The Leafs held a video call with new associate coach Daniel Alfredsson on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
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New Leafs associate coach Daniel Alfredsson understands that some Ottawa Senators<\/a> fans are pained to see him switch sides in the Battle of Ontario. <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I totally understand it,\u201d the former Senators captain and franchise icon said during a video call with reporters from his home in Sweden. \u201cThere\u2019s no question. I think from talking to friends and other coaches as well, it\u2019s different when you\u2019re a coach. I think when I felt that this is the career I want to go down, as a coach I knew I had to move at some point. I have to earn my way and get experience.\u201d<\/p>\n So, Alfredsson is moving down the highway to join the staff of new Leafs head coach Jim Hiller in Toronto. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure in my dreams, would I have loved to stay and then become the head coach of Ottawa? Maybe,\u201d said Alfredsson, who served as an assistant coach with the Senators the last three seasons. \u201cBut nobody stays as a coach forever in one spot, no matter how popular you are. You\u2019ve got to perform. And, for me, to get better as a coach, this is the path. I knew at some point I had to move and, you know, they don\u2019t hand out jobs easily in the NHL. It\u2019s a tough job to get and when I had this opportunity, I felt it was the right one for my coaching career without a question.\u201d<\/p>\n Ottawa 1200: Alfie, anybody but the Leafs! @TSNJR, @TSNSteveLloyd and @brendanbell613 on Daniel Alfredsson leaving Ottawa for the Blue and White. <\/p>\n In an opening statement before taking questions, Alfredsson addressed fans in the nation\u2019s capital directly. <\/p>\n \u201cLove you as always,\u201d the 53-year-old said. \u201cThank you. I understand this is an interesting day. But also an exciting chapter for me as I expand my coaching career.\u201d<\/p>\n Alfredsson thanked Senators owner Michael Andlauer, president of hockey operations, general manager Steve Staios and the coaching staff in Ottawa for the opportunity and for helping him learn and grow. <\/p>\n \u201cNow I\u2019ve caught the coaching bug, which I\u2019m very happy about,\u201d he said with a smile. <\/p>\n Alfredsson, who initially joined the Senators in a player development role, had his contract expire after last season. <\/p>\n \u201cAfter I finished the season, you know, took some time as always to reflect and I kind of made my mind up that I\u2019m not going to come back to Ottawa,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to try to pursue and get different experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n Alfredsson looked at opportunities in the NHL and outside the league before zeroing in on the Leafs.<\/p>\n ‘Love you guys always’: Alfredsson gives thanks to Sens fans during ‘interesting day’ AS the face of the Senators franchise, it was shocking for Ottawa fans to see Daniel Alfredsson take a job as an assistant coach with the rival Maple Leafs. Alfie understands the fans’ pain, but says he loves the fans and appreciates their support. Alfredsson also revealed that he wasn’t going to renew with Ottawa when he contract expired as he believed that exploring other opportunities will help him grow. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Alfredsson interviewed for Toronto\u2019s head coach position, which became open after Craig Berube was relieved of his duties in May.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously didn\u2019t get that job and [they] came back a few weeks later and asked if I would be interested in another role within the organization,\u201d Alfredsson said. <\/p>\n After interviewing with Hiller, Alfredsson felt Toronto was the right place for him to continue his coaching journey. <\/p>\n Alfredsson learned a lot from working with Senators head coach Travis Green and the rest of the Ottawa staff, but saw value in hearing new voices and expanding his repertoire. <\/p>\n Hiller served as Los Angeles Kings<\/a> head coach before being fired in March. He previously worked as an assistant coach with the Leafs under Mike Babock. <\/p>\n \u201cHe really intrigued me with his knowledge and the style he likes to play,\u201d Alfredsson said.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt that it\u2019s somebody I can learn a lot from. And, you know, as we kept talking, it kind of felt that this will be a great next step for my coaching career.\u201d <\/p>\n In a statement announcing his new staff on Tuesday, Hiller highlighted Alfredsson\u2019s track record. <\/p>\n \u201cDaniel\u2019s experience, leadership and understanding of the game speak for themselves,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n John Gruden, who just coached the Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup title, and Brad Werenka, who most recently served as an assistant coach for the University of Calgary Dinos men\u2019s team, will serve as assistants on Hiller\u2019s staff. <\/p>\n Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde will not be returning as assistant coaches next season, the team confirmed. <\/p>\n Alfredsson excited for chance at career growth and working on Leafs’ powerplay Daniel Alfredsson has been hired as an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs. Last season, the Senators legend spent time behind Ottawa’s bench as an assistant coach as well. Alfie detailed what appealed to him with Toronto, and explained how the power play will be a big part that he will work with alongside head coach Jim Hiller. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Alfredsson worked with the power play in Ottawa and will also have that in his portfolio with the Leafs. <\/p>\n \u201cI think they had some really good times last year in the power play and some tough ones as well,\u201d Alfredsson noted. \u201cProbably lost their confidence a little bit, but they have a lot of the tools to be a good power play and a good offensive team as well. So a lot of skill, guys that can shoot the puck. I look forward to working with them and see what we can accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs finished 15th (21.3 per cent) in power-play percentage last season although the team did improve dramatically in that department after assistant coach Marc Savard was replaced by Steve Sullivan in late December. <\/p>\n The Senators ranked eighth in power-play percentage last season (24 per cent), but only converted once on 21 chances during a playoff sweep at the hands of the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cI played power play my whole career,\u201d Alfredsson noted. \u201cThere\u2019s no secret recipe. I think you got to put them in good positions where they can succeed, give them a plan. I personally like to try to educate them and, you know, when you worked with them for a while, they know how to adjust themselves. But if there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve gotten better at in Ottawa with the help especially of Mike Yeo and Ben Sexton, who helped me a fair bit, it\u2019s all the small structure things, faceoffs, edge battles, winning pucks quick, the structure and the breakouts. I think I\u2019ve gotten a lot better at that the last couple of years and that\u2019s what I hope to continue to build on.\u201d <\/p>\n