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Ottawa Senators: The Inconsistent History of Guy Boucher

By Alexander O'Reilly

OTTAWA, ON - MAY 23: Guy Boucher of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on May 23, 2017 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - MAY 23: Guy Boucher of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on May 23, 2017 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Guy Boucher has been the Head Coach of the Ottawa Senators for just one season so far but it was a successful one. The only question is whether the success will continue.

Last year at the end of the season the Ottawa Senators disappointed their fans by failing to make the playoffs. Head Coach Dave Cameron was quickly fired and so the hunt for a head coach began. Sens fans were hopeful that they would be able to get former Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau locked up. His resume spoke for itself as in nine full seasons as a head coach in the NHL, he had failed to win his division just once. It looked like both sides wanted to make things work. However, to the surprise of many, Boudreau went to the Minnesota Wild. As a result the Sens hired Guy Boucher, except there was one interesting piece of information Pierre Dorion released up on the hiring, he was their first choice.

Dorion saying that Boucher was his first choice as coach looked like a poor attempt to prevent outrage over the team’s inability to get Boudreau. However, over the past year Boucher has proven worthy of the early praise from management.

A History of Inconsistency

Guy Boucher has a history of having fantastic first season with a team. His NHL career began with the Tampa Bay Lightning in a similar way to his first year with the Sens. Brought in after the team failed to make the playoffs he led the Lightning to game seven of the Eastern Conference Final. The problem is that the Lightning then failed to make the playoffs the next season. Boucher was then fired half way through his third season with the Lightning.

After leaving the Lightning he went to coach in the Swiss League and in his first year he led his team to a championship. However, a similar pattern followed as his team struggled the next season. Sitting on the outside of the playoff race he was fired the season after winning a championship.

Next: Ottawa Senators: Chris Neil’s Departure Marks the End of an Era

Proving He Can Stick

Now with the Senators the pattern continues. A phenomenal first season with the team, but how he follows it up is the real question. Boucher has to prove that his system can work for more than one season. He’s struggled to get there so far, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work in Ottawa. Every team is different and responds differently to coaches. Perhaps this will be the team Boucher will have longevity with, but he has to prove it.

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