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Travis Green will be 'firm, but fair' as the Senators' head coach
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# GARRIOCH: Travis Green will be 'firm, but fair' as the Senators'
head coach
"He doesn't beat around the bush. He'll be a straight shooter and
he'll be hard on guys."
Published May 07, 2024 • 4 minute read
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Travis Green took over as the New Jersey Devils' interim head coach
for the final 21 games of the 2023-24 season, going 8-12-1. Photo by
Adam Hunger /AP
## Article content
Travis Green has a chance for a "do-over" with the Ottawa Senators.
Named the club's head coach on Tuesday by Steve Staios, the president
of hockey operations and general manager, the 53-year-old Green has
been given the mandate of trying to get the Senators to the National
Hockey League playoffs for the first time since 2017.
This is an opportunity for the former Vancouver Canucks head coach to
get a second chance.
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"He's a genuinely nice guy who doesn't play head games," said TSN
analyst Frank Corrado, who played for Green for two years in
Vancouver. "He loves hockey and he's hockey-obsessed. He watches
everything, he lives and breathes the game. He's honest and he's
genuine.
"He doesn't beat around the bush. He'll be a straight shooter and
he'll be hard on guys. There might be some guys there who he'll be
hard on and that's because they need it. That won't be coming from a
place of ego, it's more about, 'I can get something more out of you
but you don't know it yet.' "
The way Green is described by those around the NHL is he is "firm but
fair" and many believed that's what Ottawa needed coming into this
process. Staios won't place unrealistic expectations on Green going
into his inaugural campaign, but will want to see progress.
"I think he's a perfect fit for the Senators," said former Canucks
assistant GM Lorne Henning in a text message Tuesday. "Great bench
coach and he's coached in the Canadian market."
That's a good point because the pressure is different here than with
any team based in the United States.
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Green spent last year as an assistant to Lindy Ruff behind the New
Jersey Devils' bench and took over the interim job when Ruff was fired
with 21 games left in the season. Green finished with an 8-12-1 record
in that span, but New Jersey had no chance of making the playoffs at
that point.
Before being named to the top job in Vancouver, Green worked his way
up through the ranks and paid his dues. He started his career as an
assistant with the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks for
two seasons before taking over the top job for the 2012-13 campaign.
Green's Winterhawks won the WHL title that season and advanced to the
Memorial Cup.
From there, Green spent four seasons with the Canucks' American Hockey
League affiliate in Utica. He compiled a 155-110-39 record in 304
games with Comets from 2013 to 2017. The club missed the playoffs
twice, but advanced to the AHL final under Green during the 2014-15
campaign.
A lot has been made about a lack of accountability for the Senators'
core players. People want to see the likes of captain Brady Tkachuk,
along with Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris, Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot,
Shane Pinto and Drake Batherson challenged to be better consistently.
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That's where Green has to make an impact in Ottawa.
"He'll reward you for playing well, but he demands a lot out of guys,
especially his top guys," said Corrado. "Firm but fair go together for
him for sure. It's a good hire for that group."
During his playing career, Green had the opportunity to learn from
some of the best, including Al Arbour with the New York Islanders and
Pat Quinn while with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Those are two of the
best coaches in NHL history and both demanded their players contribute
at both ends.
"He touched every part (of the game) as a player," ESPN analyst Ray
Ferraro, Green's former teammate in Long Island, said Tuesday on the
Ray and Dregs Podcast with TSN Insider Darren Dreger. "He started his
junior career in Portland, he's worked with young players and
experienced players.
"He's had the opportunity to go backwards and polish up what he might
be better at. He's a good fit in Ottawa because no matter what we
think about (the Senators), they're really young. You cannot win in
this league if you're young and you don't have good goaltending.
"Travis realizes this is a young group and he has the ability to be a
stickler for details for young guys to learn."
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Ferraro noted the fact the Senators have given Green a four-year deal
means Staios understands that this won't change overnight.
The players need a shoulder they can lean on in difficult times, but
they also need someone willing to make demands when they're not
playing up to their capabilities. Those who know Green say he will
make sure that things are done the right way.
The players will notice a change on Day 1 of camp in September.
"He'll bust their asses in training camp and start from there," said
former Canucks goaltender John Garrett, retired as a colour analyst on
Sportsnet broadcasts. "He's a good coach and he holds the players
accountable. There's no BS, and especially there where he's got the
complete support (from Staios).
"He ended up as a lame duck here and the writing was on the wall at
the end. He deserves this chance."
BGarrioch@postmedia.com
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