Ottawa Senators Dismiss D.J. Smith, Jacques Martin Steps in as Provisional Coach
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In a major shake-up within the Ottawa Senators’ coaching staff, Steve Staios, the team’s president of hockey operations and acting general manager, declared on Monday the termination of head coach D.J. Smith’s tenure, as stated in a recent press briefing. The reshuffle didn’t end there; assistant coach Davis Payne was also relieved of his duties.
Simultaneous to Smith’s departure, Jacques Martin has been appointed as the interim head coach. Adding to the coaching revamp, Senators’ legendary player and all-time leading scorer Daniel Alfredsson will assist Martin, taking up a role as an assistant coach.
Martin, notably the franchise’s third head coach, helmed the team from 1996 to 2004. In an extraordinary move during the 2001-02 season, Martin briefly stepped down for the final two regular-season games, allowing assistant coach Roger Neilson to achieve the milestone of coaching a thousand career games.
Throughout his initial tenure, Martin amassed an impressive record of 341 wins, 255 losses, and 96 ties in regular-season games. He was honored with the Jack Adams Award, recognizing the NHL’s most outstanding head coach, for the 1998-99 season. The pinnacle of Martin’s success came in the 2002-03 season, leading the Senators to the Eastern Conference Final, only to be narrowly defeated by the New Jersey Devils in a gripping seven-game series.
Martin’s first stint with the Senators concluded with his dismissal post the 2003-04 season. Returning for a second term, he becomes one of the few to have multiple coaching engagements with the team, joining the ranks of Bryan Murray. Martin’s records with the Senators are formidable, holding the highest number of games coached (692), the most regular-season (341) and playoff victories (31), and the most playoff games managed (69).
As of now, the Senators are grappling with a challenging season, holding an 11-15-0 record (22 points) and languishing at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Their recent form has been worrying, with a four-game losing streak and a concerning goal deficit of 19-10 in these matches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ottawa Senators Coaching Changes
Who has been named the interim head coach of the Ottawa Senators?
Jacques Martin has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Ottawa Senators following the dismissal of D.J. Smith.
Why were D.J. Smith and Davis Payne dismissed from the Ottawa Senators?
D.J. Smith and Davis Payne were dismissed from the Ottawa Senators due to the team’s underperformance, as they currently hold a record of 11-15-0 and are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
What is Jacques Martin’s history with the Ottawa Senators?
Jacques Martin previously served as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 1996 until 2004 and returns for a second stint. He holds the franchise record for games coached, regular-season wins, playoff wins, and playoff games coached.
Who is joining Jacques Martin as an assistant coach?
Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators’ all-time points leader, is joining Jacques Martin’s coaching staff as an assistant coach.
What was the Ottawa Senators’ record under Jacques Martin’s previous tenure?
Under Jacques Martin’s previous tenure, the Ottawa Senators had a regular-season record of 341-255-96 and reached the Eastern Conference Final in the 2002-03 season.
More about Ottawa Senators Coaching Changes
- Ottawa Senators Official Website
- NHL News and Updates
- Jacques Martin Coaching History
- Ottawa Senators Season Statistics
- Daniel Alfredsson Career Highlights
5 comments
Sad to see Smith go, thought he had more time to prove himself. But, trust in Staios’ decision, Go Sens!
they really needed to shake things up, team’s been in a rut. good luck to Martin, he’s got his work cut out for him!
Alfredsson as assistant? interesting move but not sure how this will play out on the ice, players becoming coaches can be hit or miss
wow, didn’t see this coming! Martin back with the Sens, that’s some news, hope he turns things around this time..
Martin’s record speaks for itself, but the game’s changed since he last coached, curious how he’ll adapt his strategies this time around.