Senators' next goal is to make the playoffs
Front office getting `perfect' addition in McGuire, says owner Melnyk
Eugene Melnyk wants to lend a hand to general manager Pierre Dorion.
And the Ottawa Senators owner is hoping former NBC broadcaster Pierre McGuire will be the right fit as the club's senior vice-president of player development.
While the Senators finished the season strong under coach D.J. Smith and the organization made steps in the right direction, Melnyk wants them to take the next step during the 2021-22 campaign by making the playoffs and believes McGuire can be another piece to the puzzle in making that happen.
Melnyk made it clear that Dorion is in charge of the club's hockey operations and that won't change with McGuire's arrival.
“He's another piece and he's going to be perfect for everything,” Melnyk said Sunday. “(McGuire) just adds another piece to what is hopefully a Stanley Cup winning team. Our general manager and his group is second to none, our scouting is second to none and we have our coaching in place with a new goalie coach, with (head coach) D.J. (Smith), and the assistants all lined up.
“We're just missing a couple of pieces on the ice. We're hoping with our drafts, our prospects and what we can acquire, it will lead to a perfect team. That's what we're after is perfection. (McGuire) adds an important piece to that and that includes helping find those gems that are out there as veterans that we can bring on to help our team.”
After last season ended on such
a promising note, Melnyk reached out to Detroit Red Wings senior VP Jim Devellano for some advice on what the organization needed to do to get back to the post-season and win a title.
McGuire was the name Devellano highly recommended because Melnyk wanted to have a person in place that knew the league. Commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly also backed the hiring of McGuire, who has been a colour analyst on NBC's NHL broadcasts since 2006.
“I wanted someone that knew
as many of the players as possible,” said Melnyk. “One of the key elements is knowing who you're acquiring. When I say knowing them, I mean you want to know that player's family, friends, who he hangs out with, who influenced him and everything possible to know you're getting the right person.
“You can't fly a plane and build it at the same time. You have to know what you have and you have to work with it. I've spent a lot of time with Pierre Dorion and D.J. on the phone about this and when you're in the middle of a Stanley Cup run, there's no time to figure out what's wrong or right with your players. You better know and there's no time to figure things out. This is the time to do it and it's very important to come in ready.
“I think (McGuire) has exceptional knowledge of the players around the league.”
Melnyk studied the possibility of adding someone two years ago that Dorion could bounce his ideas off in much the same way the late Bryan Murray did as a senior adviser, but couldn't find the right fit.
“It's good to have someone there with experience,” said Melnyk. “He used to have, God bless him, Bryan Murray. Bryan would mentor (Dorion), he would help him and he could bounce ideas or thoughts off him. Right now, he's by far the most senior person and he has to have someone as wing man to help him during the hectic times of a Stanley Cup run.”
And he likes McGuire's passion for the game.
“He likes nothing more than to talk hockey and that's what I like to talk about,” Melnyk said. “It's really a pleasure to talk to a guy that knows his stuff. I used to spend hours and hours with Bryan Murray and every hour he gave me was an hour I could never get somewhere else. I love talking to the guys who have experience. I loved talking to Jimmy Devellano.
“They give you an insight, they recall things, and I think McGuire can bring this. There's so much he's seen and he's done so many games I don't think there's anything he hasn't seen before and nothing will surprise him. Where he's at right now in his career, he's basically seen it all.”
The Senators would like to acquire another defenceman and a centre either through a trade or free agency. Contract talks with restricted free agents Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, Victor Mete and others are under way. Melnyk wants this team to be competitive next season.
“There's no more excuses. It's showtime. We've done the rebuild. We're still building but we're almost done,” said Melnyk. “The last couple of pieces have to be put into place. It's no secret we need a defensive defenceman and possibly a first-line centre and then as far as players are concerned I think we've covered it.
“There's no more `we're still in rebuild.' We're here to play and, dammit, we're going to win.”