BOUCHER DORION’S GUY DESPITE RECENT FUNK
As the problems and question marks surrounding the Ottawa Senators continue to grow, general manager Pierre Dorion at least cleared up one area. Head coach Guy Boucher is safe. “We start by telling you we’re not making any coaching changes,” Dorion said in a state of the union address before Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. “Guy was a great coach last year. He got us one goal from the Stanley Cup final. He’s staying.”
That said, Dorion is aware of the world around him. Before facing the Rangers, the Senators were 1-10-2 in 13 games since their trip to Sweden, dropping seven points out of a playoff spot.
He’ll do anything, including possibly making trades before the Dec. 19 roster freeze, if he believes it will improve the team. He says there’s a need for improvement in all facets of the lineup, from forwards to defence to goaltending.
“We’re looking at everything,” he said. “I think I have talked to 27 or 28 of my 30 (general manager) counterparts in the last three days. We’re looking for solutions. When you go through streaks like this, you have to look at everything.”
Naturally, that leads to questions about captain Erik Karlsson, who has spent the past two weeks in a whirlwind of controversy.
In a Nov. 30 interview with Postmedia, Karlsson said he wanted to stay in Ottawa long term, but wouldn’t accept a hometown discount to stay with the Senators. It’s generally conceded Karlsson, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2018-19 season, will earn at least $10 million to $12 million on a long-term deal. Somewhere.
The organization spoke to Karlsson. They weren’t pleased with his candour.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has since reported the Senators have asked for a list of 10 teams that he wouldn’t be traded to — a clause in his current seven-year, $45.5-million contract.
“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t listen to offers on every player,” Dorion said. “Yes, we have everybody’s trade requests. We’ve had everybody’s trade lists for a long while.”
But Dorion made it clear the priority is to have Karlsson here for the rest of his career.
“It’s our wish, all of us, for Erik Karlsson to be with us for the next 10 years,” Dorion said. “But if an opposing team calls you and makes an offer you can’t refuse … All I know is I’m a hockey (history) buff. If Wayne Gretzky got traded, I think any player in the NHL can get traded.”
Dorion acknowledged Karlsson, who has two assists in his last 14 games, isn’t at full health following off-season surgery that involved the insertion of an artificial tendon in his foot.
“We understand he went through a pretty serious operation,” said Dorion. “His condition is finally getting to a level where it needs to be and we love him. We want him to be a Senator for life.”
As tough as it has been for the Senators, Dorion accepts he has to take the good with the bad. If the run to within one overtime goal of the Stanley Cup final last spring was a high point, the current stretch is rock bottom. At least Dorion is maintaining his sense of humour.
“People used to wave at me on the highway,” he said. “Now, they’re giving me … different stuff.”