Hiring Jacques Martin & Christmas Wishlist
The Senators hired Jacques Martin, exploring the trade market for Batherson & a Christmas Wishlist
Welcome to the THW Ottawa Senators Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Senators writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look at the possibility of trading Drake Batherson, looking at the Jacques Martin hiring at a 12 Days of Christmas Wishlist for the Senators.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Ottawa Senators’ 12 Days of Christmas Wishes
December 11, 2023 by Paul Quinney
It’s coming on Christmas and they’re cutting down trees and putting up reindeer. So it’s time for the Ottawa Senators to send Santa Claus their Christmas list.
Not that it’s done them much good these past six seasons. The miserly old elf has behaved more like the Grinch leaving the team feeling like Whoville’s little Cindy-Lou Who, who mistook the Grinch for Santa, famously asked, “Santy Claus – why, why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?”
Even so, the team is hoping they avoided Kris Kringle’s Naughty List this year and that they’ll find what they want under their tree. Let’s take a look at what the 2023-24 Senators may be asking for.
Senators Should Explore Trading Drake Batherson
December 7, 2023 by Dayton Reimer
In an article in the Ottawa Sun, Bruce Garrioch mentioned that NHL teams have reportedly called about Drake Batherson but added that “the Senators have zero interest in going that route” (from “GARRIOCH: The Ottawa Senators need to get their act together quickly,” Ottawa Sun – 02/12/2023). Trading a young, top-six winger isn’t an attractive option, and it’s almost certainly not going to happen. However, the Senators are not in a position to ignore any trade request unless it’s about Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, or Jake Sanderson. They need to be strategic about this, and if there’s a chance to improve their struggling roster, they need to take it.
Senators Hire Jacques Martin to “Coach” D.J. Smith
December 7, 2023 by Jacob Billington
The Ottawa Senators announced that they have hired former head coach Jacques Martin and have appointed him in the role of Senior Advisor to the coaching staff. When you think of which coach was the best behind the Senators’ bench, the only answer is Martin. He leads the franchise in games coached, wins, playoff wins, and more.
There has been quite a surge of former members of the Senators franchise brought back under the new ownership, led by Michael Andlauer. Relationships have been restored with Senators alumni, Cyril Leeder is back in the fold, Daniel Alfredsson has a role, and now Martin is in a significant position.
While many have been calling for the firing of DJ Smith — despite plenty of reports stating that Andlauer and the rest of the management team want to keep things stable for a bit — this is the next best thing. The biggest gripe against Smith and the current coaching system has been the defensive structure or lack thereof, but adding Martin into the mix certainly helps that.