Is Chris Kelly the perfect head coach candidate as a former hockey player for the Ottawa Senators? It is quite plausible. However, this is a bit of a leap, Kelly does reveal many intriguing attributes. What will the learnings for the organization from Jacques Martin mean for future success? Who will Steve Staios ultimately target as the club’s next head coach? So many unanswered questions in the Canadian national capital.
Chris Kelly was a Tremendous Hockey Player, What about a Head Coach?
When you really think about the question, why is this even a topic of discussion? Of course, Kelly is perfect for the job. Because of being recognized by the Senators broadcast staff, everyone is looking for a promotion. Honestly, one record never to be underestimated is the eight-loss 1977 Montreal Canadiens. Since Kelly joined the Bruins organization behind the bench, it has coincided with an incredible run. For the nearly three complete seasons, the Bruins have a .721 Win %.
Why Would Chris Kelly be a fit as the Senators Head Coach?
Quite simply, Kelly was a fan favourite. As a player, he went to Boston just to win a cup. Kelly was a 14-year veteran of the NHL. He played eight seasons with the Senators, registering 80 goals. For comparison, Daniel Alfredsson ended up with 444 for his career, including his one season in the ‘Motor City.’ Perhaps what Kelly was best known for was his work ethic, akin to current Senator Parker Kelly. Throughout his Sens playing career, he averaged 14:31 a night of ice time. Moreover, one stat that really stood out was his positive takeaway/giveaway differential. In Ottawa, it accumulated to +39.
In terms of a coaching career, Chris Kelly’s is almost as impressive as possible. As a former player, there are two methods for reaching the NHL off the ice once you have retired. The first is by going to coach lower levels, such as in a junior league. Another method is Kelly’s exact methodology. In addition, Kelly ended his playing career by taking a job in player development with the Senators. From there, he ended up parlaying that into his current role, as assistant coach in the NHL, for Jim Montgomery’s Boston Bruin coaching staff.
Other Options for the Head Coaching Job for Ottawa
Two other names that are front of the list for the next head coaching job of the Senators include John Gruden and Marc Crawford. What if we consider that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate? The Sens need a young, tactician. They are few and far between, Jon Cooper or Peter Laviolette come to mind, even Laviolette at 60 is not exactly ‘young.’ There are a few other top candidates that will garner some recognition. Alfredsson is one that comes to mind, or another would be Todd McClellan.
The Ottawa Senators have been in a rut for a long time. However, from the dark comes positivity. Ottawa has a tremendous ceiling versus actual results. Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, and even Drake Batherson could achieve career-highs next year or the year after. There is naturally a bit of lag for progression following the D.J. Smith regime. Once a new head coach can come in and supplant a winning, individually suited strategy, things will improve. They do need a coach to tap into the idea of how important many of the players’ career projections align with the team’s expectations. It is a very fragile ecosystem in the Nation’s capital. Will Kelly be the one to bring the best out of these players? Or perhaps another candidate like Gruden will take the reigns. Either way, the time is now for Ottawa and their playoff vision for this group.
Main photo: David E. Klutho-USA TODAY Sports
