It is a new, but familiar era in Canada’s capital, as Jacques Martin is back behind the bench of the Ottawa Senators.
The 71-year-old began his second stint with the Sens after D.J. Smith was fired on Monday.
Martin was initially hired back on Dec. 6 to be a senior advisor to the coaching staff in Ottawa. However, the Senators’ continued to struggle forcing interim general manager Steve Staios to make a change after the team’s 11-15-0 start.
Martin brings in a lot of experience to Ottawa, having been a head coach for 15 seasons in the league, including nine with the Sens. The St. Lawrence graduate coached both Ottawa and the Montreal Canadiens to Eastern Conference Finals, and was on the staff that helped Canada win gold in Salt Lake City 21 years ago.
The former Pittsburgh Penguins’ assistant won the Jack Adams award following a strong 1998-99 season in Ottawa, and will try and help guide the Senators out of the Atlantic Division cellar.
On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk explain what the veteran coach can do for the team, and some concerns as well.
Frank Seravalli: The attention to detail he’s going to provide is needed. I think defensive zone structure and support is going to be important…but I have some question marks about Jacques Martin, his time, not just as a head coach in this league, but he also hasn’t been on an NHL bench in like four years. He steps in as immediately the oldest coach in the NHL, and I view him as sort of a stop-gap solution. A temporary “right the ship”, “keep things steady between now and then.” My question is, for an Ottawa Senators’ front office that doesn’t seem to be aggressive on any front…how aggressive will they be in that next head coach?
You can watch the full segment, and the entire episode here…
Martin will make his return to the Sens’ bench on Tuesday night against the Arizona Coyotes.
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