Senators introduce Guy Boucher, who's 'more hungry than ever'
Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford are both off the board.
The Ottawa Senators introduced Boucher as their head coach Monday afternoon, while also announcing that the club hired Marc Crawford as associate head coach.
#Sens GM Pierre Dorion confirms that new associate coach Marc Crawford will also act as a liaison between the coaching staff in Binghamton.
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) May 9, 2016
Boucher said he wanted a former head coach by his side during his second go-round in the NHL, and Crawford's the guy. The two had been coaching in Switzerland and discussed working together one day in the NHL. Boucher said he was in touch with Crawford almost immediately upon getting the Senators' job, and wanted to get a deal done as soon as possible. An agreement on a three-year contract was reached Monday morning.
"It's not about ego, it's about getting it right," Boucher said about adding Crawford to the staff.
Boucher - who inked a three-year deal - thanked Senators owner Eugene Melnyk upon being introduced by general manager Pierre Dorion, and said he's looking forward to working with Ottawa's experienced staff.
"I'm very enthusiastic, and extremely excited to be surrounded by quality individuals and people who are dedicated to winning," Boucher said. "It's a great challenge I'm being given. I just can't wait to start, I'm more hungry than ever."
"Coming in a second time, the perspective is different and the planning is different. Managing players will be the same," says Boucher #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) May 9, 2016
Dorion said Boucher was the first candidate he interviewed and that Boucher made an "outstanding first impression." Their first meeting lasted more than four-and-a-half hours, while a second interview lasted a whopping eight hours.
"Guy brings passion, drive, great communication skills, knowledge of the game, intelligence, he's progressive, (and) innovative," Dorion said. "What impressed me the most was his ability to translate how we need to play to have success."
Dorion acknowledged the Senators must be a better defensive team.
"We know that for the Senators to win and win in the playoffs we need to play better defensive hockey."
Dorion doesn't want to shy away from offensive hockey, but is looking for more balance, and a better power play. He re-iterated that Boucher was his first choice for the job.
Boucher, meanwhile, added that he'll begin meeting with Senators players immediately, and weighed in on a couple of integral parts of the team:
Boucher says he won't try to change the way Erik Karlsson. Wants him to use his speed. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) May 9, 2016
"One of the players on this team I consider a game-breaker," says Boucher on Hoffman. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) May 9, 2016