Under D.J. Smith, the Ottawa Senators were an overly finesse club that needed more accountability and the ability to execute a game plan. Smith failed to lead the Sens to the playoffs and only posted one winning season (2022-23) in his four and a half years as head coach. Some fans argue personnel was Ottawa's continuous downfall, but it was clear from the start of the 2023-24 season that the 47-year-old head coach was far from a solution.
Ottawa general manager Steve Staios replaced Smith at midseason and then wasted little time interviewing and hiring Travis Green as the new Senators head coach.
Why Ottawa Senators fans should be optimistic about Travis Green
I expect Green to work relentlessly to overhaul the Senators' general attitude on and off the ice. Green has a reputation for being tougher on his players and preaching accountability. One can argue Green is the opposite of Smith, a coach who was well-liked by his players and the media. But there's a reason the John Tortorella types continue receiving head coaching opportunities: they bring out the toughness in their players.
Green is a defensive-minded head coach fit for a team that stunk on the back end this season and last. In Vancouver, Green employed a tight-checking, dump-and-chase system that resulted in success while leading the Canucks’ AHL club. Moreover, the former forechecker's preferred style of play is traditional and straightforward, which should benefit an Ottawa roster that is predominantly mid-20s and younger.
Why Ottawa Senators fans should be cautious of Travis Green
Travis Green has yet to match his minor league hockey head coaching success in two attempts leading an NHL club. In Vancouver, the 53-year-old posted D.J. Smith-like results but did lead the Canucks to the playoffs in 2019-20.
The talk among Canucks fans is that Green's hard-nosed coaching style wore out its welcome in the locker room. While Vancouver's younger players thrived, veterans grew frustrated with their head coach's tendency to handcuff player creativity. By his final season, Green's core players in Vancouver were as good as any in the NHL, but he was fired after an 8-15-2 start in 2021-22.
Green's short stint as the interim head coach of the New Jersey Devils this season also doesn't leave me feeling optimistic. The Devils were 8-12-1 under Green's tutelage and tanked in nearly every measurable offensive statistic. To be fair, Green took over for a club hampered by injuries (279-man games lost) and played meaningless hockey after being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on April 9.
Regardless, it speaks volumes that New Jersey did not hesitate to allow Green to interview with the Ottawa Senators weeks after they played their final game.
"I've coached in a Canadian market before, and I can't wait to get going here in Ottawa."
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 8, 2024
Travis Green's opening statement as the new head coach of the Senators. pic.twitter.com/fxgQmIiaza
Like it or not, Travis Green is now in charge of the Sens' bench. I believe his change in direction and tone will be a breath of fresh air needed in Ottawa, especially with the roster projected to get younger sooner. Still, I wonder whether Green's attitude and system are sustainable.
But if I may contradict myself one last time, I will admit that we don't know how much the Senators' new head coach has learned from his previous opportunities. I am also optimistic that Green has opted to surround himself with varying perspectives, including retaining Daniel Alfredsson and adding Mike Yeo to his coaching staff.
Only time will tell us if the Travis Green experiment in Ottawa is successful.