From 1992-1996, one thing was common for the Ottawa Senators, which was losing. In the first four seasons to the franchise's existence, the Senators won a combined 51 games. The worst season of them all was the 1992-93 season when the Senators went a putrid 10-70-4.
It was the middle of the 1995-96 season when the Senators franchise changed. After Rick Bowness and Dave Allison each had a head coaching stint during the season, Jacques Martin was then the head coach, making it the Senators' third head coach of the season, and coached the team's final 38 games of the season.
Then, the Senators turned the franchise around with Martin as head coach. Now almost 30 years later since Martin first got the Senators head coaching job, it's time for Martin to get recognition he deserves for his work with the Senators.
Martin needs Ring of Honour selection from Senators
Only one former head coach in Senators history is in the Ring of Honour, which is Bryan Murray, who coached the Senators for three seasons. Murray was the head coach for the Senators when they reached the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.
However, the Senators weren't a consistent and top team in the Eastern Conference until Martin was the head coach. With the success he had and how he made Ottawa a playoff contending team, Martin has a case for a Ring of Honour selection from the Senators.
Martin's 367 wins is the most by a head coach in Senators history. The Senators won three division titles with Martin as head caoch. The one and only time the Senators won the President's Trophy in franchise history came with Martin as head coach in 2003.
1997 was when the Senators made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with Martin as head coach. In 1998, Martin guided the Senators to a huge first round upset series win against the New Jersey Devils. The Senators had 24 less points than the Devils in the regular season, but it didn't bother the Senators one bit.
The Senators made the playoffs every year from 1997-2004 with Martin as head coach. Unfortunautely, the Senators couldn't get over the hump with Martin. After losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, Martin was fired.
In the middle of the 2023-24 season after the Senators fired then head coach DJ Smith, the Senators named Martin interim head coach. Martin coached the final 56 games of the season.
This past January, it was announced Martin would be inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. Now, a Ring of Honour selection for Martin may need to be next.