Positive news: The ottawa senators former head coach announce his return.
After D.J. Smith was sacked midway through the 2023–24 NHL season and interim head coach Jacques Martin (71) declared he won’t return in a full-time role, that revolving door will spin once more.
“Immense disappointment” and “embarrassment” don’t even begin to sum up the Senators’ 2023–24 season, their first under Michael Andlauer’s management. General manager Steve Staios is under strain to find a long-term solution for the team’s bench and lead this team to the postseason for the first time since a journey to the Eastern Conference Final to wrap up the 2016–17 season.
We examine FanDuel Ontario’s odds and betting market for the future head coach of the Senators below.
The betting favorite in this market is the soon-to-be 54-year-old head coach of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. His +105 odds indicate a 48.78% implied chance of being Martin’s replacement. Our betting calculator shows that a $10 wager at such odds would yield a profit of $10.50 if he is behind the Ottawa bench in Game 1 of the 2024–25 season.
Gruden, though, has only been a head coach in a (small league) professional setting for one year. He had previously worked as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders for four seasons before joining the Boston Bruins for one. His most recent head coaching position was from 2016 to 2018 with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
Staios and other Senator stakeholders are all indicating that they would much rather have someone with NHL experience (and success).
utilizing McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in place of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and Josh Norris. Still, there are offensive prowess and young similarities between the Oilers and Sens.
This offseason, Ottawa’s top needs and/or areas for development are between the pipes and the bottom of their roster, both on defense and at forward.
Seems familiar?
Woodcroft would bring expertise managing a youthful and offensively talented team, even though the Senators might not be guaranteed playoff success. The hiring would provide a success-starved fan base some much-needed stability, if management made the right veteran additions—something Woodcroft seemed to never get while in Edmonton.
