New Toronto Maple Leafs associate coach Daniel Alfredsson said he understands that some Ottawa Senators fans are upset to see him switch sides in the Battle of Ontario.
“Yeah, I totally understand it,” the former Senators’ captain and franchise icon told tsn.ca on a conference call from his home in Sweden.
“There’s no question. I think from talking to friends and other coaches as well, it’s different when you’re a coach. I think when I felt that this is the career I want to go down, as a coach I knew I had to move at some point. I have to earn my way and get experience.”
Alfredsson is joining the staff of new Leafs head coach Jim Hiller, a former Red Wings defenseman and assistant coach.
Alfredsson ended an 18-year career in Detroit with 18 goals and 49 points in 68 games in 2013-14.
“I’m sure in my dreams, would I have loved to stay and then become the head coach of Ottawa? Maybe,” Alfredsson said. “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. I knew at some point I had to move and, you know, they don’t hand out jobs easily in the NHL. It’s a tough job to get and when I had this opportunity, I felt it was the right one for my coaching career without a question.”
Alfredsson, 53, thanked Senators owner Michael Andlauer, president of hockey operations, general manager Steve Staios and the coaching staff in Ottawa for the opportunity to be an assistant coach the last three years.
“Now I’ve caught the coaching bug, which I’m very happy about,” he said.
Alfredsson, who initially joined the Senators in a player development role, had his contract expire after last season.
“After I finished the season, you know, took some time as always to reflect and I kind of made my mind up that I’m not going to come back to Ottawa,” he said. “I’m going to try to pursue and get different experiences.”
Blackhawks’ Bedard out 4 months
Chicago Blackhawks star forward Connor Bedard is expected to recover in four months after undergoing surgery to repair his left shoulder, the team announced Wednesday.
Based on the team-provided timeline, Bedard would miss over one month of the 2026-27 regular season.
Bedard, who will turn 21 on July 17, was injured after tumbling into the boards during an offseason on-ice workout last Thursday.
He recorded career-high totals in goals (30), assists (45) and points (75), with the latter two serving as team bests. He missed 12 games in 2025-26 – not suiting up the entire month of January – as a result to an injury to his right shoulder.
Bedard won the 2024 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie after totaling 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games. He has 203 points (75 goals, 128 assists) in 219 career games since being selected by the Blackhawks with the top overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Mammoth match Hayton offer sheet
The Utah Mammoth matched the one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet tendered to forward Barrett Hayton by the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.
Utah would have received a second-round pick from New Jersey as compensation had the offer sheet gone unmatched.
“Barrett is a key piece of our team and important to what we are building here in Utah,” Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong said. “He’s strong in the faceoff circle, plays both sides of the puck and can play with anyone in our forward group. We are grateful to be able to count on Barrett in our lineup next season.”
Hayton, 26, recorded 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 67 games last season.
“I’m fired up to get back with my teammates and remain in Utah,” he said. “I’ve been with this core group for my whole career and it’s exciting that we have an opportunity to do some special things next season in front of the best fans in the NHL.”
Hayton has totaled 155 points (65 goals, 90 assists) in 358 career games with the then-Arizona Coyotes/Mammoth. He was selected by the Coyotes with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ex-Wing Alfredsson begins ‘exciting chapter’ as associate coach with Leafs
Reporting by Detroit News staff and wires / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Detroit News staff and wires | USA TODAY Network
