Pierre Dorion finally made an appearance in the media, asked mostly about the impending draft and the team’s current free agents
Craig Anderson’s Time in Ottawa has Come to an end
Pierre Dorion was asked about impending unrestricted free agent Craig Anderson and firmly stated that the team will not be bringing back the veteran goaltender.
Pierre Dorion confirms the Sens will not be bringing Craig Anderson back next season.
— Brent Wallace (@localpodcaster) September 23, 2020
Anderson easily stands as the greatest goaltender in Senators history as he’s played over 9 seasons in the nation’s capital, including 4 playoff appearances and a Bill Masterton Memorial trophy in 2017 after the phenomenal perseverance he showed during his wife Nicholle’s battle with cancer.
It’s a good sign that Ottawa is moving on from Anderson as he has clearly declined over the last few seasons and would just be holding the Senators young goaltending core back.
Dorion shuts down rumours for pick 3
Asked about his 3rd overall pick, Dorion stuck to his guns and relayed that whoever the Los Angeles Kings take at 2nd overall, the Senators would take the player that the Kings left over. This is obviously hinting that the team will select whichever one of Byfield/Stützle doesn’t get selected by the Kings. TSN 1200 got that answer from Dorion after his media availability.
Pierre Dorion all but confirmed what the vast majority are saying. There is a clear top 3 in this draft, and the Sens will grab whoever is left at #3: #Lafreniere #Byfield #Stutzle
— Steve Lloyd (@TSNSteveLloyd) September 23, 2020
Around multiple draft circles scouts have let it be known that the top 3 is clear with Lafreniere to the Rangers and Byfield/Stützle with the next two picks. “Everyone knows what we’re going to do at 3 depending on what LA does”, it seems clear as day that Senators fans should have a fair amount of certainty when Dorion steps up to make the pick at 3.
Trades a Real Possibility With Draft Capital
With seven picks in the first two rounds and nine in the first three, Dorion wasn’t shy to shine some light on the possibility of trading picks, especially in the 2nd and 3rd round.
"Will we take nine players in the first three rounds? I’d probably say on the no side of thing rather than the yes side of things”"
This makes perfect sense to gain real value out of those surpluses of picks that Dorion has at his disposal, they could move back into the first-round or trade one of their picks for an established player.
With that many picks, selecting all nine players would be a poor gamble, seeing as though whether or not those players pan out there likely won’t be room for all of them on the NHL roster anyways. Dorion shouldn’t shy away from trading up to make sure he gets a player that he and his scouting staff are high on and it seems like that will be Dorion’s course of action with his draft capital.
"At the same time, we have to make sure that when we bring our younger players into the line-up they are well surrounded, whether that’s via trades or free-agency, we will make sure to do that once the season starts"
While immediate help on the roster isn’t paramount as the Senators are still a few years away from being a playoff team, Dorion has shown value in established NHL talent and if he can trade their late 1st/2nd/3rd round picks for a player already proven at the NHL level he won’t hesitate.
Borowiecki’s Time in Ottawa Comes to an End
Pierre Dorion was asked about the Mark Borowiecki situation and said:
"“On Mark Borowiecki we’ve seen that Mark looks like he’s going to test free-agent waters, Mark has been a great member of this team for many years, if he’s gonna go to the free-agent market, we thank him for all he’s done”"
The cherry on top, despite recent instagram comments by Borowiecki, Dorion seems to have got the message from Borowiecki that he would like to test the free-agent market and has said that they haven’t been in talks with the veteran defenceman.