The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing, which gives the Ottawa Senators management time to turn the head coach rumours into reality. Hopefully the head start they have on the competition is advantageous. However, there is a big group fighting for space in the same pool. As a matter of fact, 10 teams let their head coach go since October 2023. Here we are going to look at the top candidates, and who we think should be the man for the job. It has some decent variety as it goes from former Stanley Cup winners, to guys who have never been an NHL head coach. The names we go in depth on will be, in no particular order, Dean Evason, Todd McLellan, John Gruden, and Craig Berube. Finally, we wrap up, recapping most all the possible names that have been linked to Ottawa in some capacity throughout the process. Let’s get down to business!
Our Pick from All the Rumours to be Next Head Coach of the Ottawa Senators
Let’s start by forgetting the latest rumours, and give you our pick at Last Word for the next head coach of the Ottawa Senators. The top selection is none other than Dean Evason. Evason will be 60 years young when the 2024-25 season kicks-off. If you think that someone else might be considered higher on the ladder, first consider Evason’s intriguing resume. First of all, he is a coach with sufficient NHL experience (five years), and coached throughout the ranks. He has been a successful head coach at the CHL and AHL levels, before making his debut with the Minnesota Wild in 2020. Moreover, he did have previous NHL experience as an assistant coach back in Washington after his time in junior. And oh yeah, he’s fully in-tune with the grind of the NHL, having played over 800 games in the NHL. A professional playing career that spanned 19 seasons.
Let’s Discuss Evason’s Head Coaching Record
What we at Last Word like most about his head coaching experience in the NHL, is the strange symmetry with Ottawa. First, let’s go over some of his statistics and accomplishments. He coached 251 career regular season games for the Wild, posting a 147-77-27. That is good enough for a more than sufficient winning percentage of .639%. He reached the post-season in each of the four seasons he saw the end of the season in St. Paul. However, his 8-15 post-season record with no second round appearances left some to be desired.
But that does nothing to take away from that great regular season standing, and also, consider the cross-over with the Sens. In 2021-22, Cam Talbot had an amazing season for Evason, with a 32-12-4 record, a 2.76 GAA, and a .911 SV%. This was followed up by Filip Gustavsson’s impressive 2022-23 campaign. He posted a 22-9-7 standing and a 2.10 GAA with a .931 SV%. Maybe Evason and his style knows something about getting the most out of his club defensively. Or maybe these were just anomalies? But two years in a row, combined with that overall winning percentage, we might just be on to something.
The Top Ottawa Senators Head Coach Candidate According to the Rumours
The next head coach to analyze, is the one that has the rumours flying around for the Ottawa Senators. That man is Todd McLellan, and he very well may be a front-runner. McLellan always seems to be poised, and preach hard work and defence. He’s been around enough to realize that defence is all about putting players in a situation to succeed. Hard work alone can only carry a group so far, you need a plan in place, a winning, defensive strategy.
From a career coaching recap standpoint, he has been around. Way back in 2008, as a 41-year-old, he was at the helm of the San Jose Sharks, which showcased the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and even Rob Blake. He’s had multiple post-season trips, and twice led the Sharks into the Western Conference Finals. The Sharks won the Pacific Division title in each of McLellan’s first three seasons as their bench boss.
Furthermore, he has coached a total of 16 seasons in the NHL, and compiled a .581 win %. In addition, he was Connor McDavid’s coach when the superstar was a rookie, and they enjoyed the second round 2017 playoff run together. He has seen high powered offences, and coached a few defensive teams as well, such as in Los Angeles. The rumours of him as the next head coach of the Senators are logical and substantiated, so McLellan could very well be working in Ottawa in October.
How would you feel if the #Sens hired Todd McLellan as Head Coach? https://t.co/s4osqOrKE5
— Locked On Senators (@SensCentral) May 1, 2024
The Top Non-NHL Head Coach Experienced Candidate John Gruden
The next name to discuss, does not have any NHL (head) coaching experience. But interestingly enough, laced them up for the Senators in the late 90s for a cup of coffee. And hey, in terms of NHL coaching experience, everyone needs to start somewhere. One place Gruden was employed along the way, was with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL. He was head coach there from 2016 through 2018. In addition, he made a couple of noteworthy connections. At the time, the General Manager was Steve Staios and they were owned by Michael Andlauer. More recently, Gruden did pick up coaching experience at the NHL level as an assistant with the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins. And this past season, he spent it as the head coach of the Leafs affiliate in the AHL the Toronto Marlies. Despite their first round playoff exit to none other than the Belleville Senators, being the head coach of the Leafs AHL club is a great stepping stone.
Craig Berube
Our last candidate to investigate further, is Craig Berube. Berube commands a lot of respect in NHL circles, with a decent amount of NHL head coaching experience. One reason he commands respect, is the fact he led the St. Louis Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup championship. Additionally, including that season, three times as the Blues coach he compiled a WIN% of .651 or better. So, the cup season was no outlier by any stretch.
The other reason Berube is highly-regarded was his NHL playing career, one that saw him suit up for 1054 regular season contests. Teammates always loved having his physical presence in the lineup, and his 3149 career PIMs, include a single-season high of 293 PIMs, stands a reason why. Berube has coached for parts of eight seasons in the NHL, so brings satisfactory levels of experience. Does he have enough experience with a young, core of players, one that hasn’t sniffed the post-season? In order to be able to develop them past this hump the Senators group finds themselves in. Well, that’s for Steve Staios and his staff to decide.
The Recap of Head Coach Rumours for the Ottawa Senators
There have been plenty of rumours of who should become the next head coach of the Ottawa Senators. Some of the other names include Chris Kelly, Claude Julien, Marc Crawford, Jay Woodcroft, Doug Houda, Joel Bouchard, regardless, you get the point that the list is long. The coach should be sound defensively. Each of our four main selections to check that box. One advantage to someone like McLellan is working with young superstars. Also, Evason has an opportunity to work with some strong young players like Brock Faber, Matt Boldy, or even Kirill Kaprizov. An attribute that would sync to the needs to the Sens players. In any case, with so many candidates, Steve Staios has plenty of work and late nights ahead of him.
Main photo: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
