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Maple Leafs Add Ex-Senators Star Alfredsson as Associate Coach

7/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Toronto Maple Leafs hired forward Daniel Alfredsson as associate head coach on July 7, 2026.
Alfredsson joined head coach Jim Hiller’s staff with assistants John Gruden and Brad Werenka.
He left the Ottawa Senators after his assistant-coach contract expired on June 30, 2026, having helped run a 24% power-play unit, the league’s eighth-best last season.
The Leafs, whose power play fell to 21.3% in 2025-26, extended contracts for forwards Ryan Tverberg, Jacob Quillan and defenseman William Villeneuve.

History

Historical Context

After Pat Burns took over in May 1993 and led Toronto to a 44-win, 99-point season and its first playoff series win in 15 years, the Maple Leafs have repeatedly turned coaching changes into short-term revivals. In July 2026 the club added former captain Daniel Alfredsson as associate head coach under newly hired head coach Jim Hiller (June 17, 2026), hoping to echo that 1993 resurgence.

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Story summary

The Toronto Maple Leafs hired forward Daniel Alfredsson as associate head coach on July 7, 2026.
Alfredsson joined head coach Jim Hiller’s staff with assistants John Gruden and Brad Werenka.
He left the Ottawa Senators after his assistant-coach contract expired on June 30, 2026, having helped run a 24% power-play unit, the league’s eighth-best last season.
The Leafs, whose power play fell to 21.3% in 2025-26, extended contracts for forwards Ryan Tverberg, Jacob Quillan and defenseman William Villeneuve.

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