Former NY Islanders defenseman named interim GM of the Ottawa Senators

Former NY Islanders defenseman Steve Staios was named the interim General Manager of the Ottawa Senators following the resignation of Pierre Dorion.

The move stems from the recent announcement that the Senators will forfeit a first-round draft pick in 2024, 2025, or 2026 - as punishment for an invalidated trade between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks. Dadonov, a member of the Senators in 2021, was traded to Vegas in July of 2021 in exchange for Nick Holden and a third-round pick. At the time, Dadonov had a 10-team no-trade list. The following season, in 2022, the Knights attempted to trade Dadonov to the Ducks as the 3 o'clock trade deadline was approaching. The trade was later void, as Dorion and the Senators had not made the Knights aware of Dadonov's ten-team no-trade list, of which the Ducks were part.

"We were negligent in nature, and our duty of care was ignored, which set off events that embarrassed the league and pissed off two other NHL clubs," Senators majority owner Michael Andlauer said. "As a league member, we have to be held accountable for our actions. And, while this did not happen on my watch, I must respect the league's decision."

Dorion spent seven years as the GM of the Sens. Staios most recently served as the Senators President of Hockey Operations before assuming this new role.

"I'll do what's best for the Ottawa Senators," Staios said. " So as this begins to unfold, we'll take a longer look at what our options might be and who may be available [to take over the role full-time]."

Staios, 50, played parts of 17 seasons in the NHL, calling it a career following the 2011-12 season. Of those 17, he spent his last with the Islanders, appearing in 65 games as an alternate captain. He failed to register a goal but assisted on eight while averaging 17:04 per game.