OTTAWA -- Less than two weeks after losing in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Ottawa Senators fired general manager John Muckler and promoted coach Bryan Murray to replace him Monday.
Murray's coaching contract was set to expire June 30 and owner Eugene Melnyk said the timing was right for a move.
"He has shown what he can do as a general manager," Melnyk said. "We just thought if there's going to be a crossroads it's got to happen now and it has to happen prior to the draft."
Murray was the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks from 2002-04 and was also the National Hockey League's executive of the year in 1996 when he was general manager of the Florida Panthers.
"The assistant GM left last year and there was no successor that was obvious other than Bryan," Melnyk said. "It just happened to be the end of his coaching contract."
The NHL Draft is Friday and Saturday.
Muckler was offered another job in the organization, but declined.
Melnyk said he's looking to the future.
"You have to think in the long-term," said. "The one thing we didn't want was to become a one-trick pony where we have one great year and then we starve for the next four or five."
Murray said the team will begin searching for a new coach in the next few weeks.
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