Dorion out as Senators GM in wake of pick forfeit
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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
Pierre Dorion has resigned and been relieved of his duties as general manager of the Ottawa Senators. President of hockey operations Steve Staios will take over as interim GM.
The team announced Dorion’s departure after eight seasons in the role during a Wednesday news conference featuring owner Michael Andlauer, who purchased the team last spring, and Staois.
Dorion’s firing came on the heels of Ottawa being docked a first-round draft choice for the club’s role in an invalidated trade in 2022 between Evgenii Dadonov and the Anaheim Ducks that Andlauer said came with a 73-page document — which he only received last week — dictating how the Senators were “negligent in nature” and that was a final push to move on from Dorion.
“I think a lot of the decisions that have been made or some of the issues that we’ve had could have been avoided,” Andlauer said. “Our duty of care was ignored, which set off events that embarrassed the league and pissed off two other NHL clubs. As a member of this league, we have to be held accountable for our actions, and while this was done before my watch, I must respect that decision. So today I’m here to announce that Pierre Dorian has resigned and been relieved of his duties as general manager.”
Andlauer said it was over dinner with Dorion on Tuesday the sides determined they were “best to part ways.” But it wasn’t a hasty decision. Andlauer said he told Staois — who joined the Senators organization in late September as the first major hire by Andlauer — last week he was considering a change at the GM post.
The NHL’s harsh punishment for the Dadonov debacle, plus the recent gambling-related suspension of restricted free agent Shane Pinto, forced Andlauer into action and pursuing a new path in the GM slot.
Dorion, 51, started with the Senators in 2007 as chief amateur scout, eventually graduating to director of player personnel in 2009 and assistant general manager in 2014. He was officially named the new GM on April 10, 2016, taking over from Bryan Murray. Under Dorion, Ottawa made one playoff appearance, advancing to the 2007 Eastern Conference Final.
Head coach DJ Smith — who was hired by Dorion in 2019 — will remain in place along with his staff.
Over the course of Ottawa’s transparent press conference, Andlauer expressed frustration that he’s facing the consequences coming from the Dadonov’s botched trade attempt.
Ottawa is only now having to forfeit a first-round draft choice in either 2024, 2025 or 2026 as punishment stemming from their 2021 trade of Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights, where Ottawa failed to inform Vegas that Dadonov’s contract included a 10-team no-trade clause. That caused the Golden Knights’ subsequent trade attempt of Dadonov to the Ducks in 2022 to be invalidated.
“Why I inherited this is beyond me,” Andlauer said. “There’s no reason for [an investigation] to take so long.”
The Senators will now have to decide which season they’ll give up the first-round choice, a decision that must be made within 24 hours of that year’s draft lottery.
“We’ll go through a process to identify our best-case scenario and how it will be less debilitating [on our organization],” Andlauer said in terms of choosing a season to give up their pick. “We haven’t really gotten to that but there will be a process that we will put in place and take a long hard look at it.”
On top of this week’s difficulties, the Senators have also dealt with fallout surrounding Pinto’s suspension. Pinto, who has yet to sign a new contract with the club, was assessed a 41-game ban on October 26 for violating the NHL’s betting rules. The league did not provide details on why Pinto had specifically been flagged but did say he was not being accused of wagering on NHL games.
Andlauer maintained the NHL’s investigation into Pinto’s activity began last summer but the organization wasn’t made aware of it until more recently. To that end, Andlauer wanted negotiations with Pinto to be halted until they gathered all the facts. And again, Andlauer was perplexed by the NHL’s own lack of transparency around when Pinto was being looked into and the bungled Dadonov transaction.
“I don’t understand why it [all] took so long,” said Andlauer. “Maybe because the club was for sale and they didn’t want to disrupt [the process], so making sure the seller got the biggest price possible. I don’t know. I can’t answer that. You’ll have to ask the league that question.”
In the meantime, Staois is looking for Ottawa’s next general manager. He said the priority is to “instill stability and confidence in the group” immediately following what can only be described as a turbulent first month of the season in Canada’s capital city.
“I’ll do what’s best for the Ottawa Senators,” Staois said. “That’s the bottom line. “So, I think as this [search] starts to unfold, I think we’re going to take a longer look at what our options might be and who might be available.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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