Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer has named president of hockey operations Steve Staios the team's new general manager, the team announced Sunday.

Dave Poulin was named senior vice president of hockey operations, having served in a similar role with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2009 to 2014. Ryan Bowness, an assistant general manager with the Senators, is now the team's associate general manager.

Ethan Bear is back in the NHL following shoulder surgery after signing a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals.

General manager Brian MacLellan announced the long-expected deal with the defenseman Thursday, just over a week since Bear joined the Capitals for practice and they confirmed their intent to sign him. The contract is worth a pro-rated $4.125 million and carries a salary cap hit of $2.0625 million for the rest of this season and the 2024-25 season.

The Ottawa Senators fired coach D.J. Smith and assistant Davis Payne on Monday, continuing a season of change for the team.

Smith will be replaced by interim coach Jacques Martin. Earlier this month, the Senators hired Martin, who coached the Senators from the 1995-96 season through the 2003-04 campaign, as a senior advisor to the coaching staff.

The Washington Capitals re-signed goaltender prospect Clay Stevenson to a three-year, $2.325 million contract Tuesday.

The first year of the deal will be a two-way contract paying $750,000 at the NHL level and $200,000 in the AHL. The next two years will be on a one-way contract for $775,000 per season.

The Winnipeg Jets signed forward Nino Niederreiter to a three-year extension worth $12 million on Monday.

The club announced that the extension will begin for the 2024-25 season. He's playing on a $4 million salary this season, too.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault signed a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension on Friday.

Montembeault, 27, previously was slated to reach unrestricted free agency on July 1, 2024. The Quebec native was claimed off waivers by the Canadiens on Oct. 2, 2021.

The contract takes effect for the 2024-25 season.