Senators Make Big Moves Behind the Bench & Add Fan Fave To Staff

It took a while, but the Ottawa Senators have finally made the move that's been expected for quite some time now: DJ Smith has been relieved of his coaching duties. 

This had to happen.

D.J. Smith out.

Jacques Martin in as interim head coach.

Daniel Alfredsson in as assistant coach. pic.twitter.com/5iCkYJn59P

— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) December 18, 2023

The Sens are dead last in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, and have lost four in a row and 7 of their last 10. In addition to Smith, assistant coach Davis Payne is also out.

Jacques Martin, who coached the Senators for nine seasons through most of their glory years in the late '90s and early 2000s, takes over as interim head coach, while in an exciting development for Sens fans, former fan favourite, longtime captain and the franchise's all-time leading scorer Daniel Alfredsson has been named as an assistant coach.

Martin, 71, posted a 341-255-96 (.562 winning percentage) in his original nine-season run in Ottawa. He holds the team records for all-time leader in games coached (692), regular-season wins (341), playoff wins (31) and playoff games coached (69).

Smith finishes his run in Ottawa with a 131-154-32 record over parts of five seasons. 

New team owner Michael Andlauer has now, in his short time at the helm, overseen the firing of general manager Pierre Dorion, the half-season suspension of last year's impressive rookie Shane Pinto for gambling, the loss of a first-round pick in the Evgenii Dadonov trade debacle of two years ago, and now the firing of his head coach. It's been quite a run. 

Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports