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Photo by Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen

Melnyk said moving somebody into this role has always been part of the plan, but he didn’t want to rush out to replace Murray.

“It’s not something I hadn’t told (Dorion) about for some time now and it actually goes back to when Bryan was sick because I told (Dorion) it was going to be tough to replace (Murray) and it’s not that I wasn’t going to, it was purely that it was going to be tough,” he said.

“It’s not easy. There’s only a handful of people that you can say have that kind of experience, that kind of talent, negotiated hundred of player contracts, have strategized on what to do going into the playoffs and for all that you need extra, smart people around.”

Melnyk praised the work Dorion has done since he has taken over the GM’s duties in April 2016 because the last 15 months haven’t been easy with the organization deciding to take a step back to try to get return to being a contender after advancing to the East final in May 2017.

Melnyk said Dorion has done a solid job filling the cupboards with prospects and draft picks.

Photo by Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS

“It was a tough thing to do and we got the maximum return,” Melnyk said. “We’re not in it for a participation bad or just to be there, it’s easy to be in the middle of the pack where you’re going to make the playoffs, you get into the first round and then the door shuts on you in the first round.”

“I just don’t believe you go into this 75%. We did it. Pierre did it and he took the criticism and I took the criticism.”

The Senators want to have somebody who has won before and has the experience it takes to help this team get to the next level.