Why Daniel Alfredsson chose the NHL's most fireable job explained

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen laid out the reasoning. There is no bad blood with the Senators, but Alfredsson did not want a figurehead role, and as the franchise's greatest icon he knew Ottawa would never fire him.

That security was the deterrent, not the draw.

The reasoning sounds like a legend chasing a personal challenge, or a reunion with fellow Swede Mats Sundin. The sharper detail is where he chose to land.

Toronto is the rare NHL organization that has churned through its entire chain of command in a single year. Brad Treliving was fired as general manager in March.

John Chayka took over in May, brought in Sundin as senior adviser, then removed coach Craig Berube two seasons into the job and hired Jim Hiller.

Alfredsson interviewed for that same head-coaching seat and lost it to Hiller before accepting the associate role. If he wanted stakes, he picked the building that hands them out fastest.

Cast this as a betrayal and Toronto looks like a reckless landing spot for an Ottawa hero. Flip it. A coach trying to prove he belongs behind an NHL bench benefits from a room where results are the only currency, and Chayka has already shown he will move on from anyone.

Alfredsson is not insulated by his own legend in Toronto. He is judged like everyone else, which is exactly what he asked for.

Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade last season, so the pressure is immediate and personal.

He did not trade comfort for chaos. He traded a guaranteed seat for a fair test, and he signed with the one employer that guarantees the test is real.

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