The Ottawa Senators have made a change to the front office, firing vice president of player development Pierre McGuire according to A.J. Jakubec and Steve Lloyd of TSN.
It hasn’t even been a year since the Senators hired McGuire, announcing him on July 12, 2021. Notably, the press release that day included a statement from late owner Eugene Melnyk, not general manager Pierre Dorion, who is still in control of the front office after signing an extension in September. Dorion is trying to take the team from a rebuilding club to a contender, though things did seem to take a slight step backward this season when the team struggled out of the gate.
McGuire, 60, had returned to an NHL front office after more than two decades in a broadcasting role–a role he will likely be returning to now that he’s a free agent once again. His most recent role before this one was as a scout with the Senators in 1996, and a quick exit this time around could spell the end of his time in NHL front offices entirely.
For Ottawa, player development is more important than anything. As a club that isn’t among the league’s financial elite, getting value out of young players on entry-level contracts is the entire game. If McGuire wasn’t getting the best out of that development, it makes sense for the team to move on. With the likes of Jake Sanderson, Ridly Greig, Tyler Boucher joining the organization, the development department will be in the spotlight for the next little while.
at least someone made a smart decision today
The next coach of the Icelanders
I’m telling you Doc, I saw this coming. McGuire came out of St. LAWRENCE University, and hasn’t been successful anywhere since. But if you’re ever in Chicago be sure to try Tony’s Pizza. And speaking of Chicago, London Knight….
And so on
Oh no. Does that mean we will have to hear him on TV again?
Please.. no…
Noooo I was really enjoying not having him as an announcer.
Oh great he is back on TV attempting to tell the world how smart he thinks he is
Poor Pierre.
All at once hilarious and horrifying.
maybe some bottom dweller like the Coyotes will pick him up and keep him off of our tv screens… #LetUsPray lol.
I am not a fan of the Sens; their ownership has let the fan base down with how it treats its fan and employees!!!
I don’t get the hate against McGuire – the guy knows his hockey and especially players at many levels. He’s been pushing the merits of Panthers goalie Spencer Knight for years, and to date he’s bang on and that’s just one of many examples. My theory is that Melnyk hired McGuire to put pressure on Dorion to perform better as a GM, and as a potential successor as GM of the Sens if he didn’t. But with Melnyk’s recent passing, a decision was made to turf McGuire and keep Dorion to avoid any conflicts or tension. Wrong move. Dorion knows he will never again have a seat at an NHL’s GM table if he ever loses his job with the Sens, but it’s time for him to go. McGuire would have made a much better GM imo. I simply cannot sit through another Dorion press conference – it’s too painful to watch and the guy is out of his depth…..
He’s biased, obnoxious, a know it all, pedantic, short and bald. And those are his good qualities
Pierre McGuire SHOULD be able to name a few good hockey players with all the hockey people around him. If not a fool, he’s at least foolhardy.
You can tell just by listening to him that he’s not a particularly intelligent man and consistently says stupid things such as his peculiar dislike for analytics and people who use them. Sports executives who use analytics use them as 1 of many tools, despite what McGuire may think. If they only relied on analytics (hockey’s random unpredictable nature is part of why it has so few analytics), they would have a hockey resume shorter than McGuire himself.
McGuire has been given way too many unwarranted chances in the NHL, given his lack of experience at any level prior to the NHL and his complete lack of success in any of his positions.
In addition to a lack of general intelligence, McGuire is a poor broadcaster and journalist, evident by his awkward interviews and poor questioning (“how’s your breath?”). He may not be the worst broadcaster on TV, but the only skill he has is running his mouth.
I don’t want to hate on people, but he is always so presumptive of his own hockey knowledge, when in fact he isn’t much better than you or I.
So when does Chayka come back to the NHL. And oh yes, Lou wants Quenneville to coach the Isles.
Really bad news, because that means he’ll pop up on TV somewhere. And unless he’s replacing Bieksa, there’s no upside to that.
Pierre we love you!
Stay in Canada. We don’t want you here.
We dont want him either but nice try. He can go to Europe
UGH! Hope none of the networks hire him. It was such a relief not having him fawning over Crosby and other “favorites” during broadcasts this season.
ESPN would be a great landing spot for Pierre