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“We have reached mutually satisfactory arrangements with all parties except one which was Mr. O’Leary who was terminated for cause. Mr. O’Leary’s case is before the court and as a result we cannot comment further.”

Unless the O’Leary case goes to trial, the severances should put to rest a turbulent 2016-17 inside the office walls of the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators can only hope for a more stable office environment in the coming season.

In contrast to the Senators’ surprisingly smooth run to the 2017 Eastern Conference final, the scene inside the club offices was turbulent, messy and ripe with carnage.

Beyond Leeder, fans were largely unaware of the turmoil within. They were more struck by a departure beyond the front office, post-season, when franchise icon Daniel Alfredsson chose to leave the hockey club for a second time, citing a need to be with his family.

Alfredsson had been employed as senior adviser of hockey operations. He first left the team as a player in 2013 to sign a contract with the Detroit Red Wings. After some fence-mending by then-general manager Bryan Murray, Alfredsson signed a symbolic one-day contract to officially retire as an Ottawa Senator in December 2014. Alfredsson had his No. 11 jersey retired by the Senators on Dec. 29, 2016.

Pleasant public ceremonies for Alfredsson and Murray, the first inductee into the club’s Ring of Honour, helped paper over the unrest within. On the very day Murray was honoured, Leeder was fired. Murray died last month, leaving a void that can’t be filled. He died of colon cancer while serving as a senior adviser to new GM Pierre Dorion. Murray also played a vital role as buffer between the owner and hockey management.