Dave Cameron & Assistant Coaches Fired by Ottawa Senators

Dave Cameron, Andre Tourigny, Rick Wamsley, and Jason Smith Were Released by new Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion on Tuesday

Dave Cameron was next on the chopping block just one day after the Arizona Coyotes relieved GM Don Maloney off his duties. Sens GM Pierre Dorion also released Dave Cameron’s Assistant Coaches Andre Tourigny, Rick Wamsley, and Jason Smith.

It’s about that time of year where non-playoff teams have their end of season meetings, clearing out their lockers. Those who fell short of expectations often find themselves on the hot-seat, and if those same coaches manage to preserve their jobs, they’re usually on a short leash moving forward.

Several coaches and managers are largely considered to be on thin-ice. Coaches such as Willie Desjardins in Vancouver, and Michel Therrien in Montreal have received votes of confidence from their superior’s, suggesting their jobs are safe for now. Other coaches such as Claude Julien or playoff-bound GM Chuck Fletcher enters a state of unknown (especially if Minnesota meets an early demise).

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The Senators finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with 85 points (38-35-9), 11 points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Cameron was named the 11th coach in Senators history, replacing Paul MacLean on Dec. 8, 2014. He was 70-50-17 in 137 games as coach.

Cameron helped the Senators become the big story over the final two months of the 2014-15 regular season. Ottawa went 23-4-4 down the stretch and overcame a 14-point deficit to make the playoffs, the largest such margin in NHL history. They lost in six games to the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference First Round.