Troy Mann Relieved From Head Coaching Duties in Belleville
In an unexpected piece of news, the Senators have relieved the long-time head coach of the Belleville Senators Troy Mann.
The news was revealed shortly before 11 pm following the team’s 5-3 victory over the Rochester Americans Thursday night.
Mann has been the head coach in Belleville since the start of the 2018-19 season and like like many of the organization’s AHL coaches over the years, I had always assumed that he would be the heir apparent should the organization decide to move on from D.J. Smith.
That will obviously not happen now and the timing is a bit awkward in the sense that the organization is not allowing Mann to finish out the season.
Looking back to when the organization signed Mann to a two-year extension in June of 2021, management praised his track record of success and development.
"When we hired Troy three summers ago, we knew we were getting someone who had a strong track record in developing players. With where we were as an organization at that time, and with all that has transpired with regards to stockpiling prospects since, the timing could not have been better. Troy has played a vital role in helping with both the development and preparation of countless players, many of whom have recently assumed important roles in Ottawa. We're pleased to reach an agreement with Troy to see him return to Belleville." ~ General manager Pierre Dorion
In Mann’s five seasons behind the bench, the baby Senators put up a record of 150-117-15-7.
In tonight’s official press release, however, the Senators emphasized the need to align the play of the parent club and its affiliate.
“(We) feel this is necessary for the short and long-term growth of the players in our organization as well as the cohesion in systematic play between Ottawa and Belleville. I want to thank Troy and his family for their contributions to the Belleville community." ~ ," Belleville Senators general manager Ryan Bowness.
Aside from Jacob Bernard-Docker, who has only played 13 games for Ottawa this season, there simply have not been a ton of call-ups who have logged consistent minutes or played significant roles for the Senators. So, to read that there has been a certain disconnect between how the two teams are structured just does not sit right.
On the other hand, with an ownership change on the horizon, maybe this is simply a mercy firing that affords Mann more time to find his next coaching gig before his contract was set to expire at the end of the season.
It is possible that there is some behind-the-scenes reason why the organization had to relieve Mann of his duties now. Perhaps the players in Belleville were no longer receiving his message or there was some disconnect between Mann and the coaching staff in Ottawa. Or, maybe Ottawa simply was not happy with the play and development of prospects that they were hoping would be important players in Ottawa.
When an organization prides itself on its reputation for drafting and developing good prospects, and some of these prospects down in Belleville are not showcasing themselves well when they arrive in Ottawa, it can erode confidence in its reputation. A reputation that was built upon the success of its top-five picks. Prospects like Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, and Drake Batherson were great finds, but with the volume of high picks that the Senators have had over the years, there have been a ton of misses that tend to get overlooked. With the volume of picks that Ottawa has had, they lost opportunities to add more value than they brought into the fold.
Belleville’s leading goal scorer this season is Scott Sabourin and that is a problem. This is not to knock Sabourin, he has had a hell of a season. Injuries have also ravaged the team this season, but a problem that has surfaced is that the team simply does not have a ton of high-end talent. Years of exhibiting a preference for drafting high-floor/low-ceiling prospects outside of the first round may have started to actually catch up with the organization. For an organization that has had as many picks as Ottawa has had during the rebuild, its pipeline of prospects should be higher than it has been ranked.
It is a stretch, but tonight’s news could be part of some last-ditch effort to salvage management’s reputation in the light of new ownership, but tonight’s move will raise eyebrows around the nation’s capital.
If there was something else going on behind the scenes that led to the dismissal, it is possible that Mann deserved to be fired. I would have a hard time believing that the relationship between Troy Mann and the organization could sour simply because Troy’s brother Trent is an assistant general manager for the Senators. Whatever the case, we can simply add another item to the long list of weird happenings that have happened under this regime's watch.
What I hope it reflects is that this was simply a decision made by a front office that recognizes its days are numbered.
If new ownership comes in and cleans house, the organization is simply affording Mann more time and opportunity to find his next job earlier than the rest.