In a manner of speaking, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion put out a giant classified ad during his closing media conference of the 2021-22 NHL season.
The ad reads: Wanted, experienced NHL players to complement a fabulous youth core. We want players of strong character, but talent, too. The future is fabulously bright. Come to Ottawa and help make it brighter, faster.
Dorion has said in recent months he would love to attract a top-four defenceman and top-six forward to Ottawa’s roster. On Sunday, Dorion openly admitted the challenges of recruiting top-end talent to a smaller Canadian market. He wasn’t joking when he said he is going to enlist captain Brady Tkachuk and alternate captain Thomas Chabot to recruit talent, let players know what a first-class operation this team is, even if it is not exactly on the doorstep of being a Stanley Cup champion. Not yet, anyway.
“When you’re not a team that’s at the top, unless you overpay, they will not come here,” Dorion said, during a free-wheeling 30-minute conversation with Ottawa media Sunday morning. “Whether we like it or not, some players don’t want to play under the media scrutiny of Canada. And, unless you can talk to Prime Minister Trudeau or Premier Ford about their tax structure, that’s another thing that comes into play.
“We are one of the most taxed places to play in North America,” Dorion added.
The general manager said that part of the long process of getting Tkachuk signed last fall was the issue of the Senators committing to building a winner.
“Mr. Melnyk made that commitment to him,” Dorion said.
Now that Eugene Melnyk has since passed, Dorion let on that not much will change in the short term. He met recently for two and a half hours with the team’s board of directors, and came away with an understanding of a continued, shared vision to build a contender.
While there is no interest in spending to the cap as early as next season (unless we can guarantee 41 home sellouts, Dorion quipped), eventually there is a commitment to spending what it takes to be a champion.
“As we move forward, we’re going to spend more money,” Dorion vowed.
“We’re going to now maybe go after higher quality free agents or higher quality players because that’s what we feel (we need). You talk to the players, and they feel that’s the direction we should be going.”
Dorion shared a funny anecdote about the themes of the Senators exit meetings. They were three common topics, he said. One, that the coaching, medical and support staff are first rate, as good as any in the league. Two, the post-game food is excellent (never underestimate the urgency of feeding young, hungry athletes – parents will know this). Finally, three – players want some experienced help on the roster.
Dorion noted that Chabot, in particular, has grown understandably weary of missing the playoffs during his first five full NHL seasons, which happen to coincide with the number of years it has been since Ottawa’s run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017. Chabot is now 25.
“Thomas is one of the better defencemen in the league,” Dorion said. “He definitely wants to play meaningful games.”
In Dorion’s view, Chabot had his best season to date and would have played for Canada had there been NHL participation in the 2022 Olympics. Chabot’s stature, as a long-suffering star, gives him the clout to speak up.
Among the interesting tidbits Dorion shared, he had an honest and open meeting with Chabot after the trade deadline, where Ottawa was once again a seller (although it also brought in Mathieu Joseph and Travis Hamonic).
“He (Chabot) said, ‘I’ve put a lot of faith in what you’re going to do to bring us to the next level,’” Dorion said. “‘But at the same time, picks and prospects only go so far.’”
Senators fans could appreciate that comment. In response, Dorion told Chabot that he might call on his help to land a player or two via free agency or trade. Help sell the player on what a tight group the Sens have, how there are no cliques here. Certain veterans here now (likely Nick Holden and Austin Watson) have told the organization this is the best ‘room’ they have played with.
Dorion’s goal for next season is for this team to play “meaningful” hockey to the very end of the season, challenge for a playoff spot, in other words. Like head coach D.J. Smith, Dorion said he could be more specific about goals once the roster is set in September.
To that end, he would like to have his roster set sooner and possibly play more exhibition games to help avoid the slow starts that have plagued the last two seasons. The Senators will also likely go on a pre-season bonding trip to bring the group together.
Tierney, Ennis and Mete gone; Sanderson wearing a cast
Other revelations from Dorion’s presser: Pending UFA forwards Chris Tierney and Tyler Ennis will not be back. Ditto for RFA defenceman Victor Mete.
Player injuries were more or less covered with the Saturday media availabilities, with the exception of this one: Defence prospect Jake Sanderson, who was operated on in mid-March, reinjured his hand this week and will be wearing a cast on the hand for six weeks. He is expected to be ready for camp.
On veteran Matt Murray, Dorion said he shares Murray’s view that when healthy, he has played well for Ottawa. The problem is, he hasn’t been healthy on a consistent basis.
Dorion named Anton Forsberg the team MVP while also heaping praise on the play of Tkachuk, Batherson, Norris, Chabot, Tim Stützle, Alex Formenton and Erik Brannstrom.
Dorion says he told goalie prospect Filip Gustavsson bluntly: “In 2021, you were probably the best goalie to play for the Ottawa Senators, this year, of the three, you were probably the worst. Find a way to get back to being the best.”
Gustavsson, by the way, was sensational in Belleville’s win over the Toronto Marlies Saturday.
Gustavsson has a one-way contract that kicks in next season.
“There’s a chance that we have three goalies next year,” Dorion said, alluding to Forsberg, Murray and Gustavsson.
Norris, Brannstrom contract talks
Dorion was pleased to hear centre Josh Norris say during his exit meeting that he hoped to get a contract done sooner rather than later, avoiding the kind of drawn-out process involving Tkachuk last summer. Norris, a pending RFA, led the team in goals with 35.
Expect talks with agent Craig Oster to begin very soon.
“Josh would like to get something done . . . we hope we can do something quickly,” Dorion said.
Similarly, Dorion hopes to have a contract settled with defenceman Brannstrom, and noted the 22-year-old had a breakthrough season while stepping in to fill holes in the lineup due to injuries, especially to Chabot.
Dorion’s overall assessment of the 2021-22 Senators: after a slow start, this group “took a big step in the right direction.”
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
