Sens owner keeps Murray GM gets a new 3-year contract By DON BRENNAN, QMI Agency

Senators GM Bryan Murray will remain in his current job for the next three seasons. (QMI Agency File)

OTTAWA - Bryan Murray will be back as Senators GM after accepting a three-year contract Friday.

"We're looking forward to implementing his vision for the team, which is to bring it back to elite status," owner Eugene Melnyk said at Scotiabank Place. "I think we're getting there.

"We've talked about it for a long time. This is not something that was done on a fly.

An announcement will be made on coach Cory Clouston at the conclusion of the season.

It's strongly believed he will not be back.

"I'm very happy and excited," said Murray, 68. "I want to thank Eugene for having the confidence and faith that what we're doing now is the right path. We will try to continue the growth of this hockey team ... the desire here is obviously to be a good team, to be a team with a chance to win at the end of every year.

"We've got a little ways to go, we know that. But I think the start has been a good one, and as we go forward we want to build on that."