In a fortuitous turn of events, Jacques Martin finds himself back behind the Ottawa Senators’ bench, seizing a second chance nearly two decades after his initial tenure. Following the dismissal of D.J. Smith, Martin assumed the role of interim head coach a week ago, accompanied by former captain Daniel Alfredsson as his assistant. The reunion with Alfredsson proved impactful as the Senators halted a six-game losing streak with a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Martin’s return was unexpected, but Senators owner Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and interim general manager, sought his guidance as an adviser last month. While initially reluctant to step behind the bench, Martin agreed under the condition that Alfredsson would join him. With family ties in the area and a deep understanding of the city’s passion for hockey, Martin felt a strong connection to Ottawa.
The recent win marked Martin’s 342nd career victory with the Senators and his first at the Canadian Tire Centre since March 18, 2004. Expressing his excitement about the opportunity, Martin acknowledged the positive vibes surrounding the city after the summer sale. He emphasized the importance of having the right owner in place and praised Staios for his intelligence and strategic insights into the team.
Initially joining as an adviser to assist the coaching staff, Martin embraced the unforeseen shift to the head coach role. He recognizes this opportunity as a chance to create a new chapter in the Senators’ history, emphasizing the significance of having Alfredsson by his side. Martin is optimistic about the influence Alfredsson, a Hall of Famer, can have on the young players and highlights the strength of the coaching staff, including experienced head coach Jack Capuano.
In his efforts to instill confidence in the team, Martin acknowledges the mental challenges they face. The Senators have struggled to maintain leads, and Martin sees a need to address the psychological aspect of the game. He points out a perceived fear of success and emphasizes the importance of restoring confidence and the winning mindset.
While Martin acknowledges the team’s progress, he underscores the need for the right mindset, believing that success hinges on mental resilience. Despite being outshot by the Penguins, the Senators secured the win in overtime, with forward Tim Stutzle delivering a clutch performance. Martin sees this victory as a building block and urges the team to continue the positive momentum.
Looking ahead, Martin expresses confidence in the core group of players, including Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Thomas Chabot, Drake Batherson, Jake Sanderson, and Stutzle. The recent addition of Jakob Chychrun and the upcoming return of Shane Pinto are viewed as positive developments. Martin recognizes the importance of veteran players like Claude Giroux supporting and guiding the younger talents.
Reflecting on the team’s evolution since his first tenure in 1996, Martin notes the core talent and emphasizes the need to refine their games. He encourages players to play to their strengths while developing game management skills. Martin sees the recent win as a small but significant step toward re-establishing the Senators’ respectability, signaling progress and a positive direction for the team’s future.
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