- Daniel Alfredsson is leaving the Senators to join the Maple Leafs as an associate coach
- The Hall of Famer moves onto Jim Hiller’s staff as Toronto also hires John Gruden and Brad Werenka
- Read below for the full coaching shakeup in Toronto
Daniel Alfredsson is switching sides in the Battle of Ontario.
The Maple Leafs announced Tuesday that the Senators legend is joining Jim Hiller’s staff as an associate coach. The guy who spent 17 years tormenting Toronto now works for them:
Elliotte Friedman first reported the move earlier in the day:
Alfredsson wasn’t the only change. John Gruden, fresh off coaching the Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup title, joins as an assistant, along with Brad Werenka.
Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde won’t be back behind the bench.
Tuesday’s hire closes a long run in Ottawa for Alfredsson. He spent the past three seasons as a Senators assistant after a playing career that made him the most accomplished player in franchise history.
Alfredsson piled up 1,108 points in 1,178 games over 17 seasons with the Sens, most of them wearing the C. The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted him in 2022.
Watch Alfredsson reflect on his Hall of Fame career:
Toronto fans booed him for years. He was the villain in four playoff series between the two teams from 2000 to 2004, and the Leafs won every one of them.
He does have one friend waiting in the building. Alfredsson and Leafs executive Mats Sundin won Olympic gold together for Sweden in 2006.
The addition rounds out the bench under Hiller, who took over as Toronto’s head coach last month.
Ottawa’s greatest player will spend next season drawing up plays for the team he spent his career trying to beat.
