In the seven games since Jacques Martin assumed the role of interim head coach for the Ottawa Senators, accompanied by Daniel Alfredsson as assistant coach, the team has witnessed sporadic improvements. Following two closely contested losses in Arizona and Colorado, the Senators managed to secure victories in three of their subsequent four matches, including triumphs against Pittsburgh and their Ontario rivals, the Maple Leafs. However, their progress took a hit in the recent game against Vancouver, where they conceded five goals in the first period and ultimately suffered a 6-3 defeat.
Jacques Martin is renowned for emphasizing a comprehensive 200-foot game, promoting structured play, and encouraging players to balance offensive contributions with robust defensive performances. Notable offensive players from his previous coaching stints, such as Alfredsson, Arvidsson, Bonk, Fisher, Havlat, Hossa, and MacEachern, among others, successfully embraced Martin’s coaching philosophy, leading the Senators to the playoffs in each of his eight full seasons at the helm.
Despite the early stages of Martin’s second tenure with the Senators, signs of frustration are emerging in his statements. The 71-year-old coach is challenging his players to take responsibility for their performance. Following the disappointing loss in Vancouver, Martin expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “I think at some point you get to a point in a season or in your career that you can’t look at excuses anymore. You’ve got to look at yourself… I think we need to give more as a team on a regular basis.”
In a subsequent interview, Martin reinforced his stance, emphasizing that players are paid to perform and highlighting the team’s lack of playoff appearances in the last five years. He urged the players to reflect on their performance, stating that change is necessary when a team has not achieved success. Martin acknowledged the difficulty of breaking old habits but emphasized the need for improvement, especially given the expectations of new ownership, management, and fans for a successful season.
As it stands, the Senators find themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference in terms of points, with a 14-19-0 record. While they hold a higher percentage than the Columbus Blue Jackets, their.424 percentage places them in the 28th position league-wide. The expectations for the season were high, with hopes for a postseason berth or, at the very least, a commendable performance throughout the season.
Looking ahead, the potential return of players like Mathieu Joseph and Shane Pinto could bolster the team’s depth. Both players are known for their 200-foot style of play, aligning well with Martin’s coaching philosophy. However, the key to success lies in the entire roster buying into Martin’s teachings and the coaching staff’s strategies.
“To me, there’s nothing I can do about that. Basically, the players are paid to perform, and I would understand if this team has performed, but when you look at this team in the last five years, they haven’t been in the playoffs. They haven’t been close. And to me, they have to take a look in the mirror to see where they’re at, where we’re at, and how we are going to make progress. Am I going to change the coach again? I think that’s the organization’s point of view,” Martin noted.
“But to me, it seems that we need to be better as a team. And I think the players overall realize that. It’s not easy sometimes to bring about some change or break some old habits. But when you haven’t had success, something has to be done about it. If they have been a successful team, I can understand.”
Martin recognizes the urgency for improvement and acknowledges the need for a collective effort from the players to break away from past shortcomings. The challenge now lies in whether the Senators can align themselves with Martin’s coaching principles in time to make a meaningful push in the playoff race. The upcoming return of key players and a collective commitment to Martin’s system will be crucial factors in determining the team’s success moving forward.
Leave a Reply