Ottawa Senators cut ties with associate GM Ryan Bowness in sweeping front office reset

Things are shifting fast in Ottawa. In a quiet but powerful move, the Senators have parted ways with associate GM Ryan Bowness , marking the latest shakeup in the team’s front office overhaul. While no official reason was given, the decision announced via an internal email to all 31 NHL teams , signals a final break from the old guard. And for Sens fans, it raises one big question: what's Steve Staios really building behind the scenes?

Ottawa Senators make a clean break from the old regime with GM Ryan Bowness' surprise exit

The Senators’ decision to let go of Ryan Bowness wasn’t just about one man. It was a symbolic move, the final domino in a slow but calculated transition away from the Pierre Dorion era. League sources confirmed that GM Steve Staios informed all NHL teams that Bowness is free to pursue other opportunities.

Ottawa Senators part ways with associate GM Ryan Bowness https://t.co/NjOK8slbmk pic.twitter.com/ZdaQeLO69E

— Ottawa Citizen (@OttawaCitizen) May 6, 2025

The timing has many wondering: was Bowness being groomed for a bigger role that never came? And does this indicate a full reset, with Staios installing his own trusted circle?

League sources say Steve Staios sent an email to the 31 NHL teams this morning saying the club has parted ways with associate GM Ryan Bowness. He is free to speak with other teams. #Sens

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) May 6, 2025

Fans believed Bowness would stay: Was this all part of a bigger plan?

Online, fans weren’t shy about their confusion. Many thought Bowness would take on a bigger title while Staios moved into a President of Hockey Ops role. He was widely respected, seen as a rising name in hockey management, someone who had earned his shot.

Same I thought Staios was going to be President of Hockey Ops and Bowness would take over the GM role soon. Tough loss but I guess he thinks he will have an easier time moving up elsewhere and fair enough from what I've heard he's a very hard worker and great at his job

— eLiaminator (@eLiaminators) May 6, 2025

Instead, his departure leaves a gap and a hint that he may find faster upward mobility with a new organization. “From what I’ve heard, he’s a hard worker and great at his job,” one fan noted. “This is a tough loss.”

With this move, it’s now clear: the new ownership and front office want a fresh start. Steve Staios and owner Michael Andlauer are wiping the slate clean, and insiders believe they’ll bring in someone they’ve worked with before. That means the Senators' leadership core could soon look completely different both in names and in strategy.

It's less about who left, and more about who’s coming next.

With Ryan Bowness now out as Assistant GM, the Senators have entirely moved on from their old regime of Hockey Ops front office.

Best guess is Staios and Andlauer bring in someone with whom they have a past working history.

— Martian (@LalimesMartian) May 6, 2025

Ryan Bowness leaving the Senators marks more than a personnel change, it’s a defining moment in Ottawa’s ongoing rebuild, both on and off the ice. Whether fans see it as a bold vision or a risky move, one thing’s for sure: the Steve Staios era has truly begun.

Also read - “He gets away with everything”: Maple Leafs fans furious as Sam Bennett avoids suspension for hit that hospitalized goalie Anthony Stolarz