- Senators owner Michael Andlauer released a statement after Daniel Alfredsson left for the rival Maple Leafs
- Andlauer called Alfredsson “forever an Ottawa Senator” and said the door stays open for a return
- Read below for the full statement and what Alfredsson walks into in Toronto
Daniel Alfredsson is coaching for the enemy now.
Michael Andlauer isn’t holding it against him. The Senators owner put out a statement Tuesday after Alfredsson left Ottawa’s bench to join the rival Maple Leafs as an associate coach, and he didn’t bother hiding the sting.
Andlauer started by going back to one of the first calls his group made after buying the franchise.
“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,” Andlauer said. “I quickly learned that Alfie embodied all the characteristics of what it meant to be an Ottawa Senator.”
Then he got to the part Sens fans wanted to hear.
“While I wish he wasn’t joining an arch rival, Alfie is forever an Ottawa Senator and the door will always be open for his return,” Andlauer said. “He has done so much for our organization and community and he has my full respect.”
Here’s the full statement the Senators posted:
Alfredsson lands in Toronto as one of three additions. The Leafs also brought in John Gruden and Brad Werenka as they rework the staff under incoming head coach Jim Hiller.
The Leafs made it official:
The jump stings a little more because of who it’s for. Alfredsson gave Ottawa 17 seasons, 13 of them as captain, and he still tops the franchise leaderboard in goals, assists and points. He made the move to Toronto after three years on the Senators staff.
He won the Calder in 1996, put up 1,157 points across 1,246 regular-season games, and got the Hockey Hall of Fame call in 2022. Now he’s wearing the other side’s colors in the Battle of Ontario.
