In today’s piece, I look at two big questions that Ottawa needs to figure out in the not too distant future. Where does Sens GM Pierre Dorion and prospect Logan Brown fit in the long term with the Ottawa Senators?
Since the Ottawa Senators sent out a qualifying offer on July 26th for Logan Brown, Brown has yet to sign and many fans in this city wonder if he will even start training with the Senators come September. Brown has been injury prone going back to his last two years in junior hockey and this past season was no different, with Logan getting only 13 games in the AHL while suiting up at the end of the season for one game with the big club. From back to hip issues, Brown couldn’t seem to string together more than a few games before getting injured again. It was setback after setback, while the coaching tried to remain positive and patient with him.
When Ottawa traded up to draft Brown 11th overall in the 2016 entry draft, nobody could have predicted five years later that he would have suited up for only 30 games in the NHL! His 6’6… frame made him a very enticing prospect and with his Ottawa roots, management thought he would be a long term solution to their center ice position. Instead, Brown has become a lightning rod for criticism with his injury prone career and his lack of foot speed. His skating has long been an issue but pundits say he could be a terrific powerplay specialist. Brown hasn’t been healthy enough to grow his junior skill set to that of what he needs at the professional level. Many fans have been left wondering if Brown has what it takes to play at the NHL, on an every day basis.
With so many question marks at the center ice position for the Senators when training camp opens next month, this is truly Brown’s last chance to make an impression on management. At this point, Ottawa would get little in return for this asset so why not give Brown every opportunity in training camp and the clubs pre-season games to see if he can finally become an every day NHLer.
Which begs the next question, why hasn’t Brown signed his qualifying offer? He has absolutely no leverage and needs to prove his worth, either by cracking the Sens line-up or by showing enough to possibly get traded to a team that feels he has what they are looking for.
Personally, head coach DJ Smith and his staff need to put Brown in a position to succeed in the pre-season, while giving him every opportunity to make the team for the upcoming season. The club needs to evaluate Brown like never before in camp/pre-season games while putting him in a position to succeed too. Either grow the asset or cut bait in the coming months? Does Brown make it to Sens training camp or get traded before the start of training camp? Thoughts Sens fans?
Lastly, does GM Pierre Dorion sign an extension prior to Christmas? One has to wonder why owner Eugene Melnyk has yet to give Dorion an extension, especially after head DJ Smtih was signed to a two year contract extension last month. Back on February 9th, 2018, Dorion signed a three year contract extension. At the time of the extension and this is straight from the Sens website on that day and I quote,
"The goal is to win the Stanley Cup," said team owner Eugene Melnyk. "Having come within one goal of last season's Stanley Cup Final, we were hopeful entering this season. Obviously, our results have challenged those expectations. What remains unchanged is the dedication that goes into evaluating every aspect of this organization." Under Pierre's leadership, the Ottawa Senators will concentrate on building a foundation of sustainable success. "Today's announcement reflects a renewed commitment to scouting, drafting and development. It may require changes to our lineup. Rest assured, we will only tolerate pain with an endgame in mind: building an organization that wins - at all levels - year in and year out."
When Ottawa hired Pierre McGuire as Senior VP of Player Development, a few NHL executives that I spoke too, wondered if it would be only a matter of time that he became the GM of the Sens. McGuire made it no secret that Melnyk reached out to him about the opportunity while he was covering the Stanley Cup Final. They had a few long conversations before McGuire spoke to Dorion. Yes, it was overdue that Ottawa added to their front office personnel to help Dorion, but the fact that the owner initiated all the talks before Dorion was brought into the loop, definitely has many wondering if Dorion will be given a contract extension.
Dorion has had to work with a tight budget over the years, while dealing with a very hands on owner. He has done an admirable job under very difficult circumstances. An Ottawa guy, Dorion has stated numerous times this was his dream job. Many fans in this city want to see how Dorion handles Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson’s contract extensions. So my question to you Sens fans, has Dorion done enough to warrant a two year extension like that of his head coach? Or is the writing on the wall for Dorion, with Pierre McGuire take over as GM in the coming year?
A year from now, are both Dorion and Brown not a part of the Sens organization? All for great discussion during the dog days of summer. Thanks for reading. Kevin