Daniel Alfredsson says he will love Ottawa and Senators fans forever, but the time had come to move on to other markets as he pursues a coaching career. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the longtime Senators great turned assistant coach as a new associate coach in Toronto on Tuesday, which came as a surprise to many Sens fans. In a media availability on Wednesday on Zoom from Sweden, Alfredsson said he understands the pain many fans in the capital are feeling. “Yeah, I totally understand it. There’s no question,” he said when asked about how Ottawa fans reacted to learning he was joining the team’s archrival. “To the Ottawa fans, love you as always. Thank you. I understand this is an interesting day, but also an exciting chapter for me as I expand my coaching career,” he said. Alfredsson told reporters his contract with the Sens was up at the end of June and he had made up his mind to look for opportunities elsewhere to expand his skills as a coach, and the chance to work with the Leafs came at just the right time. “(Ottawa Senators GM) Steve Staios actually called me and said Toronto asked to interview for the head coaching job. Obviously, I didn’t get that job and (they) came back a few weeks later and asked if I would be interested in another role within the organization,” he said. “When I felt that this is the career I wanted to go down, as a coach, I knew I had to move at some point. I have to earn my way and get experience. I’m sure, in my dreams, would I have loved to stay and become the head coach of Ottawa? Maybe. But nobody stays a coach forever in one spot.” Alfredsson retired as an Ottawa Senator in 2014 after 18 seasons with the Sens and one with the Detroit Red Wings. He still holds Ottawa’s franchise records for goals, assists, and points and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022. He returned to the Senators organization in 2023 in a player development role and later became an assistant coach. “After I finished the season, I took some time, as always, to reflect and I kind of made my mind up that I’m not going to come back to Ottawa next year,” Alfredsson said. “I’m going to try to pursue and get different experiences, and my contract did expire the end of June. Then I looked at opportunities inside and outside the NHL for which path I was going to go, and this opportunity came up, and here we are today.” Following the announcement on Tuesday that he would be moving to Toronto, Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer said he would welcome Alfredsson back anytime. “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. I quickly learned that Alfie embodied all the characteristics of what it meant to be an Ottawa Senator,” he said in a statement posted to social media. “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. He has done so much for our organization and community and he has my full respect.” Off the ice, Alfredsson became known for his community contributions. He received the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross for his work on mental health awareness and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Ottawa in 2016, the same year he became a Canadian citizen. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe posted on social media moments before news of Alfredsson’s move to Toronto was confirmed to say he had given him a commemorative coin marking the 200th anniversary of the founding of Bytown, which later became Ottawa. “As a player, captain, and community leader, Alfie has inspired generations of hockey fans and represented our city extremely well. Anyone who has met Daniel knows he’s every bit as impressive off the ice as he was on it. And many years after his playing career, he is still beloved by Ottawa residents,” Sutcliffe said. Sutcliffe responded a short time later on Tuesday to say he had no idea Alfredsson planned to leave the Senators organization when he presented him with the coin in mid-June. “Okay, I didn’t see that coming,” he said. “When I presented Alfie with an Ottawa 200 coin on June 17, and when I posted about it this morning, I had no idea about his plans or that they would be announced today. We’ll miss you, Alfie. Come back any time.”
