Bryan Murray steps down as Ottawa Senators general manager

After nineseasons as the Ottawa Senatorsgeneral manager and an NHL career that's stretched for more than three decades, Bryan Murray announced Sunday morning he's stepping down to take an advisory role with the team.

Murray, who has been battlingcancer, will be replaced in the GM seat by Ottawa nativePierre Dorion, the Senatorsassistant general manager.

He will stay on as the team's senior hockey advisorrole, the team announced.

"I'm leaving after a disappointing year, and I think that's the hardest part," Murray said.

Battling colon cancer

Murray, 73, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in June 2014, although his doctors believe that he had been living with the disease for years.

Last spring, Murray indicated that he would likelybe stepping down as the SenatorsGM when his contract expired after the 2015-2016 NHL season.

The Shawville, Que., native took over the general manager position midway through the 2007-08 season.Prior to joining the Sensfront office,Murray spent two-plusseasons as the team's head coach.

The2015-16 season marked his34thconsecutive season in the NHL a career that has also included stints with Washington, Detroit, Florida and Anaheim.

Murray said Sunday that while his doctors hadn't pressured him to take a step back, he was aware of thetime the SenatorsGM job had "taken away from my family."

"Putting up with me, wanting to be the young man still in hockey Ijust felt after much discussion it was time to pull the plug," Murray said.

New GM isformer top scout

Dorionhas been with the Senators since 2007 and served as the team's director of player personnel and its chief amateur scout before being promoted to assistant GM in 2014.

Before joining the club,Dorionspent 11 seasons with the MontrealCanadiensas a scouting coordinator and the team's chief scout, as well as two seasons with the New York Rangers.

At Sunday's press conference, Dorionacknowledged the fact the Senators missed the playoffs but said the team had a solid core, pointing to goaltender Craig Anderson and Norris Trophy contender Erik Karlsson.

Dorion added, however, that "anyone who falls under the umbrella of hockey in this organization will be evaluated."

"I know this won't be an easy job. I'm confident in my abilities but I know how hard my staff and me will have to work to get back to our winning ways," he said.

"Not making the playoffs was simply unacceptable."

The Senators finished the 2015-16season with a 38-35-9 record eight points out of a playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference.