The Ottawa Senators have hired Nolan Baumgartner.
The Ottawa Senators have officially announced the hirings of assistant coaches Nolan Baumgartner and Mike Yeo.
Rumoured to be on their way to the nation's capital for the better part of the past two weeks, the duo is now under lock and key as a part of new head coach Travis Green's staff, alongside Daniel Alfredsson and Ben Sexton.
“We’re pleased to welcome both Nolan and Mike as new members of the Senators’ organization," said Ottawa GM Steve Staois. "In addition to Daniel, Ben, Justin and Mike’s respective return, we’re confident that this coaching staff represents a strong blend of experience and one that will provide Travis with high-level support while they collectively lead our team going forward.”
Having spent a significant chunk of his playing career in Manitoba with the American Hockey League's Moose, the now 48-year-old made his transition to coaching following his retirement in 2012.
Baumgartner served as an assistant coach in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves and Utica Comets before jumping to the NHL with his former Vancouver Canucks as an assistant to Green.
He made his way back to Winnipeg, where he was an assistant on Mark Morrison's team for the past two seasons, focusing primarily on the defensive side of things.
With Green back in the fold as an NHL bench boss, Baumgartner accepted the invitation to rejoin the big leagues and will now have the opportunity to resume his work at the highest level.
With his coaching status up in the air in Winnipeg/Manitoba, Baumgartner clearly made the decision to take the offered work under a familiar face than that of Arniel - his former coach of three years with the Moose.
Whether or not an assistant coaching role was offered to Baumgartner in Winnipeg remains unknown. The Jets are in the process of rounding out their coaching staff following the resignation of head coach Rick Bowness, promotion of associate coach Arniel and firing of assistant coach Brad Lauer.