OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators already have a new general manager, and the players know more big changes are coming.
The Senators (38-35-9) finished the 2015-16 season 11 points back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the final wild card in the Eastern Conference. Expectations for this group had been high after last season's unbelievable run to the playoffs, but instead of progressing this team stumbled on a regular basis.
"When you have years like this it's frustrating, especially when you have a good group of guys," said forward Mark Stone as the Senators cleaned out their lockers Monday. "You want to win together, you want to succeed together and we weren't able to do that so we know there's going to be changes. It's just the nature of the game."
The first change came Sunday as the Senators announced that Bryan Murray would be stepping down as general manager and Pierre Dorion would be promoted to the position.
Players spoke of the admiration they had for Murray, who continued to work despite battling colon cancer, but know that Dorion brings a wealth of experience to the job.
"Very sad about Bryan, I have a lot of respect for that man and what he's done throughout his career and especially for mine," said captain and star defenceman Erik Karlsson. "There was a decision that they thought about long and hard and it's what was best for the organization."
Speculation remains rampant regarding head coach Dave Cameron and his staff's future. While his departure seems imminent, players said Cameron's message was still getting through.
"Somebody mentioned to me that they've been here six or seven years and this will be their fourth or fifth (coach) and he felt like (the players) should be taking the heat a little more," said forward Bobby Ryan. "I don't want to say things are falling on deaf ears because I don't think they did with Paul (MacLean) and I really don't think they did with Dave, but at the same time I think the actions and the responsibility is more on the players than ever gets let on to Dave.
"I don't think the room was lost by any means as far as we're concerned with Dave."
While Cameron may have still had the players ear there was definitely a disconnect when it came to production on special teams. The Senators were 26th in the league with the man advantage and 29th on the penalty kill. The Senators had just 38 power-play goals, their second lowest total in franchise history.
"You look at what you think kept us from playing next week and starts and special teams is what it comes down to," said Ryan. "Then you solve the bigger question which is consistency through addressing those two little things and then maybe that's a catalyst for it."
Consistency was an issue all season long. The Senators never managed more than two four-game winning streaks. They were 14-30-7 when giving up the first goal and were outshot in 60 games this season.
"Whatever you bring to the team that's what you've got to bring and do it right and consistent every night," said veteran forward Chris Neil. "For us we didn't have enough of that this year. You would play unbelievable one game and look like a great playoff team and the next night you look like you don't even belong in the league. You can't have those lapses."
In addition to a decision on his coaching staff, Dorion will need to decide on Mike Hoffman's status. The 26-year-old, who led the Senators in goals with 29, is set to become a restricted free agent in July. Last summer Hoffman was awarded a one-year $2 million deal through arbitration.
Ideally Hoffman would like to remain with the Senators and sign a multi-year deal, but he said he's not worried about negotiations.
Decisions will also need to be made on the future of defenceman Patrick Wiercioch and right-wing Alex Chiasson, who both become restricted free agents this summer. Defenceman Cody Ceci should be in line for a raise as he's also set to become a restricted free agent.
Notes: Stone and Ceci will represent Team Canada at the World Championships, while D Chris Wideman will play for the United States.
