Editing Ottawa Senators (section)

===Pierre Dorion era (2016–2023)===
On April 10, 2016, the day after the final game of the 2015–16 season, Murray announced his resignation as general manager and that he would continue in an advisory role with the club. Assistant general manager [[Pierre Dorion]] was promoted to the general manager position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/nhl/senatorsextra/shake-up-expected-at-sens-office-today|title=BREAKING: Murray steps down, Dorion named new Sens GM|work=Ottawa Citizen|date=April 10, 2016|access-date=May 9, 2016|archive-date=May 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514094729/http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/nhl/senatorsextra/shake-up-expected-at-sens-office-today|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 12, 2016, the Senators fired head coach Dave Cameron.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/senators-fire-coach-dave-cameron-his-staff/|title=Senators fire coach Dave Cameron, his staff|work=CBS Sports|date=April 12, 2016|access-date=May 25, 2018|archive-date=May 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112820/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/senators-fire-coach-dave-cameron-his-staff/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 8, 2016, the Senators hired former [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] head coach [[Guy Boucher]] as their new head coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/15487976/ottawa-senators-hire-guy-boucher-head-coachn|title=Guy Boucher to coach Senators in second NHL stint|publisher=ESPN|date=May 8, 2016|access-date=May 9, 2016|archive-date=May 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509102345/http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/15487976/ottawa-senators-hire-guy-boucher-head-coachn|url-status=live}}</ref> On the following day, [[Marc Crawford]] was announced as associate coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=882082|title=News Release: Marc Crawford named Ottawa Senators associate coach|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 9, 2016|access-date=May 13, 2016|archive-date=May 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512163528/http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=882082|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 13, 2016, the Senators hired Daniel Alfredsson as the senior advisor of hockey operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/news-release-daniel-alfredsson-agrees-to-one-year-extension-as-senior-advisor-of-hockey-operations/c-885886|title=News Release: Daniel Alfredsson agrees to one-year extension as senior advisor of hockey operations|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=December 5, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220053915/https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/news-release-daniel-alfredsson-agrees-to-one-year-extension-as-senior-advisor-of-hockey-operations/c-885886|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2016, the Senators hired [[Rob Cookson]] as an assistant coach, who had worked with both Boucher and Crawford in Switzerland, and Pierre Groulx as a goaltending coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/news-release-ottawa-senators-name-rob-cookson-assistant-coach/c-886068|title=News Release: Ottawa Senators name Rob Cookson assistant coach|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=December 5, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220053912/https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/news-release-ottawa-senators-name-rob-cookson-assistant-coach/c-886068|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Senators finished second in the Atlantic Division during the [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17 season]]. They faced the [[Boston Bruins]] in the first round of the playoffs, winning that series in six games. In the second round, they defeated the [[New York Rangers]] in six games. During the second game of that series, [[Jean-Gabriel Pageau]] scored four goals, including the game-winning goal in double overtime. The Senators would come within one win of the Stanley Cup Finals having lost in double overtime of the seventh game of their conference finals series against the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], who went on to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pittsburgh Wins In Game 7 Thriller; Senators leave nothing on the ice, but Kunitz scores in double overtime |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |location=Vancouver, B.C. |date=May 26, 2017 |page=C.7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Back-to-back champions: Hornqvist scores late in a riveting Game 6 to help Pittsburgh win second Cup in a row, as Crosby repeats as Conn Smythe winner |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto, Ont. |date=June 12, 2017 |page=S3}}</ref>

Following their appearance in the conference finals the previous season, the Senators lost defenceman [[Marc Methot]] to the [[2017 NHL expansion draft]]. On November 5, 2017, the Senators conducted a blockbuster trade with the Colorado Avalanche, bringing in star forward [[Matt Duchene]] from the Avalanche in exchange for Kyle Turris, [[Shane Bowers (ice hockey)|Shane Bowers]], Andrew Hammond, a conditional first-round pick in [[2018 NHL entry draft|2018]] or [[2019 NHL entry draft|2019]] and a third-round pick in 2019. Following the trade, however, the Senators' season began to fall apart with a disastrous November road trip.<ref name="heritage-classic">{{cite news |title=Dark clouds hang over Ottawa Senators' celebration |last=MacGregor |first=Roy |work=The Globe and Mail (Online) |date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> A season highlight was hosting the [[NHL 100 Classic]] game outdoors at the [[TD Place Stadium]] football field versus the Montreal Canadiens. The game marked the centennial of the first Montreal-Ottawa game in the NHL. The Senators won the game 3–0, but the festival atmosphere was somewhat marred by owner Melnyk's controversial comments to the press about attendance levels and selling or moving the team.<ref name="heritage-classic"/> Out of the playoff picture, the Senators chose to trade away veteran players. Forward [[Derick Brassard]] and defenceman Dion Phaneuf were dealt at the trade deadline to the Pittsburgh Penguins and [[Los Angeles Kings]], respectively. The Senators finished the year second-to-last in the league with a 28–43–11 record and 67 points, their fourth-worst season since entering the league.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2018_standings.html |title=2017-18 NHL Standings |accessdate=April 9, 2022 |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820000749/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2018_standings.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Underachieving Sens know change coming; Players brace for likely overhaul of roster following disastrous 30th-place finish |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |date=April 9, 2018 |page=B.6}}</ref>

During the 2018 off-season, the Senators began what would end up being a complete rebuild. They traded forward [[Mike Hoffman (ice hockey, born 1989)|Mike Hoffman]] to the San Jose Sharks, who later that day flipped him to the [[Florida Panthers]]. The Senators ended up with the fourth-overall pick in the 2018 draft due to their poor record. Under the Matt Duchene trade conditions, they either had to give up the pick to the Avalanche or wait a year and surrender their 2019 first-round pick instead. The Senators elected to keep the pick and selected forward [[Brady Tkachuk]] fourth overall. Just before the regular season started, the Senators traded their captain, Erik Karlsson, to the San Jose Sharks for a large package of players and draft picks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ottawa Senators trade Erik Karlsson to San Jose Sharks |last=Wallace |first=Lisa |work=The Canadian Press |location=Toronto, Ont. |date=September 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Sad day for me'; Full rebuild begins in earnest as Senators trade captain and franchise player Erik Karlsson to San Jose Sharks |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver, B.C. |date=September 14, 2018 |page=A59}}</ref>

After a miserable start to the [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19 season]], the Senators were unable to re-sign forwards Matt Duchene, [[Mark Stone]] and [[Ryan Dzingel]] before the trade deadline. In an attempt to create optimism, owner Melnyk famously stated: "The Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success–where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL's salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025. The Senators' current rebuild is a blueprint on how to bring the Stanley Cup home to its rightful place in Ottawa."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/melnyk-pledges-to-spend-close-to-salary-cap-1.4286321 |title=Melnyk pledges to spend close to salary cap |website=CTV News |date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126112931/https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/melnyk-pledges-to-spend-close-to-salary-cap-1.4286321 |url-status=live}}</ref> All three players were subsequently traded before the 2019 trade deadline. Duchene and Dzingel were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for draft picks, prospects and [[Anthony Duclair]]. In contrast, fan favourite Mark Stone was traded to the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] in exchange for prospect [[Erik Brännström|Erik Brannstrom]], forward [[Oscar Lindberg (ice hockey)|Oscar Lindberg]] and a second-round pick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/senators-trade-star-forward-mark-stone-golden-knights/|title=Senators trade star forward Mark Stone to Golden Knights|website=Sportsnet|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126113548/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/senators-trade-star-forward-mark-stone-golden-knights/|url-status=live}}</ref> Just days after trading away the team's three leading scorers, it was announced that the plans for a new downtown arena on the open land at Lebreton Flats had fallen through. The Ottawa Citizen called it "one of the gloomiest weeks in the history of the Ottawa Senators."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/lebreton-flats-redevelopment-talks-have-failed-ncc-says|title=LeBreton Flats redevelopment talks have failed; Melnyk says 'alternative' arena locations could be explored|website=Postmedia|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126105414/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/lebreton-flats-redevelopment-talks-have-failed-ncc-says|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 1, 2019, with the team in 31st place, head coach Guy Boucher was fired with associate coach Marc Crawford taking over as head coach for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Crawford named interim head coach of rebuilding Ottawa Senators |url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/marc-crawford-named-interim-head-coach-of-rebuilding-ottawa-senators/c-305356826 |website=NHL.com |access-date=March 4, 2019 |date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> The 2018–19 season saw the team finish last in the NHL without their own first-round draft pick. This marked the first time since 1995–96 that the Senators missed back-to-back playoff appearances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/stats|title=Ottawa Senators Stats {{!}} 2018-2019|website=Ottawa Senators|access-date=May 17, 2019|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322095038/https://www.nhl.com/senators/stats|url-status=live}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20 season]], [[D. J. Smith (ice hockey)|D. J. Smith]] was hired as the new head coach while the organization shifted its focus to developing its young players. The season was ultimately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Senators finished second last in the NHL with 62 points in 71 games. In contrast, Ottawa's farm team, the [[Belleville Senators]], put together a very impressive, albeit shortened season led by Ottawa's top prospects, which included [[Josh Norris]], [[Drake Batherson]], [[Alex Formenton]] and Erik Brannstrom among others.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senators' final 13 games of season cut short due to COVID-19 |last=Baldwin |first=Derek |work=The Intelligencer (Online) |location=Belleville, Ont. |publisher=Postmedia Network Inc. |date=March 13, 2020}}</ref> Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks suffered an unexpected collapse that year which significantly benefited the Senators who had acquired their first-round draft pick in the Erik Karlsson trade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Looking ahead; Sens owner Eugene Melnyk is excited about the draft and future of his team |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |newspaper=The Ottawa Sun |date=May 19, 2020 |page=S4}}</ref> Ottawa found themselves with the third and fifth picks in the [[2020 NHL entry draft|2020 NHL draft]] and used them to select highly touted prospects [[Tim Stützle|Tim Stutzle]] and [[Jake Sanderson]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/sharks/senators-pick-tim-stutzle-sharks-first-rounder-erik-karlsson-trade |title=Senators select Stützle with Sharks' pick from Karlsson trade |website=NBC Sports |date=October 7, 2020 |access-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126122907/https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/sharks/senators-pick-tim-stutzle-sharks-first-rounder-erik-karlsson-trade |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Senators would miss the playoffs again for the [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]], a season overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The young team played an all-Canadian shortened season, during which they had a poor record to start the season but finished the season with a strong stretch of play, inspiring some optimism for the future.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ottawa Senators could surprise in 2021-22 |last=Parkinson |first=Cole |newspaper=The 40 - Mile County Commentator |location=Bow Island, Alta. |date=October 5, 2021 |page=A.3}}</ref> The Senators again traded away veterans at the trade deadline for draft picks.<ref>{{cite news |title=NHL trade deadline 2020: Everything you need to know about Monday's trades: Players on the move as NHL teams position themselves for the stretch drive |work=The Globe and Mail (Online) |location=Toronto, Ont. |date=February 25, 2020 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-nhl-trade-deadline-2020-tracker/ |access-date=May 7, 2022 |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507192405/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-nhl-trade-deadline-2020-tracker/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Before the [[2021–22 Ottawa Senators season|2021–22 season]], general manager Pierre Dorion's contract was extended until 2025. He proceeded to declare: "The rebuild is done. Now we're stepping into another zone." His claims, however, did not materialize as the Senators got off to a slow start and were quickly out of the playoff picture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/radio/ottawa-1200/dorion-the-rebuild-is-done-time-to-start-winning-1.1690723|title=Dorion: "The rebuild is done. Time to start winning"|date=September 7, 2021|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127063936/https://www.tsn.ca/radio/ottawa-1200/dorion-the-rebuild-is-done-time-to-start-winning-1.1690723|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 17, 2021, Brady Tkachuk signed a seven-year deal after a dramatic contract holdout.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/brady-tkachuk-signing-update-news-status/c-325807568|title=Tkachuk signs seven-year, $57.5 million contract with Senators|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=March 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305185140/https://www.nhl.com/news/brady-tkachuk-signing-update-news-status/c-325807568|url-status=live}}</ref> Just under three weeks later, he was named the 10th captain in franchise history at just 22 years of age. Tkachuk was, at the time, the franchise's youngest-ever captain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhlpa.com/news/2-27392/senators-name-brady-tkachuk-as-10th-captain-in-franchise-history|title=Senators name Brady Tkachuk as 10th captain in franchise history|website=NHLPA|access-date=November 5, 2023|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127170512/https://www.nhlpa.com/news/2-27392/senators-name-brady-tkachuk-as-10th-captain-in-franchise-history|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ahead of the [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23 season]], the team was aggressive in their efforts to exit their rebuild, drastically retooling the team through the acquisitions of forwards [[Alex DeBrincat]] and [[Claude Giroux]] and goaltender [[Cam Talbot]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Blackhawks trade Alex DeBrincat to Senators in exchange for No. 7 pick in 2022 NHL Draft |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/blackhawks-trade-alex-debrincat-to-senators-in-exchange-for-no-7-pick-in-2022-nhl-draft/ |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=CBSSports.com |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712235708/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/blackhawks-trade-alex-debrincat-to-senators-in-exchange-for-no-7-pick-in-2022-nhl-draft/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2022 |title=Giroux, 34, secures three-year deal from Senators |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34237040/star-forward-claude-giroux-34-signs-three-year-deal-ottawa-senators |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714014510/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34237040/star-forward-claude-giroux-34-signs-three-year-deal-ottawa-senators |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=July 12, 2022 |title=Wild trade G Talbot to Senators - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/cam-talbot-trade-minnesota-wild-ottawa-senators-1.1824641 |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=TSN |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712234944/https://www.tsn.ca/cam-talbot-trade-minnesota-wild-ottawa-senators-1.1824641 |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, the team signed Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle to eight-year contract extensions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senators re-sign forward Josh Norris to eight-year contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/senators-re-sign-forward-josh-norris-to-eight-year-contract/ |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=Sportsnet.ca |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714214851/https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/senators-re-sign-forward-josh-norris-to-eight-year-contract/ |url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of the season, the Senators missed the playoffs by six points.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mendes |first1=Ian |title=Senators understand it's playoffs or bust next season after step forward in 2022-23 |url=https://theathletic.com/4409678/2023/04/14/ottawa-senators-playoffs-dj-smith/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=November 5, 2023 |date=April 14, 2023}}</ref>

Before the [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24 season]], DeBrincat notified the Senators he would not re-sign long-term with the club and was traded to Detroit. Talbot was not re-signed. Instead, the Senators signed free agents – goaltender [[Joonas Korpisalo]] and forward [[Vladimir Tarasenko]]. At the start of the 2023–24 season, the NHL levied the forfeiture of a first-round pick due to negligence on the part of the Senators involving the trade of [[Evgeni Dadonov]]. Dorion resigned as general manager upon being asked to step down.<ref name="forfeit">{{cite web |title=Senators GM is out after NHL makes Ottawa forfeit a draft pick for its role in an invalidated trade |url=https://apnews.com/article/ottawa-senators-forfeit-draft-pick-f53850759f0f9cd2d73b5cc4407942bf |website=AP News |access-date=November 5, 2023 |date=November 1, 2023}}</ref> After an 11–15–0 start to the season, the Senators fired D. J. Smith on December 18, 2023 and former head coach [[Jacques Martin (ice hockey)|Jacques Martin]], who had been serving as a senior advisor stepped in as interim coach until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa Senators relieve D.J. Smith of head coaching duties; Jacques Martin to serve as interim head coach |url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/ottawa-senators-relieve-d-j-smith-of-head-coaching-duties-jacques-martin-to-serve-as-interim-head-coach |website=Ottawa Senators |access-date=February 19, 2025 |date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>