What's On the Plate of Senators Interim GM Steve Staios?

Ottawa Senators president of hockey operations Steve Staios is taking the interim GM role. What's needed out of him in the months ahead?

Having parted ways with Pierre Dorion, the Ottawa Senators will be seeking a new GM. President of hockey operations Steve Staios is filling the role on an interim basis as speculation abounds over possible full-time replacements.

Staios could be in this role for several weeks or perhaps to the end of the season before a suitable candidate is found. He might even take over the job himself.

While that search goes on, Staios has a couple of roster issues that require his attention.

Addressing Shane Pinto's contract situation remains a concern. The 22-year-old center is serving a 41-game suspension retroactive to the start of the season for activities related to sports wagering. It's believed Dorion and the Pinto camp were close to a two-year contract worth an annual average value of $2 million before the suspension was handed down.

The Senators have since withdrawn all contract offers to Pinto but his rights still belong to them. They've indicated they will welcome him back “with open arms.”

Pinto can return to action by late January at the earliest, giving Staios plenty of time to work out a new contract for the youngster. Laying the groundwork for that deal should be a priority.

Staois will still have to free up suitable salary cap space to make room for Pinto's eventual return. Before he was suspended, forwards Mathieu Joseph and Dominik Kubalik, along with defenseman Erik Brannstrom, were rumored to be cost-cutting candidates.

Bolstering the blueline is also an issue with Brannstrom and Thomas Chabot sidelined by injuries. Before Dorion was relieved of his duties, the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported he was looking around the league to see which defensemen could be available.