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It wasn’t long ago, during a break in the schedule in Philadelphia, that Bryan Murray talked about the flame still burning inside him.

Sunday, though, the Senators GM decided it was best to pass the torch.

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As Postmedia was first to report, Murray, 73, confirmed Sunday morning he has decided to move into a role of senior adviser as assistant Pierre Dorion was promoted to become the eighth GM in club history during a press conference at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Less than 24 hours after the Senators completed their season with a 6-1 victory over the Boston Bruins and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years, Murray, who is battling Stage 4 colon cancer, determined it was best he step aside to let the 43-year-old Dorion guide the Senators.

“It’s time to step aside and have a different role with the organization. I say this — every day in the NHL has been a challenge and it has been great. It has taken some time to come to the decision, but it’s time for my family,” Murray said.

He’s leaving behind a team that needs to be re-tooled, not completely rebuilt.