Daniel Alfredsson revealed Wednesday he interviewed for the Toronto Maple Leafs head coaching vacancy earlier this year before joining Jim Hiller’s staff as an associate coach.
The Ottawa Senators legend joined the Maple Leafs coaching staff on Tuesday shortly after his contract expired with Ottawa, where he spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach.
Alfredsson said Wednesday his decision to join the Maple Leafs was to further his coaching career, having told the Senators when the season ended that he would not be re-signing.
“I have to earn my way to get my experience...would I have loved to stay, and then become the head coach of Ottawa? Maybe. But no one stays in one spot,” he told reporters.
“Love you as always,” Alfredsson added of his message to Senators fans. “Thank you. I understand this an interesting day, but also an exciting chapter for me as I expand my coaching career.”
Hiller, who was hired last month after an extensive search in Toronto for Craig Berube’s replacement, filled out his coaching staff with John Gruden and Brad Werenka, in addition to Alfredsson on Tuesday. The team also announced that assistants Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde would not be returning.
“I’m incredibly excited to add Daniel, John and Brad to our coaching staff,” Hiller said in a statement. “Daniel’s experience, leadership and understanding of the game speak for themselves. John has established himself as one of the top coaches in the American Hockey League and played an instrumental role in leading the Marlies to a Calder Cup championship last season. Brad brings a unique combination of NHL experience, player development and expertise in performance analytics. Together, they’ll be outstanding additions to our team.”
Senators majority owner Michael Andlauer also made a statement following Alfredsson’s decision to join the Leafs.
“One of the first moves we made after taking over the franchise was bringing Daniel Alfredsson back into the fold as an assistant coach in December of 2023,” said Andlauer. “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 archrival, 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.”
The 53-year-old Alfredsson was a fierce rival of the Maple Leafs during his playing days with the Senators from 1995 to 2013.
Selected by the Sens in the sixth round of the 1994 NHL Draft, Alfredsson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022 and is considered the greatest player in franchise history.
Over 17 seasons and 1,178 games with the Senators, the Swede scored 426 goals and 682 assists for 1,108 points, all franchise records.
Alfredsson, who served as captain from 1999 to 2013, led the Sens to 14 postseason appearances, getting as far as the Stanley Cup Final in 2007 where they lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.
Alfredsson played the final season of his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings in 2013-14.
