• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Ottawa Senators

Senators Name D.J. Smith Coach, Maple Leafs Hire McFarland

By Jim Parsons May 23rd, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

On Thursday, news came down the NHL wire that the Ottawa Senators have named D.J. Smith as their new head coach. The team announced a three-year agreement with Smith, who spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and working under Mike Babcock.

The Senators took their time with this hire. They interviewed a number of candidates including interim coach Marc Crawford and recently were seen chatting with Patrick Roy. In the end, Ottawa chose to go with a fresher coach with less head coaching experience but someone who could grow with the team as they rebuild for the future.

"I'm absolutely excited for the opportunity to guide this young team."
 
Hear from new #Sens head coach D.J. Smith and general manager Pierre Dorion following this morning's announcement. pic.twitter.com/CrerBhypel

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) May 23, 2019

Smith will be facing the arduous task of making this Senator’s team a contender within those three years. He’s got some good young talent but was stripped of most of his star players at the last NHL Trade Deadline.

The organization has said they’d be willing to spend money to roster a competitive group but their history shows they’ve yet to really do so.

Related: NHL Rumors: Hayes, Roy, Oilers, Sharks, More

Why D.J. Smith?

Saying that from the first time they met with Smith the organization felt comfortable with him, it was about choosing someone who’d won as a junior coach had a lot of accountability and he carried a huge presence with a great knowledge of the game.

D.J. Smith, Ottawa Senators head coach
D.J. Smith, Ottawa Senators head coach (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

“D.J. Smith is a winner. We believe he is the best person to drive the development and success of the Ottawa Senators,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a team release. Dorion added that Smith is a great and an exceptional strategist. At the end of the day, Ottawa wanted someone who was passionate and could teach the young players on the Senators roster moving forward.

Prior his tenure with the Maple Leafs, Smith served as head coach of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals and won the Memorial Cup with the team in 2015. He was named OHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14 and won two Memorial Cup titles as an assistant coach in six seasons with the Windsor Spitfires before joining the Generals.

Related: NHL Rumors: Predators, Goaltenders, More

What Now in Toronto?

With Smith gone and Jim Hiller, Babcock’s other assistant, given permission to seek other opportunities and not coming back to the organization, the Maple Leafs needed to promote or hire someone. Bob McKenzie first reported the team would shortly announce that Paul McFarland has been hired to fill one of the vacancies. Within minutes of that report, the organization confirmed it to be true.

NEWS: @MapleLeafs name Paul McFarland assistant coach.

Details >> https://t.co/FGgepiTaAW#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/bLPAEp2vHu

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 23, 2019

McFarland worked with D.J. Smith in junior hockey and was in FLA as an assistant coach last season. From Richmond Hill, Ontario, he first joined the coaching ranks in 2012, serving as an assistant with the Oshawa Generals for two seasons.

“I’m extremely excited to be coming home and joining the Maple Leafs organization,” said McFarland. “The Leafs have a great, young team and this is an amazing opportunity to work with Mike, his staff and these talented players.”

With some heavy coaching turnover in Toronto and Babcock already rumored to be on the warm seat (probably not hot yet), it will be interesting to see what happens in Toronto over the next few months, especially if the team struggles early in the season.

Related: Babcock Is Back Behind the Maple Leafs’ Bench…For Now

  • Tags
  • D.J. Smith
  • Paul McFarland
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 20th 6:10 PM
Column

Red Wings News & Rumors: Protocol, Rasmussen, Howard & More

Jan 20th 6:00 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ Forward Depth Leading to Wins

Jan 20th 5:35 PM
Column

Islanders Weekly: Shutouts, Injury Scares & Scoring Concerns

Jan 20th 4:33 PM
Archives

2010 NHL Entry Draft: 5 Forgotten Picks

Jan 20th 4:15 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

3 Pros and 3 Cons to Golden Knights’ Goalie Split

Jan 20th 4:05 PM
Florida Panthers

Panthers Offense Flourishes but Goaltending & Special Teams Need Work

Jan 20th 3:15 PM
Column

Red Wings Wednesday Weekly: Hockey is Back Everyone!

Jan 20th 2:35 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Seeing Hot Starts From Some but Serious Concerns Linger

Jan 20th 2:20 PM
NHL Entry Draft

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini’s Top 75 Rankings

Jan 20th 1:50 PM
Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Goaltending & Defense Among Standouts Through Week 1

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information