- Alfredsson met the Toronto media Wednesday for the first time since the Leafs hired him
- He thanked Senators owner Michael Andlauer and spoke straight to Ottawa fans
- Read below for what he said about the head coach interview and Toronto’s power play
Daniel Alfredsson knows how this looks in Ottawa. The Senators legend met the Toronto media on Wednesday for the first time since the Maple Leafs hired him as an associate coach, and he went straight at the awkward part, thanking Sens owner Michael Andlauer before addressing the fans who watched him captain Ottawa for 16 seasons.
“I know this is an interesting day,” Alfredsson said. “But it’s an exciting day for me as I expand my coaching career.”
Here’s the moment:
Alfredsson has been part of Ottawa’s hockey operations on and off since 2015 and worked as an assistant coach since December 2023, helping the Senators reach the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. When his contract ran out in June, he knew he wasn’t going back.
He also knew Ottawa fans wouldn’t love the exit, especially with the Senators having just traded captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida at his own request.
“I totally understand it,” Alfredsson said. “It’s different when you’re a coach. When I felt like this was the career I wanted to go down as a coach, I knew I had to find my way and get experience. Nobody stays as a coach in one spot, no matter how popular you are.”
The Toronto job carried some intrigue. Alfredsson said he met with general manager John Chayka, senior advisor Mats Sundin and others about the head coaching role that opened when the Leafs fired Craig Berube. He came away impressed with new head coach Jim Hiller and figured Toronto was a great fit.
Alfredsson walked through the process:
Sundin, a fellow Swede and a former rival, helped sell him on the group.
“We kept in touch,” Alfredsson said of Sundin. “We haven’t talked a lot about the past, to be honest, but obviously I think it’s great that Mats is involved again. I think he has so much to bring, leadership, experience.”
Now he steps onto a bench loaded with talent. Alfredsson will have a hand in a power play built around Auston Matthews, William Nylander and rookie Gavin McKenna.
Take a look at what he’s walking into:
Alfredsson landing in Toronto still stings for a fan base that named a section of the rink after him. His jump to the Leafs bench closed the book on his time in the nation’s capital. On Wednesday, he made clear he’s ready for what comes next.
