Ottawa Senators Head Coach Travis Green Reflects on 400 NHL Games

In the midst of an NHL playoff race, with only 18 games remaining, Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green has much larger concerns than personal milestones. However, when the Senators face off against the Boston Bruins at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night, it will mark Green's 400th game as an NHL head coach.

Nov 7, 2024: Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green. Image Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

He was asked to reflect on his coaching career and what he's learned over the years.

"I think you just get better if you have an open mind to learning," Green told the media on Thursday. "I've probably changed a lot without even knowing it. And I think it's important that you can, whatever you're doing, you look yourself in the mirror and self-assess what you're doing to try to improve."

Green says, if he's honest, he doesn't remember a lot about his first game as a coach.

"Just probably nervous and excited at the same time. I still am. I love doing what I'm doing, and it's a privilege to be in the NHL, whether you're a player or coach or anyone that works for a team."

Combined with his 970 games as a player, in a career that dates back to the Senators' expansion season 33 years ago, Green can rightly be labelled now as an NHL-lifer.

If the season ended today, Green’s .570 points percentage would represent the best season of his coaching career. Before this, he spent four and a half seasons as the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, posting a points percentage above .500 just once, making the playoffs in the 2019-20 season with a .565 points percentage.

Green's most successful coaching season came in the first year he was ever put in charge of a bench. Green was an interim head coach with the Portland Winterhawks, where he guided them to the 2013 Western Hockey League title.

This opportunity only came about after 'Hawks head coach Mike Johnston was suspended for recruitment violations. Johnston returned the following season, while Green moved on to Utica, where he served four years as head coach of the Comets in the AHL.

After being fired by the Canucks midway through the 2021-22 season, Green spent a year and a half away from the game before returning as an associate coach with the New Jersey Devils last season. He became the Devils’ interim head coach after Lindy Ruff was dismissed last spring.

While the Devils considered retaining Green for this season, they opted to interview other candidates. Green, in turn, also began exploring other opportunities and ultimately chose to accept the head coaching position with the Senators.

It's been a good fit so far. Green has taken on a team with a lot of good young pieces that appear to be wedging open a window of opportunity that's been nailed shut for almost eight years. Getting the Senators to the playoffs is the full focus right now. Savouring personal milestones can come later.

"I didn't know that it was 400, to be honest," Green said. "But hopefully, there's another 400 still to go."

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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