The Ottawa Senators have hired Nolan Baumgartner and Mike Yeo as assistant coaches on Travis Green’s staff for the upcoming season.
The team also said that assistant coaches Daniel Alfredsson and Ben Sexton, goaltending coach Justin Peters and video coach Mike King will return to the team’s coaching staff next season.
“We’re pleased to welcome both Nolan and Mike as new members of the Senators’ organization,” said Senators president and general manager Steve Staios. “In addition to Daniel, Ben, Justin and Mike’s respective return, we’re confident that this coaching staff represents a strong blend of experience and one that will provide Travis with high-level support while they collectively lead our team going forward.”
Yeo recently agreed to part ways with the Vancouver Canucks after spending the past two seasons with the team. Yeo initially joined Bruce Boudreau’s staff in July 2022 and remained on Rick Tocchet’s staff when he took over in 2023.
The 50-year-old coach started coaching at the NHL level in 2005-06 when he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach. Over his coaching career, he had three different gigs as a head coach with the Minnesota Wild (2011-2016), St. Louis Blues (2017-2018) and then as an interim head coach with the Philadelphia Flyers (2022).
Baumgartner was most recently an assistant coach in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose for the past two seasons. He has worked with Green in the past as an assistant coach with the Canucks from 2017 to early 2021.
The former NHL defenceman also spent four seasons with Green as an assistant coach with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, from 2013 to 2017.
The NHL offseason is always a time of change and transition for teams across the league, and the Ottawa Senators are no exception. In a move that has surprised many fans and analysts, the Senators have announced significant changes to their coaching staff for the upcoming season.
One of the most notable changes is the addition of Mike Yeo as an assistant coach. Yeo brings a wealth of experience to the Senators, having previously served as head coach for the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues. His defensive-minded coaching style is expected to bring a new level of discipline and structure to the Senators’ game.
In addition to Yeo, the Senators have also welcomed back Daniel Alfredsson in a coaching capacity. Alfredsson, a former captain and fan favorite in Ottawa, will serve as a senior advisor to the hockey operations department. His leadership and hockey knowledge are sure to be invaluable assets to the coaching staff and players alike.
These coaching changes come at a crucial time for the Senators, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season. With a talented roster that includes young stars like Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot, the addition of Yeo and the return of Alfredsson could be just what the team needs to turn things around.
Fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the new season to see how these coaching changes will impact the Senators’ performance on the ice. With Yeo and Alfredsson on board, there is renewed hope and excitement surrounding the team as they look to make a push for the playoffs. Only time will tell if these changes will pay off, but one thing is for certain – the Senators are gearing up for an exciting season ahead.