Daniel Alfredsson joins Maple Leafs as associate coach

The Maple Leafs announced Tuesday that Daniel Alfredsson will join the team as an associate coach. The 53-year-old spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Ottawa Senators after a Hall of Fame playing career spent mostly with that club.

The Maple Leafs also announced that John Gruden and Brad Werenka are joining coach Jim Hiller's staff as assistants. Assistant coaches Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde will not return. Alfredsson was a prominent figure in the "Battle of Ontario" between the Maple Leafs and Senators, which included four playoff series between 2000 and 2004.

Senators owner responds Senators owner Michael Andlauer said in a statement that while he wished Alfredsson were not joining a rival organization, the door would always be open for a return.