Report: Ottawa Senators Shake Up Front Office, Parting Ways With Associate GM Ryan Bowness
For a team that's only five days into its off-season, the Ottawa Senators aren't wasting any time preparing for next season. On Monday, GM Steve Staios signed RFA defenceman Nik Matinpalo to a two-year extension. On Tuesday, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, the team parted company with associate GM Ryan Bowness.
Ryan Bowness at the 2024 NHL Draft (Ottawa Senators on YouTube)
Bowness was originally hired in the summer of 2022, so he was one of the few holdovers from the team's previous regime. He avoided the axe that fell on the jobs of his boss, GM Pierre Dorion, along with head coach D.J. Smith, assistants Davis Payne and Jack Capuano, the media relations staff, and several others.
According to Garrioch's report, this decision was a mutual parting of the ways. For the record, that's also how the team framed Dorion's exit.
Bowness was also the GM of the Belleville Senators. Garrioch indicates that Dave Poulin, the club's senior vice-president of hockey ops, will replace Bowness at the AHL board of governors meeting this week, and expects that director of player personnel Rob DiMaio, a Staios hire, may take over Bowness' job as Sens' associate GM.
Prior to his hiring in Ottawa, Bowness served as director of pro scouting for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and his move here was more than just a professional opportunity—it was personal. As the son of Rick Bowness, the Senators' first head coach in the early '90s, Ryan was able to return to the team and town that both factored into a lot of his childhood and hockey memories.
Ryan began his NHL front office career with the Thrashers in Atlanta, where his dad began his NHL playing career with the Flames in the 1970s.
The Senators have not issued an official statement on Bowness' status, but given his resumé and reputation, Bowness likely won't be without opportunities for very long.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
3 hours ago
- News24
Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated' after hitting, killing groundhog at Canadian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton was left distressed after unknowingly hitting and killing a groundhog during the Canadian Grand Prix. The incident caused damage to the right side of his Ferrari's floor, and combined with a brake issue and strategic missteps, Hamilton finished sixth in the race. Hamilton voiced frustration over Ferrari's lacklustre performance this season, emphasising the urgent need for upgrades to compete at the front. For more F1 news, visit our dedicated section. Lewis Hamilton said he felt devastated after learning that he had hit and killed a groundhog, damaging his Ferrari car, on his way to finishing sixth in the Canadian Grand Prix. Hamilton, who owns a French bulldog called Roscoe that is often seen with him at Grands Prix, said he did not see the groundhog and felt that the incident reduced the performance of his car after a bright start Sunday. READ | McLaren crashes, Russell makes late title bid: Three things learned from the Canadian GP 'It was feeling pretty decent up until then,' said the seven-time world champion. 'I got a good start, I held position, and I was holding onto the leading group. 'I was managing the tyres well, so I was feeling optimistic. 'I didn't see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog. That's devastating because I love animals and I'm so sad about it. It's horrible. 'That's never happened to me before here, but the floor - basically the right-side - there was a hole in it. 'Given that, and we had a brake issue halfway through as well, and then we probably stayed out too long in the first stop and came out behind traffic... it went from one thing to another.' After going 10 races without a podium this season for the first time in his Formula One career, having joined Ferrari, Hamilton was expressing mounting frustration at the team's disappointing start to the year. 'I'm grateful that I finished, particularly with the brake issue I had. We are really in need of an upgrade, but there are a lot of things that need to change in order for us to compete at the front.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
NHL Rumors: Insider reveals likely cost to sign Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand in free agency
The Florida Panthers acquired Brad Marchand just ahead of the NHL trade deadline hoping he would give them enough of a push to win the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years. With Marchand making his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy, he's poised to cash in soon in NHL free agency. Chris Johnston of The Athletic believes the bidding war for the Panthers might get 'north of $8 million' annually. Not only is an $8-plus million AAV on the table, but Johnston also writes that Marchand will likely receive four-year contract offers. Advertisement Related: Latest on Florida Panthers' plans with Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand Brad Marchand playoff stats: 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists), 2 power-play points, 3 game-winning goals in 22 games Just over a month removed from his 37th birthday, Marchand made his debut in 2010 with the Boston Bruins. The 5-foot-9 center has played in nearly 1,300 career games, including the NHL Playoffs. Even before his postseason heroics this year, he was viewed as one of the 10 best players expected to reach free agency. The projected asking price could push him out of the Panthers' price range. Florida is prioritizing a lucrative eight-year contract extension with Sam Bennett and there is a desire to re-sign defenseman Aaron Ekblad. As a result, the Panthers are in serious risk of losing Marchand to the open market. Related: Insider sheds light on Sam Bennett's future with Florida Panthers Brad Marchand career stats (ESPN): 980 points (556 goals, 424 assists), 84 power-play goals, 82 game-winning goals in 1,100 regular-season games Advertisement The question then becomes what Marchand prioritizes in NHL free agency. Already a Stanley Cup champion, he would provide an excellent veteran presence for a young team and he remains a reliable points producer. However, the length of the contract and Marchand's age make signing with a rebuilding club less likely. Instead, clubs like the Toronto Maple Leafs ($25.71 million in cap space), Carolina Hurricanes ($28.42 million in cap space) and Los Angeles Kings ($21.71 million in cap space) could emerge as potential suitors. Read More: Reactions to Brad Marchand's heroics with the Florida Panthers Related Headlines
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
UFC Cuts Ties With Record-Breaking Veteran On 2-Fight Losing Streak
In professional sports, it's almost never about what you've done in the past. It's almost always about what you've accomplished lately. UFC CEO Dana White and his brass make moves every week to adjust the roster and the current week is no exception. Veteran Brad Katona found that out firsthand on Monday when the 33-year-old was reportedly removed from the UFC's active roster. Katona is the only fighter in history to win The Ultimate Fighter twice. He won as a featherweight in 2018 and again as a bantamweight in 2023. It shouldn't be undersold how difficult it is to win two TUF seasons, to do it in different weight classes—and to have the later one happen in a lighter division. The release ends Katona's second stint in the UFC. After he won TUF in 2018 with wins over Kyler Phillips and Bryce Mitchell, Katona won his first two fights in the UFC. He then lost unanimous decisions to Merab Dvalishvili and Hunter Azure just before the pandemic. Katona was released and then signed with Brave CF, where he won four straight before getting another crack at the UFC through another stint on TUF. After battling past Carlos Vera, Timur Valiev, and Cody Gibson to win TUF for the second time, he was officially back in the UFC. In January 2024, Katona lost a unanimous decision to Garret Armfield in his first fight on the main roster since 2019. However, he defeated Jesse Butler via unanimous decision in June 2024 before losing back-to-back fights to Jean Matsumoto and Bekzat Almakhan via first-round KO. The loss to Almakhan was significant because it was the first time Katona had ever been stopped in his professional MMA career. No one will ever question Katona's toughness, heart, and resilience. Almost no one has battled as hard to get to, remain, and return to the UFC. That said, Katona has some obvious holes in his overall package. He almost never finishes opponents. Instead, he battles hard and competes in a lot of really close fights that produce debatable decisions from the judges. There isn't a world where he will be a legit title contender in any weight class within his region. At best, he can be a tough test for a rising young fighter. It doesn't appear the UFC has much interest in a fighter with that profile, thus the release. I can see Katona going to the Professional Fighters League and competing on a high level for their championship at 135 or 145 pounds. We saw Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Ryan Bader, and Corey Anderson leave the UFC and enjoy championship success with Bellator and/or the PFL. Perhaps Katona could follow their lead. In any case, it'll be interesting to see which direction he's headed. At 32, he could have some fight left in him, but it probably won't be with the UFC again. The promotion is in Baku on Saturday for a special Fight Night event. Here's a look at the card scheduled for June 21.
