Ottawa Senators hire Jacques Martin as senior advisor to coaching staff

A familiar face is returning to the capital of Canada.

On Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators named Jacques Martin the Senior Advisor to the Coaching Staff.

The move comes as the team finds themselves struggling to play up to expectations this year. Ottawa (10-10-0) has the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and is seven points back of a Wild Card spot.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Jacques back to the Senators,” said interim general manager Steve Staios in a release. “Not only will his extensive expertise provide invaluable guidance, but his strategic vision and leadership are qualities that are certain to amplify our group. Jacques’ proven track record, the foundation of which was built here in Ottawa, will be of significant benefit to D.J. [Smith] and our entire coaching staff.”

There is much unrest around the organization and its fan base. Owner Michael Andlauer has been very outspoken about his displeasure for the team’s performance. Earlier this week, he told the media that he hears the fans’ anger toward head coach D.J. Smith, leaving them to bring in Martin to help out the staff during these tumultuous times.

Martin, who last served as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers during the 2020-21 season, was the Senators’ head coach from 1995 to 2004. He guided the team to eight-straight playoff appearances, winning the Jack Adams Award following the 1998-99 campaign. Under Martin, the Sens came within a win of the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the eventual champion New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Ottawa native last was a head coach for the Montreal Canadiens, and was let go in the middle of the 2011-12 season.

The coaching woes have not been the only problems surrounding the Sens this year. From Shane Pinto’s suspension for gambling, the firing of Pierre Dorion, to captain Brady Tkachuk calling out the fans, things have not gone according to plan for Andlauer’s new team, just months after he bought the team for nearly $1 billion.