List of Ottawa Senators general managers

The founders, Bruce Firestone, Cyril Leeder and Randy Sexton, named the first general manager Mel Bridgman on August 30, 1991, prior to the franchise becoming finalized on December 7, 1991.

Bridgman did not have previous experience as an NHL general manager and he was criticized for mistakes at the initial expansion draft of the Senators and the play of the team in its first season.

Bridgman was later fired by new owner Rod Bryden, who had assumed majority ownership in the club after the founders were not able to raise enough financing to launch the team and pay its NHL franchise fees.

He was criticized for the firing of Rick Bowness, over the playing time of Alexandre Daigle and the hiring of Dave Allison, the head coach of the team's minor league affiliate.

Star player Alexei Yashin was holding out in a contract dispute, and top draft pick Bryan Berard was refusing to join the Senators at the time of Sexton's firing.

Former player Rick Dudley was hired immediately and he was general manager for one year, before leaving to join the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Senators received Rob Zamuner as compensation from Tampa along with an unspecified amount of cash and the Lightning's share of gate revenue for two games against Ottawa.

[5] Dudley had managed the Detroit Vipers minor league affiliate and coached the Buffalo Sabres prior to joining Ottawa.

During Muckler's tenure, the team won the President's Trophy for the top regular season record and appeared in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.

In Dorion's first season as general manager, the team qualified for the playoffs, reaching the Eastern Conference Final.