"We're not at a point where we thought we'd be, where we anticipated we would be right now," Dorion said before the
Senators defeated the New York Rangers 3-2
at Canadian Tire Centre for their second win in the past 14 games.
"We definitely hope for better results as we stand here on Dec. 13. To me, are we out of it? No. Are we just going to trade everyone? No. I think for everyone who knows myself, the coaching staff, our players, we're going to fight through this. I don't think anyone is having a lot of fun right now, but I can tell you I don't think this team has quit. I think this team has gone through way tougher things and battled through it. I still have faith in this team.
"Where do we start? We start by telling you we're not making any coaching changes. Guy was a great coach last year. He got us one goal from the Stanley Cup Final. He's staying. After that, we have to look at this mix. We have to look at what has gone wrong this year compared to where we were last year. We all wish we had simple solutions, but this game is a complicated game. On paper we feel we have a good team, but I've never seen a piece of paper lift the Cup or get into the playoffs."
RELATED: [Mailbag: Diving into Senators' struggles]
The Senators are 10-13-7 in 15th place in the Eastern Conference, five points out of third place in the Atlantic Division and eight points out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ottawa finished second in the Atlantic Division last season and lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins in double overtime.
Dorion said he has spoken to "27 or 28 of my 30 counterparts" over the past three days, but a trade is not imminent and he does not believe in making one just to shake things up.
The Senators acquired forward Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 5 in a three-team trade that sent forward Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators. After winning the first two games after the trade, Ottawa is 2-10-2.
"I could make deals right now. I could have made a deal about three minutes ago before I stepped in here, I was talking with another GM," he said. "Just to make a deal to make a deal is not the path we are going to go down. I don't feel it would be the right thing. If we could make a deal where we feel we get better or there's a lateral move where the mix changes a bit, then we'll definitely look at it, but at the same time, we have to look at everyone here (for solutions)."
Dorion confirmed he asked players, including defenseman Erik Karlsson, for their list of teams where they cannot be traded.
"I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't listen to offers on every player," Dorion said. "Instead of being the elephant in the room, I will address it: Yes, we have everybody's trade requests. We've had everybody's trade lists for a long while. In saying that, it's our wish, all of us, for Erik Karlsson to be with us for the next 10 years.
"If an opposing team calls you and makes an offer you can't refuse, all I know is I'm a hockey (history) buff, if Wayne Gretzky got traded, I think any player in the NHL can get traded. At the same time, we love Erik Karlsson, we understand he went through a pretty serious operation. His conditioning is finally getting to a level where it needs to be, and we love him. We want him to be an Ottawa Senator for life."
Karlsson had surgery to repair tendons in his left foot June 14 and returned to play Oct. 17. He has 19 points (one goal, 18 assists) in 25 games with two assists in his past 14 games.
