Dorion said an evaluation of Boucher and his staff is underway after the Senators went 28-43-11 and finished next-to-last in the NHL one season after reaching Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins before losing in double overtime. Dorion said changes will be made even if Boucher returns.
"Two things that will change, if he's back, is the implementation of younger players in our lineup, but he will decide who gets what ice time," Dorion said. "And we're going to practice more. 'Rest is a weapon,' if I have to hear that one more time, I'll go crazy."
Boucher is 72-71-21 in two seasons with Ottawa and 169-150-41 in five seasons in the NHL; he coached the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2010-11 through 2012-13.
Dorion said there is a 99.9 percent chance the Senators will use their first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and instead surrender their first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft to the Colorado Avalanche. The Senators sent that first-round pick in 2018 to the Avalanche in the trade for forward Matt Duchene on Nov. 5, but because it will be a pick in the top 10, Ottawa can keep it and send its first-round pick in 2019 to Colorado.
Because the Senators finished next-to-last in the standings, they have a 13.5 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick and can select no lower than No. 5. The NHL Draft Lottery will be held April 28, and the 2018 NHL Draft begins June 22..
The Senators also own the Penguins' first-round pick from the trade that sent center Derick Brassard to Pittsburgh on Feb. 23.
"It's a very good draft," Dorion said. "We're excited that we've got two first-round picks this year. We think that these two picks can be cornerstones of our franchise, especially when you have a top five pick."
Ottawa hasn't had a top five pick since 2001, when it selected forward Jason Spezza with the No. 2 choice.
There are also roster decisions to be made. Defenseman Erik Karlsson and Duchene each is eligible to sign a contract extension July 1, and forward Mark Stone can become a restricted free agent. On Monday, Dorion said the Senators will offer Karlsson an eight-year contract on July 1, and said Thursday that discussions with Stone are progressing and they hope to have a deal done by May or June.
The Senators are contemplating whether to buy out some contracts this offseason, and Dorion said the topic was brought up with more than one player during the exit interviews.
Dorion also announced that the trophy awarded to the hardest worker at summer development camp will be named the Jonathan Pitre Award. Pitre, a 17-year-old Senators fan, died April 4 from a rare genetic mutation called recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
"He spoke at our development camp [in 2017]," Dorion said. "And in the however many years that I've been here, it was probably the most heartfelt, honest meeting that we've ever had and I think that it just makes sense."
