Pierre McGuire speaks for 1st time after being fired by Senators!

It was a tenure that didn't even last a full year. 

Pierre McGuire, who was one of the more polarizing figures to NHL fans thanks to his vast knowledge of the game and its players but with several quirks, was fired by the Ottawa Senators earlier today not even one year after being hired as senior Vice President of Player Development, though no explicit reason behind the termination has been given just yet. 

He joined the team last summer after an extensive career in broadcasting that spanned over two decades.  

“We thank Pierre for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors," the team said in a prepared statement shortly after the news was made public. 

And now, McGuire himself has sounded off, saying he had a "marvelous" time with the Senators and also expressing pride in the growth of the young team.  

"I had a marvelous time working in Ottawa with the Senators," McGuire said. "The group took another step forward both at the NHL and AHL level. I really enjoyed watching the Coaches, players, and the entire organization grow."

McGuire served as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the early 1990's, and was part of their Stanley Cup championship squad with the likes of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. He also briefly served as head coach of the Hartford Whalers before working for the Senators as a scout. 

Upon his hiring by Ottawa last summer, McGuire stated that part of his position would be helping to deliver key messages to fans. 

“There’s no question, it is part of the role,” McGuire said when asked about being a spokesperson. “That’s something Mr. Melnyk talked about when we met maybe one of the first two or three times via phone conversation. It’s something that I am comfortable with. I made my living doing that for the last 20 years.”

Will McGuire find work with a new team, or will he consider a return to broadcasting?