“Ottawa Senators Fire Head Coach D.J. Smith, Replace Him with Jacques Martin”
The Ottawa Senators have announced the firing of head coach D.J. Smith, following the team’s fourth consecutive loss. The decision comes just 26 games into the 2023-24 season, signaling a major shakeup for the struggling team. Smith will be replaced on an interim basis by Jacques Martin, who previously served as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In addition to Smith’s departure, the Senators have also parted ways with assistant coach David Payne. The team also announced the appointment of Daniel Alfredsson, the franchise’s all-time leader in goals and points, as an assistant coach to Martin.
Smith had been at the helm of the Senators for five seasons, amassing a record of 131-154-32 through 317 games. Under his tenure, the team struggled to find success, never qualifying for the playoffs and finishing with a .464 points percentage, placing them 25th in the NHL. The team’s best finish under Smith came last season with 86 points.
The decision to relieve Smith of his coaching duties comes after a string of poor performances and a lack of consistency from the Senators. The team currently sits in last place in the Eastern Conference with an 11-15 record.
As an interim replacement, 71-year-old Jacques Martin brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as head coach of the Senators from 1996 to 2004. During his previous tenure, Martin led Ottawa to the playoffs in all eight of his full seasons, including a President’s Trophy title in 2002-03.
In explaining the decision, Senators president of hockey operations, Steve Staios stated that while he had initially been supportive of Smith, the team’s struggles and lack of consistency ultimately led to the decision to make a change.
The move to replace Smith with Martin and Alfredsson comes as the Senators aim to turn their season around and break a six-year playoff drought. With Martin’s experience and Alfredsson’s expertise, the team is hoping to shift the tide and bring about a much-needed change in performance.
The decision to make the coaching change was likely influenced, in part, by fan dissatisfaction, with loud chants of “Fire D.J.” being heard at home games. With the team’s next home game approaching, it is likely that the Senators sought to make a change before the dissatisfaction grew even stronger.
The move to replace Smith with Martin and Alfredsson highlights the team’s commitment to changing the trajectory of their season and bringing about a new era of success for the Ottawa Senators.