Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer admitted Wednesday to regretting “a little” not having hired Patrick Roy as head coach. “I would have liked Patrick to be someone for us,” he maintained.
These assertions were made on 104.7 Outaouais on Wednesday morning, a few days after Roy was named head coach of the New York Islanders.
According to the man who became the owner of the Senators in recent months, it was the “timing” that was not right to hire Roy, while the Ontario team has gone through many changes since the summer.
“I like him a lot,” Andlauer said. He’s a very good hockey man. In his DNA, he is a true champion. This is something that today’s Senators do not understand; know how to win. They will learn it. »
“Personally, I regret it a little,” he admitted. It’s timing. Our team is so overwhelmed. The steering was smooth. […] My intention this year was to observe, learn. I never thought I would make so many changes so quickly. »
“I think we made a very good change recently with Jacques Martin, to give the team more structure and organization,” he continued. The team was not well organized. They are young people. The timing wasn’t there. I would have loved to watch this at the end of the year. Personally, I would have liked Patrick to be one of the people for us. On and off the ice, but especially on the ice. He’s a real competitor. »
Over the past few months, Roy’s name has often come up in rumors surrounding the Ottawa Senators. Last June, when the legendary number 33 announced his departure from the Quebec Remparts, where he had been general manager and head coach since 2018, he was asked about the possibility of joining the Senators. This is because Andlauer had already interviewed Roy as a minority shareholder of the CH, a year earlier, when the Habs were looking for a new head coach.
“Yes, I know him well,” Roy then suggested. When I did my interview with the Canadian, he was one of the people. He’s a nice guy. Is he going to call me? That, I have no idea.”
DJ Smith ultimately remained the Senators’ head coach for the start of the season, until things blew up in Ottawa. 1er November, the club fired its general manager, Pierre Dorion. Then, in December, the new GM, Steve Staios, made the decision to fire his head coach, DJ Smith, due to the club’s continuing woes. Jacques Martin was named interim head coach, accompanied by Daniel Alfredsson as assistant. Under Martin, the team is 7-9-1.
The Senators haven’t made the playoffs in six years. Currently 28e in the general classification, they will likely be excluded from the spring dance once again this season.
It will not be Patrick Roy who will right the ship.