Dorion prioritizing Senators' growth: Playoffs would be 'a bonus'

The Ottawa Senators have fallen short of the hype following an offseason that saw them bring in goaltender Cam Talbot, two-time 41-goal-scorer Alex DeBrincat, and veteran Claude Giroux, but general manager Pierre Dorion says his team is "pretty much" where he expected it to be.

"We're playing meaningful games," Dorion said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "The best thing for our team is the growth of our young core this year and that's what's happening with all these young players. ... They're growing through this run of trying to get into the playoffs."

He added, "You've never heard me say make the playoffs from the get-go because I knew where we were and I knew where we needed to be. I think if we do make the playoffs it's a bonus, but the growth of this team was the most important thing this year."

Heading into Thursday's slate, the Senators are eight points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but Ottawa has three games in hand.

The Senators, however, are riding a three-game losing streak following a nightmare trip through western Canada. They were outscored 16-6 against the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.

Despite the roller coaster that has been the Senators' campaign, Dorion believes this season can be a turning point for Ottawa's core, which now includes Jakob Chychrun. The executive acquired the 24-year-old defenseman prior to the trade deadline.

"The last few years we weren't in it, no one takes us seriously, and we're just going in playing carefree," he said. "Now the games matter and I really think ... when we look back in a few years, we're going to say to ourselves that we made a lot of progress, and we learned what competing for the playoffs is all about.

"That carries over when you get into the playoffs, too."

The Senators have missed the postseason in each of the last five seasons after making the Eastern Conference Final in 2017.

Ottawa's next chance to snap its losing skid comes Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche.

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