Good and bad: Senators have changed their look

 Above: Alex Galchenyuk Are the Ottawa Senators accelerating, or just blocking the path towards achieving their self-proclaimed rebuilding plan? It’s a little bit of both from this corner. Let’s put it this way, general manager Pierre Dorion was definitely not “sit-tight-and-let-the-process-playout” during this very odd off-season. You likely knew that

The transition from terrible to contender may be closer than you think

 NBC analyst Pierre McGuire believes the Ottawa Senators will be a Stanley Cup contender in the next 2-3 years. The veteran broadcaster made the comments this past week on Ottawa sports radio. While ownership and management continue to rub their collective hands in glee and proclaim the Senators will soon

Dorion strikes potential gold in NHL off-season

 Touch ‘em all Pierre, you’ll never hit a bigger home run. We’ll see, but early indications indicate Ottawa Senators’ General Manager Pierre Dorion swung for the fences the past two weeks and connected big time. (Hence the bit-of-a-stretch comparable to Tom Cheek’s famous call of Toronto Blue Jay slugger Joe

Senators finally ‘back in the game’ as entry draft unfolds

 It’s not quite Lotto 6/49 (or in this case: Lotto 13/49), but you have to like their chances to come out a winner. Pick a number folks, any number - 3, 5, 28? How about 33, 51, 58, 60? Thirteen selections in all; three of those in the opening round;

Cards are in Ottawa’s hands . . . sort of

 We’re less than a month away from arguably the biggest 48 hours in Ottawa Senators’ history. The drama, mystery and intrigue will definitely get interesting. Kind of an Agatha Christie novel on blades. Without the murder, of course. For the Senators, general manager Pierre Dorion is easily the most fascinating

Leafs top Canadian club list

 Brian Burke has always remained an interesting hockey icon. Pull-no-punches, tell it like it is. That’s Burkie. He’s a quote machine too. When he was dismissed by the Maple Leafs a few years back, here’s what he quipped: “There's sometimes when you get fired and you see the vultures circling and

NHL swings and misses, big time

 Stephen King has notched his rightful place high up on the pole as one of my more revered writers (especially his earlier stuff). He came to mind Friday night shortly after 8. From the perspective of many an Ottawa Senator fanatic, only King – the Sultan of Scare – could

Few certainties in the Senators’ picture

 Anticipation, anticipation Is makin' me late Is keepin' me waitin' Carly Simon   Pretty cheesy lede, eh? Point being, in Ottawa playing the anticipation game is a daily occurrence, whether you’re a fan of the Senators or a finger-crossing rider on LRT. Things are seemingly never a certainty around these

Work just underway for Dorion after trade deadline day

 If you thought NHL trade deadline day was ripe with activity for the Ottawa Senators, wait ‘til June 26th in Montreal. June 27th too. That’s when general manager Pierre Dorion will strap on his thinking cap for what promises to be an extremely frantic NHL entry draft. Dorion – already

Figuring out Senators’ near future is going to be a puzzle

 The possibilities are endless. This is the reality of the world where Ottawa Senators’ general manager Pierre Dorion exists. The next few weeks – and months – are rich with ifs, ands, buts, maybes and maybe nots. In Ottawa the only sure thing is there’s no sure thing. Here’s what

All-star break gives Senators’ brass time to reflect and ponder plans

 The Ottawa Senators’ bye week is upon us. They won’t hit the ice again until Jan. 27th when they host the New Jersey Devils. That’s a break the size of the one in our foundation wall (. . . but that’s another story). Nine-days-plus. A long, long time between games.

Senators’ problems are good problems to have

 It really is looking like something of a perfect storm for Eugene Melnyk and Pierre Dorion. Public perception regarding the Ottawa Senators has been justifiably poor the past few years, but doesn’t it just seem the tide is shifting (somewhat)? Ottawa is in an ideal situation right now. Dedication to

Few passing grades as Senator season passes

 Photo courtesy of NHLI via Getty Images “Well, at the very least we had – at the very least – umm, Brady Tkachuk!” Offers Glass-Half-Full-Guy. “That’s like doing back-flips cause you got one of the six numbers in 6/49 right!” Counters Glass-Half-Empty Guy. That kind of season, eh Ottawa? For

Senators’ decision-making is taking its sweet time

 Photo courtesy NHLI via Getty Images Rip the bandage off already, would you? Pull the bloody plug. Here we sit less than a week away from the NHL’s trade deadline (Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET) and still no definitive word on which direction, if any, the Ottawa Senators’ rebuilding

Small sample size, but Sens on target

 Photo courtesy NHLI via Getty Images The National Hockey League hype machine is officially – as with every season – firing on all cylinders. Happens every year around this time. A couple of games in and the prophecy window is wide open for business. The Senators are this, the Leafs

SENATORS: A Week in Review – December 12-18, 2016

 SENATORS: A Week in Review is a weekly column looking back at the week in Ottawa Senators hockey written by #OLMSports Dave Gross. Images from NHL.com. Generally I'll refrain from the old-standard 'I told you so.' But so far, so good, and it's irresistible. So, 'I told you so.' Juvenile humour aside,

Senators Get a New GM

  A faceoff during the first playoff game between the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2006 Stanley Cup. After seven years as general manager, Bryan Murray (73) has announced he is stepping down from his role with the Ottawa Senators. At a press conference on Sunday, Murray says he will