Daniel Alfredsson joins Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff after leaving Ottawa Senators
The Sens Hall of Famer, whose number 11 hangs in the Canadian Tire Centre, accepted an associate coach role with the Maple Leafs to advance his coaching career.
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Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators legend whose number 11 hangs from the Canadian Tire Centre rafters, has joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as an associate coach on Jim Hiller's staff — a stunning move that underscores his commitment to advancing his coaching career.
Alfredsson spent the last three years as an assistant coach in Ottawa but decided not to return to Travis Green's bench next season. The 53-year-old from Gothenburg, Sweden, said the change was necessary for his development.
"In my dreams, would I have loved to stay and then become the head coach of Ottawa? Maybe," Alfredsson said Wednesday. "But nobody stays as a coach forever in one spot, no matter how popular you are. You've got to perform, and for me to get better as a coach, this is the path."
Alfredsson captained Ottawa to a Stanley Cup final berth in 2007 and finished with 1,108 points in 1,178 games for the Senators before spending his final NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings in 2013–14. He first interviewed with the Maple Leafs for their head coaching job before accepting the associate role when Jim Hiller was hired.
With the Sens last season, Alfredsson oversaw the NHL's eighth-best power play at 24 per cent. He will now work with a Leafs unit that finished 15th despite significant talent on the roster.
