The Ottawa Senators' difficult offseason has deepened, with club legend Daniel Alfredsson leaving his assistant coaching role to join the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. Alfredsson, a Hall of Famer widely regarded as the greatest player in Senators history, will become an associate head coach for the cross-province rivals. His departure to Toronto — rather than any other club — is especially painful for Senators supporters given the two teams' long-standing rivalry.

The move follows the Senators trading away captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, another Atlantic Division team, after it became clear he would not re-sign long-term. Alfredsson spent 17 of his 18 NHL seasons in Ottawa and had served three seasons on the coaching staff. His switch was reported by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, with Senators owner Michael Andlauer and the Maple Leafs both issuing statements. The rivalry runs deep: in the early 2000s the two sides met in four playoff series in five years, with Alfredsson facing Toronto teams led by fellow Swede Mats Sundin, now an adviser to Leafs management.