All the Small Things: Senators Embracing Andlauer's "Employees First" Leadership

If you ask an Ottawa Senators employee from the past 15 years what their workplace was like, you might get an earful, a crooked eyebrow, or a simple "no comment." 

But things feel so much different now.

When Michael Andlauer was introduced as the new owner last month, he spoke about being an "employee-first" leader. We've already seen signs – big, blinking neon ones – that Andlauer is making good on that vow. In the past month, he's famously mended three big fences that were furiously torn down in the past. Andlauer brought back Cyril Leeder, he brought back Daniel Alfredsson and he even brought back anthem singer Lyndon Slewidge.

But the true indicators of a sea change can be found in the smallest of things. And on Monday, there were a couple of those smaller moments that, for me anyway, further drove home the new, emerging norm in Ottawa: a thoughtful, respectful, everyday work environment.

For example, with both Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub missing practice on Monday, the Senators brought in two Gee Gees defencemen to fill in. That led to a humorous tweet from former Sens defenceman Marc Methot, wondering why he didn't get the call. Methot has settled back home in Ottawa after his fine NHL playing career ended in 2019 and appears often on TSN.

After practice, Sylvain St-Laurent from Le Droit posted the reply from Senators head coach D.J. Smith after Smith was informed of Methot's suggestion.

''Bring him in!" Smith said. "We want those guys (like Methot) around the rink. We want everyone to know that if you got a piece of this franchise… If you affected it the right way… You should be welcome here. You should push the next generation to be better.''

For the cheerful D.J. Smith, you get a sense that putting out a huge welcome mat like that would be his natural immediate instinct. But saying, "We want everyone to know..." almost felt like the announcement of new team policy. 

Smith set exactly the right, open-door tone for the franchise's alumni. At best, the Senators alumni has generally felt only a loose affiliation with the team. And, at worst, a complete disconnect. With a positive leadership vibe currently trickling down through the organization, it feels like everything is changing.

Also on Monday, the club was out there, presenting thoughtful gifts for three of its younger players to honour special moments in their careers last season.

Granted, these are two very small gestures that take almost no effort at all. But when you add all these small things up at the end of a season, you've created a place of work where people feel happy and respected. That's when you get their best work, whether it's the team MVP or the guy selling popcorn.

And in that way, the small things aren't really small things at all.