's served as Ottawa's GM since 2007, taking on the role shortly after coaching the team to a Stanley Cup Final appearance that spring.

He'll be around to lend advice, and hopes to be remembered as a good hockey man.

Dorion becomes the eighth general manager after two years as an assistant and serving as the team's director of player personnel prior to that. He admitted he's stepping into big shoes and credited Murray for being a great man and mentor, saying he's happy the outgoing GM is staying on in an advisory role.

As for the task at hand, Dorion said the club needs to learn from the lessons of a disappointing 2015-16. Every member of the hockey operations staff - including the coaches - will be evaluated, beginning with exit meetings Monday.

"I wasn't hired here to get the team into the playoffs, but to succeed in the playoffs," Dorion said. "There will be hard conversations tomorrow as the on-ice product has to be better."

Dorion also plans to meet with Randy Lee and Daniel Alfredsson to discuss their roles moving forward.

And so begins a new era for a team searching for its first Cup in modern history.