TORONTO — Breaking apart is tough to do.
However within the thoughts of Daniel Alfredsson, aspiring head coach, leaving the Ottawa Senators (once more) was a mandatory step to get the place he desires to go.
“To the Ottawa followers: Love you as all the time. Thanks. I perceive that is an fascinating day, but in addition an thrilling chapter for me as I broaden my teaching profession,” Alfredsson stated Wednesday, from his dwelling Sweden.
And from the opposite aspect of the Battle of Ontario.
An icon within the nation’s capital, Alfredsson had served as an assistant with the membership that retired his quantity 11 since proprietor Michael Andlauer welcomed him in December 2023. He was on the bench when the slumping franchise lastly ended its franchise-worst seven-year playoff drought in 2025, and his eighth-ranked power-play was integral within the Sens’ rally again to the post-season in 2026.
However the 53-year-old’s ambition nonetheless burns. His contract with Ottawa expired in June, and Sens head coach Travis Inexperienced isn’t going wherever simply but.
Upon reflection, Alfredsson determined he should change benches, be it within the NHL or elsewhere, to additional evolve as a coach.
Then Ottawa GM Steve Staios knowledgeable Alfredsson that Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka had referred to as. Chayka and chief advisor Mats Sundin needed to interview Alfredsson for Toronto’s head teaching job.
He didn’t get the gig. However just a few weeks later, Chayka and new coach Jim Hiller reached out once more. This time, he was requested to serve underneath Hiller because the Leafs’ affiliate coach.
Even when that makes Senators followers sick to their abdomen.
“Yeah, I completely perceive it. There’s no query, I feel, from speaking to associates and different coaches as effectively, it’s totally different once you’re a coach,” Alfredsson stated. “I’ve to earn my approach and get expertise.
“In my desires, would I’ve liked to remain after which turn out to be the pinnacle coach of Ottawa? Possibly. However no one stays as a coach endlessly in a single spot, regardless of how common you’re. You bought to carry out. And for me to get higher as a coach, that is the trail. I knew sooner or later I needed to transfer, and so they don’t hand out jobs simply within the NHL. It’s a troublesome job to get. And once I had this chance, I felt it was the appropriate one for my teaching profession, with out a query.”
Alfredsson’s connections ought to assist ease a sticky transition.
Regardless of their fierce intra-provincial playoff clashes, Alfredsson and Sundin share a gold medal (2006) and have maintained a pleasant relationship by means of the years. He additionally skated alongside Leafs star William Nylander’s father, Michael, on the Swedish nationwide squad and has carefully adopted William’s profession, teaching him on the 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Winter Video games as an assistant.
“He has some unbelievable instruments which are arduous to show. I do know he takes his sport very significantly, his coaching very significantly as effectively,” Alfredsson stated. “I’m actually excited to work with him — and the entire workforce, to be trustworthy. However he’s a participant that is essential to this workforce.”
Might Alfredsson be some kind of Willy Whisperer, the best way Rick Tocchet unlocked one other degree of Phil Kessel when Tocchet served as an assistant on the Penguins bench? Maybe.
What’s sure is that the Alfredsson addition additional emphasizes the precedence Hiller’s Leafs will place on offence, significantly making opponents remorse going shorthanded.
Chayka didn’t fork over $68 million for a brand new clap-bombing PP quarterback and plop two skilled power-play minds in Hiller and Alfredsson on the bench simply to look at the Maple Leafs tread water with the man-advantage.
Alfredsson drilled into the nuances of an efficient energy play in Ottawa. He realized extra in regards to the technique round face-offs, edge battles, and breakouts. And he believes Hiller’s offensive philosophy and workforce values align together with his personal.
“They’d some actually good occasions final 12 months on the facility play, and a few powerful ones as effectively. Most likely misplaced their confidence a bit bit,” stated Alfredsson, he of 1,157 profession factors.
“However they’ve quite a lot of the instruments to be a great energy play and a great offensive workforce as effectively. Lots of talent guys that may shoot the puck. So, I sit up for working with them and see what we will accomplish.”
Crew success within the Toronto highlight has routinely been a pleasant steppingstone for assistants and associates searching for head jobs within the present.
If issues go effectively with the Maple Leafs, Alfredsson may effectively observe within the path of Hiller, D.J. Smith, Greg Cronin, Dallas Eakins, Spencer Carbery, Lane Lambert, Manny Malhotra…
“The extra individuals, totally different voices you get to be taught from,” Alfredsson stated, “the larger repertoire you’re going to have as a coach.”
A contemporary problem on the expense of an previous rivalry.
Leave a Reply