Senators appoint ex-NHL defenseman as President

The Ottawa Senators have turned to a former NHL defenseman to fill a major new role within their organization.

Steve Staios has been tabbed as the new President of Hockey Operations by team owner Michael Andlauer, who says the former veteran blue liner will be in charge of the hockey department. 

Via the official press release: 

“I am so excited that Steve is joining me in Ottawa to lead our hockey operations,” said Andlauer. “I have worked with Steve for many years and know first-hand that he will strengthen our team with his hockey acumen, attention to detail, commitment to excellence and enthusiasm for the game and its players. In hockey you can never accumulate too much talent. Having Steve and Pierre leading our hockey department gives us a formidable team.”

"He joined the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs as President in 2015 before serving as both President and General Manager from 2016-2022. In his time with the Bulldogs, the team twice won the OHL championship, the J. Ross Robertson Cup (2018, 2022). Staios was also awarded the OHL’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award for the 2021-22 season.

In 2012, Staios was named Player Development Adviser for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, and in 2014, he was named the Leafs’ Manager of Player Development. After the Head Coach left in 2015, Steve moved to the bench to support the Leafs’ interim coaching staff.

Before his work in management and player personnel, Staios had a 16-year NHL career, as a defenceman, appearing in 1,001 games. Staios played with a number of teams including the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders." 

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