Daniel Alfredsson faces Senators for first time as Maple Leafs associate coach

TORONTO — Daniel Alfredsson will face the Ottawa Senators as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff for the first time on Saturday night.

The longtime Senators captain, now an associate coach with Toronto, acknowledged the oddity of the situation ahead of the Battle of Ontario matchup.

"It’s different, no question, being on the other side," Alfredsson said in a press conference. "We wish them the best and wish us a little bit better."

READ MORE: Islanders open season against Maple Leafs in showcase of top picks

READ MORE: Maple Leafs acquire Kirill Marchenko in blockbuster trade with Blue Jackets

Alfredsson, 53, spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with Ottawa before joining Jim Hiller's staff in Toronto this off-season.

He explained his rationale for the move to a historic rival.

"If I want to be a coach, you've got to experience different situations and different scenarios, different systems, and that's kind of where it went in my head," Alfredsson said. "How can I evolve and get better as a coach if this is the road I'm going down?"

His new role places him under special executive adviser Mats Sundin, a fellow Swede and former Leafs captain with whom Alfredsson had a famously tense on-ice relationship during their playing days.

Sundin said the past incidents, including his own heat-of-the-moment exchanges with Alfredsson and the latter's 2002 playoff hit on Darcy Tucker, were so long ago.

He said Alfredsson is an icon and arguably the most important player in the Senators’ franchise, but his value now is not just his knowledge of the game but the values he brings to help the team get better.

Sundin said the Leafs pursued Alfredsson after hearing he would not re-sign in Ottawa.

"We just saw a great opportunity," Sundin said. "We have a lot of skill players and with his knowledge of being one himself, in a Canadian market, with our top players and with Gavin McKenna coming in, we really believed it would help having someone on the ice on an everyday basis who’d be great for our group."

Alfredsson said he has made amends with Tucker.

"We kissed and made up," Alfredsson joked.

Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller said Alfredsson is prepared for the emotional game, adding that he loved the ovation Alfredsson got from Leaf fans when the staff was introduced on opening night.

Hiller said there was some talk about what the reception would be like, but he thought it was tremendous, and that Alfredsson's days have gone by as a player and he is now one of their coaches with full support from Leafs Nation.

Senators captain Thomas Chabot said it will be weird for sure, even seeing Alfredsson in the pre-season.

Chabot said that as the team discussed in camp, Alfredsson made the decision and all they can do is wish him the best.

Leafs winger Nick Paul, a former Senator, said Alfredsson's insight has been valuable.

"It’s been great for us; you’ve seen the career he’s had and what he’s able to do," Paul said. "We can go to him and pick his brain on stuff and get his thoughts. Going against Ottawa, he knows their systems. It’ll be good."

The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.

With files from Sportsnet, Toronto Sun and BVM Sports