Castlegar B.C. – CanucksBanter

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

May 7, 2024

The long-awaited search for the next head coach of the Ottawa Senators has officially come to an end.

Steve Staios, GM and President of Hockey Operations

Canucks former Head Coach Travis Green has been named the next Head Coach of the Ottawa Senators, it was announced by the NHL Senators today.

Staios added that Travis Green has been signed to a 3-year contract through the end of the 2027-28 NHL season.

“After speaking to several highly qualified candidates, it became clear that Travis is the right fit to lead our group,” said Staios.

As we’ve routinely stated, developing a winning culture is paramount to our aspiration of achieving sustained success.

Travis has a burning desire to win, is passionate about teaching, and holds his players to a very high standard. We’re excited to welcome he and his family to the Ottawa-Gatineau community.”

According to the article, ‘Garrioch: Travis Green emerges as top choice for next coach for the Ottawa Senators’:

“A big part of my coaching is building relationships,” Green told media in New Jersey at the end of this season.

“When you talk about accountability, that’s really being there for each other every day and being dependable that you’re going to do the right thing to win.

“As a coach, to have accountability in your room, I believe you have to have open dialogue, open communication, trust, and build a relationship. Not only do the players then accept accountability; they want it, and they understand it when players are held accountable.”

In the above article, Green admits to learning from Lindy Ruff with the New Jersey Devils as assistant coach:

“Just being around Lindy made me a better coach,” Green said.

“I study the game a lot, I study different systems a lot, and I analyze what works for some teams and also doesn’t work for other teams. I have changed some of my ideas, and that’s just evolving as a coach.

“The game evolves, and coaches have to evolve as well.”

Travis Green 411

In the 2013 off-season, Green was hired as the head coach of the American Hockey League‘s (AHL) Utica Comets, the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League‘s (NHL) Vancouver Canucks.In the 2014–15 season, he led them to the Calder Cup finals where they lost in five games to the Manchester Monarchs.

On April 26, 2017, he was named head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.On December 5, 2021, Green was fired as the head coach of the Canucks along with general manager Jim Benning after leading the team to an 8–15–2 record.

On June 22, 2023, the New Jersey Devils hired Green as associate coach in head coach Lindy Ruff‘s staff. He was named the team’s interim head coach after Ruff was fired on March 4, 2024.

Source: Wikipedia

Sources: nhl.com, Ottawa Citizen

Horcoff spent last six seasons as Red Wings director of player development

DETROIT — Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman today announced that Shawn Horcoff has been named Red Wings assistant general manager and general manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.

Horcoff, who was born in Trail, British Columbia and raised in Castlegar, B.C., will work alongside Yzerman on all hockey operations matters for the Red Wings, in addition to being responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Griffins, including personnel decisions, contract negotiations and player movement.

“I’m very excited for my new role with the Red Wings and look forward to continuing the winning culture and tradition in Grand Rapids,” Horcoff, the former Trail Smoke Eater said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to establish relationships with the players, coaches and front office personnel within the Red Wings organization over the last six years and I’m excited for the opportunity to continue developing our prospects in Grand Rapids and helping them become impactful players at the NHL level.”

Horcoff, 43, spent six seasons as the Red Wings’ director of player development – in addition to the last three seasons as assistant director of player personnel – after joining the Red Wings prior to the 2016-17 season following a 1,008-game NHL career.

As director of player development, Horcoff oversaw and evaluated Detroit’s prospects playing at the junior or collegiate level or in Europe. He was also tasked with running the team’s Development Camp, held immediately following the annual NHL Entry Draft.

“Shawn has a tremendous work ethic and has done a great job developing the prospects within our organization, helping them prepare for the next steps in their careers,” said Yzerman. “The relationships he’s formed within the organization – and throughout the hockey community – make him a valuable asset to our future both in Detroit and Grand Rapids, and I look forward to continue working alongside him.”

As a player, Horcoff was originally a fourth-round pick (99th overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and went on to skate in the NHL for 15 seasons (2000-16), logging 511 points (186-325-511) and 624 penalty minutes.

An NHL All-Star in 2008, Horcoff spent most of his NHL career with Edmonton (2000-13), serving as team captain from 2010-13 and producing a career-high 73 points (22-51-73) in 2005-06, while helping the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. Horcoff also spent two seasons with the Dallas Stars (2013-15) and spent his final NHL campaign with the Anaheim Ducks in 2015-16.

Horcoff also has ties to the state of Michigan, having racked up 152 points (50-102-152) in 155 games with the Michigan State Spartans from 1996-00. The Spartans were two-time CCHA champions (1998 and 2000) during Horcoff’s collegiate career, which he capped off by winning the CCHA Player of the Year in 1999-00.