After the Ottawa Senators confirmed a report that the organization is conducting a search to hire a president of hockey operations to fill the role previously held by the late Bryan Murray, an array of potential candidates have bubbled to the surface.
Armed with the NHL's smallest hockey operations staff, general manager Pierre Dorion would be well-served having an experienced hockey executive to provide input on key franchise decisions. The Senators essentially admitted that in an email sent to reporters late Saturday night, acknowledging Murray's prescence is missed.
“Going forward, the Senators intend to hire a President of Hockey Operations to support and provide guidance to the General Manager, and to fill the void left by the late Bryan Murray," the statement read. 'The position is integral to the success of the hockey club, especially as we continue our rebuilding process, hiring a top-notch candidate to fill this role is critically important.”
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One of Murray’s most underrated skills was his ability to act as the Senators' public face of the franchise. While owner Eugene Melnyk is passionate in his belief of the rebuilding process under Dorion, his frank comments are often prone to criticism.
The past week’s radio interviews belie this.
“Well, I think Eugene Melnyk should stop doing interviews. I mean, he’s giving reasons for fans to not come to games," former NHL executive, now Sportsnet panelist, Brian Burke commented during Saturday’s Hockey Night broadcast. "They’ve already got attendance problems. He doesn’t need to do this. He’s aiming at his feet. He’s not just shooting himself, he’s aiming at his feet and if I’m the GM, I’d be telling him, 'This has got to stop.'"
Burke’s harsh commentary continued, “The influence of Bryan Murray being able to control him, and now that Bryan Murray is not around, it’s so obvious this guy has to stop doing interviews. The new guy, that’s his first thing of duty. He’ll do that in the interview. I can tell you that right now, that’s something in the interview process. You’d have to say, 'Eugene, I will be the president of hockey operations for this team. I will speak for this team. You stay in the background.'”
The 63-year-old's words may have made him persona non grata in the eyes of the Senators organization. However, his resume checks off all the boxes to become a prime candidate for the club’s job opening. Thirty-plus years of working as a high-ranking league executive, holding positions such as GM of the Whalers, Canucks, Ducks; vice-president of NHL hockey ops, president and GM of the Maple Leafs, and most-recently president of hockey ops for the Flames will do that.
Other potential candidates in alphabetical order include:
Martin Brodeur
Current job: Executive vice president of business development, New Jersey Devils
Age: 46
The current Devils executive knows what it’s like to lead an organization on and off the ice. A Hall of Fame goaltender, Brodeur is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winner of four Vezina's and two Olympic gold medals with Hockey Canada. Upon retiring, the NHL's all-time wins leader dabbled as an assistant general manager with the Blues for three-plus seasons.
Ron Francis
Current job: N/A
Age: 56
A former minority owner of the Hurricanes, who played for the organization in Hartford and Raleigh, Francis served as the club’s general manager from 2014-18 before being relieved of his duties and shifted to the president of hockey ops. The two-time Stanley Cup winner as a player with the Penguins was then relieved of his duties by incoming Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon.
Mike Gillis
Current job: N/A
Age: 60
A former agent turned NHL executive, Gillis was the Canucks president and general manager from 2008-14, earning the league's General Manager of the Year Award in 2011. He also led the Canucks to two Presidents' Trophies and one Stanley Cup Final appearance.
Laurence Gilman
Current job: Assistant general manager, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 54
The current Maple Leafs assistant general manager, Gilman is known as one of the most intelligent and respected minds in the sport, and is credited with developing the current Expansion Draft regulations. The 54-year old acted in several roles with the Coyotes from 1998-2007 including assistant general manager and vice president of hockey operations. Prior to joining the Maple Leafs, Gilman held identical positions with the Canucks from 2008-2015.
Dean Lombardi
Current Job: Senior advisor, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 61
Hearing Dean Lombardi was approached. https://t.co/EFlas5FAUf
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) March 24, 2019
An NHL executive for 30 of the past 31 seasons, Lombardi, who has reportedly already been considered for the Senators position, is a current senior advisor with the Flyers. Starting his career as the assistant general manager of the North Stars in 1988, Lombardi was general manager of the Sharks for eight of his 12 seasons with the club. He then earned two Cups as general manager of the Kings during his 11-year tenure.
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Al MacIsaac
Current job: Senior vice president of hockey operations, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 51
While the Nova Scotia native remains relatively unknown outside Chicago, the current Blackhawks executive has been an integral fixture within the organization for the past 18 seasons. MacIsaac has the ear of team president John McDonough, having held an operational role under four different general managers. Three Stanley Cup rings on the resume could certainly help MacIsaac’s cause.
Don Maloney
Current job: Senior vice president of hockey operations, Calgary Flames
Age: 60
After a stellar 13-year playing career ended on Long Island following the 1990-91 season, Maloney took an immediate leap into management becoming the Islanders assistant general manager. Promoted to GM the following season, Maloney filled this role for four years before accepting an assistant GM job with the Rangers. While with the Rangers, two of those seasons included working with Dorion who was an amateur scout with the club. Currently with the Flames, Maloney has experience from coast-to-coast as he also served as general manager and VP of hockey ops from 2007-16 with the Coyotes.
Tim Murray
Current job: N/A
Age: 55
Known as an astute scout, Murray got his first pro job during the 1993-94 season working under the tutelage of his Uncle Bryan, who was Red Wings GM at the time. Tim followed Bryan to Florida where he served as a scout from 1994-2002 and then joined Bryan once again with the Ducks as director of player personnel for three seasons. The Shawville, QC resident went on to serve as a Rangers pro scout for two seasons — a staff which included Dorion. Named assistant general manager of the Senators in 2007 by Bryan, Tim held the position until leaving midway through the 2013-14 season to become the Sabres GM, a role he filled until being relieved in 2017.
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Randy Sexton
Current job: Assistant general manager, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 59
One of the founders of the franchise, Sexton knows the role well having served as the Senators team president during its first five seasons in existence. An Ottawa resident, Sexton has forged a career as an NHL executive spending three seasons as the Panthers assistant general manager prior to a promotion to GM in 2009. The current Sabres assistant GM, he is responsible for running its Rochester AHL affiliate; however, his greatest success was when he led the Penguins amateur scouting staff for seven campaigns and earned three Stanley Cup rings.
Steve Yzerman
Current job: Advisor, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 53
While it’s widely rumoured “Stevie Y” will leave the Lightning to join the Red Wings in an unknown capacity next season, it shouldn’t preclude the Senators from a least making a call. Raised in Ottawa, where the Nepean Sportsplex bares his name, Yzerman still has family ties to Canada’s capital; however, his 26 years spent as a player and executive in Detroit may supersede his final decision.