In assembling the coaching team, D.J. Smith has ensured he will have tremendous depth behind him when he makes his debut as head coach on Oct. 2 in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. In coaches Capuano and Payne, Smith will have 620 games of NHL head coaching experience, a 20-year coaching veteran of the OHL in Jones, and highly experienced specialized coaches the returning Groulx and King.
"I am really excited we have secured coaches with the kind of experience, knowledge and depth of character that we have in Jack, Davis, Bob, Pierre and Mike," said Smith. "We feel this group will make a huge impact on our developing team through the preparation, insight and culture they will bring, and I am personally thrilled I'll have access to the kind of knowledge and attention to detail that can only be learned from coaching at the level these coaches have."
As the final coaching pieces come together for new head coach Smith, his attention now firmly turns towards helping the blend of experienced and young players on Ottawa's roster grow together into a strong, hardworking team.
"We are all coming into this together with a common goal, to grow and develop this group into a team the entire city can be proud of, for this season and the future," said Smith. "There is a real sense of excitement and positivity with the coaches and players we have here, and we can't wait to get started."
D.J. Smith's coaching staff
Jack Capuano - associate coach: Spent the last two seasons as associate coach with the Florida Panthers. Served over a decade coaching in the New York Islanders organization, highlighted by parts of seven seasons and 483 games as the team's head coach between 2010 and 2017.
Davis Payne - assistant coach: Spent the last two seasons as associate coach with the Buffalo Sabres and the five previous seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings where he helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2014. He also spent 137 games as head coach of the St. Louis Blues between 2009-12.
Bob Jones - assistant coach: Joins D.J. Smith's staff after spending last season as an assistant coach with the Texas Stars, Dallas' top development affiliate in the American Hockey League. Before joining the Dallas organization, Jones, who has more than 20 years of experience as a coach in the OHL, spent three seasons as head coach of the Oshawa Generals.
Pierre Groulx - goaltending coach: The only returning member of Ottawa's coaching staff, Groulx brings more than 15 years of NHL experience, including time with Ottawa, the Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers. Groulx maintains significant familiarity with the Senators as 2019-20 will be his ninth year working in the Nation's Capital.
Mike King - video coach: King joins the Senators after spending the last three seasons as the video coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears. In 2018, King joined the Washington Capitals for the club's playoff run, assisting the team's coaching staff as part of its Stanley Cup victory. Before joining the Bears, King spent two seasons as a development coach with the OHL's Sudbury Wolves.
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