Ottawa Senators have named Pierre McGuire the team’s new Vice President of Player Development

The Ottawa Senators announced today that the club has appointed Pierre McGuire as senior vice president of player development. He will work closely with Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and team owner Eugene Melnyk as the team continues to develop into a Stanley Cup contender.

The #Sens are set to introduce former NBC broadcaster Pierre McGuire as senior VP of player development today. Postmedia has an exclusive interview with McGuire and owner Eugene Melnyk that will be posted by @ottawasuncom and @OttawaCitizen any minute. Pick up a copy.

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) July 12, 2021

The move came partly due to former Detroit Red wings senior vice-president, and five-time Stanley Cup-winner in a variety of roles, Jim Devellano, and also received endorsements from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

Melnyk, who made clear his desire to see the Senators return to the playoffs next season, sung McGuire’s praises, referring to him as a “key piece” of the team’s future ambitions.

“On behalf of the entire Senators organization, I would like to welcome Pierre McGuire back to Ottawa,” said Melnyk. “We are excited to add Pierre to our hockey management group. His experience will be instrumental as we continue to build an elite team. Pierre’s knowledge of the game and its players is highly regarded and I am confident that he will positively assist our team as it progresses to the next level.”

McGuire, arrives in Ottawa in the midst of a long career in both hockey and broadcasting and worked most recently with NBC Sports. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Hobart College, in Geneva, N.Y., in 1984. He originally joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 as a scout and later served as Penguins’ assistant coach. He won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1992. He later joined the Hartford Whalers and served as an assistant coach, assistant general manager and eventual head coach with the team.

While this is the 59 year-old McGuire’s first NHL job since 1996, Melnyk is confident that his experience, and wide array of NHL contacts will be a key component of Ottawa’s Stanley Cup push in the not-too-distant future.

“The last couple of pieces have to be put into place. It’s no secret we need a defensive defenceman and possibly a first-line centre and then as far as players are concerned I think we’ve covered it.

“There’s no more ‘we’re still in rebuild’. We’re here to play and, dammit, we’re going to win.”

McGuire, clearly enthused about joining the upstart Senators, echoed those sentiments.

“Before I even got to Ottawa, and I’ve had a chance to go over it with (Dorion), but the plan is really solid and concrete,” said McGuire. “I respect the vision that they have. There are organizational needs that they have, and there are few perfect teams in the league. One thing you try do, and I believe (Dorion) has been doing this, is you try to get players that your coach is comfortable with and players that will help the coach win.

“That’s the process everyone is going through, right now.”