Senators want to hire President of Hockey Operations, 1st candidate revealed.

The Ottawa Senators have been getting nothing but negative public relations during the 2018 - 2019 National Hockey League regular season, but there are now some early signs that they are looking to make a significant move. 

According to a breaking news report from Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman the Ottawa Senators are looking to hire a President of Hockey Operations, looking to fill the role that was previously held by the late Bryan Murray. The announcement comes as a big surprise not only because the Senators are notorious for being cheap and not spending money, but also because it was presumed by many that Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion had filled the role that had previously been occupied by the man that mentored him for the role. 

That being said Friedman is reporting that the new hire would not threaten the role of Dorion on the team, with the team adding that they are confident in the rebuilding effort that is currently being conducted by Dorion at this time. Of course how true that proves to be will likely depend on the man who is hired for the job, but again given the reputation that Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has for being cheap, it seems highly doubtful to me that he would be prepared to pay Dorion to sit at home while also paying a new President of Hockey Operations and the new general manager that person would bring in to replace Dorion.

Friedman is also reporting that nothing is imminent at this time but that a search is underway. Although Friedman himself has not revealed the names of any potential candidates at this time another source has been able to dig up some information on that very topic and there's a pretty big name being attached to the list of candidates already. According to a report from Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider John Shannon, there have been rumblings that former Los Angeles Kings president and general manager Dean Lombardi was approached by the Senators organization, although at this time there is no way of knowing how that conversation may have gone. 

There seems to be little question that the two time Stanley Cup Champion has the resume to take on the job. He was general manager of the Los Angeles Kings for 6 years before that team won a Stanley Cup Championship, leaving little doubt about who was the mastermind behind the construction of that roster, a roster that would go on to capture a second Stanley Cup Championship just two years later. The questions however will be about whether or not Lombardi wants to step in to take over a franchise that from the outside looks very dysfunctional. 

There's one thing I am certain about however, I think fans of the Ottawa Senators would feel much more comfortable with someone like Dean Lombardi at the helm of their team.

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