According to the Canadian Press on Monday, the Ottawa Senators have named Jacques Martin of Ottawa, Ontario as their new head coach on an interim basis. Martin replaces D.J. Smith of Windsor, Ontario, who was relieved of his duties.
Martin is actually returning to coach the Senators. He was the head coach of Ottawa from 1995 to 2004. During his time in Ottawa, he won the Jack Adams Award in 1998-99.
Martin was also the head coach of the St. Louis Blues from 1986 to 1988, the Florida Panthers from 2005 to 2008, and the Montreal Canadiens from 2009 to 2012. His head coaching record at the National Hockey League level is 613 wins, 481 regulation losses, 119 ties, and 81 losses in extra time for a winning percentage of .551. Martin also was the head coach of the Guelph Platers of the Ontario Hockey League in 1985-86, and won a Memorial Cup. He was also the head coach of the Cornwall Aces of the American Hockey League in 1993-94.
Martin has also been an assistant coach for many years along the way. He was with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League from 1983 to 1985, the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1988 to 1990, the Quebec Nordiques as an associate coach from 1990 to 1993, the Nordiques as an assistant coach from 1994 to 1995, the Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach in 1995 to 1996, the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach from 2013 to 2020, and the New York Rangers as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2021. While with the Penguins, he won the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup.
The fact that Martin is the new head coach as the Senators is not a huge surprise. He was hired as a senior advisor to the coaching staff on December 6. Ottawa currently has the third worst record in the NHL with 22 points. Only the Chicago Blackhawks (19 points) and San Jose Sharks (21 points), have fewer points.
