The Ottawa Senators took another gut punch this offseason after their all-time legend Daniel Alfredsson left the organization to join the rivals.
On Tuesday, Alfredsson was named associate coach of the Maple Leafs under head coach Jim Hiller. The Leafs also announced the addition of new assistants John Gruden and Brad Werenka.
Alfredsson is the Senators’ all-time leading scorer, a Hall of Famer, and the face of the franchise for years as their longtime captain.
The 53-year-old Gothenburg native had been serving as an assistant coach in Ottawa for the past three seasons before making the surprising jump across the “Battle of Ontario.”
This comes on the heels of the blockbuster trade that sent former captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers last month, making it a brutal summer so far for Ottawa fans.
On The Sid Seixeiro Show, Sid reacted with pure disbelief, hinting at what he sees as serious internal turmoil inside the Senators organization right now.
“What an FU to the Sens from Daniel Alfredsson. Maybe Brady Tkachuk had a couple of points that we don’t know about. But to go from Ottawa to Toronto. It’s not like he went. It’s not like Alfredsson was like part of the Sens and then joined like the Minnesota Wild staff and then went to No, no…Sens to the Leafs,” said Sid. “I still disagree with the whole Brady Tkachuk aura, but wow.”
Ottawa Senators owner issues statement after Daniel Alfredsson move to Toronto
Following Alfredsson’s departure to the Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer issued a statement, in which he praised the Swedish coach for his time with the organization (via NHL.com):
“I quickly learned that ‘Alfie’ embodied all the characteristics of what it meant to be an Ottawa Senator. While I wish he wasn’t joining an arch rival, Alfie is forever an Ottawa Senator and the door will always be open for his return. He has done so much for our organization and community and he has my full respect.”
Alfredsson was drafted No. 133 overall by the Senators in the 1994 NHL Draft. The 53-year-old went on to play 17 of his long 18-year career with the club. In 2016, the Senators retired his jersey.
He played his final season with the Detroit Red Wings in 2013-14. Alfredsson amassed 1,157 points through 444 goals and 713 assists in 1,246 career games.
Also Read: NHL fans left stunned as Maple Leafs add Daniel Alfredsson to coaching staff
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
