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GARRIOCH: Belleville Senators' coach Troy Mann agrees to a two-year contract extension

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Troy Mann will return to his role behind the bench with the Belleville Senators next season.

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As Postmedia reported first Tuesday, the coach of the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the organization and will return for his fourth straight season in 2021-22.

With his contract set to expire June 30, general manager Pierre Dorion and assistant Peter MacTavish were focused on keeping the 51-year-old Mann in the fold because he’s done a good job with the club’s prospects.

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“When we hired Troy three summers ago, we knew we were getting someone who had a strong track record in developing players,” said Dorion. “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.

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“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.”

Sure, Mann could have shopped himself around on the open market, but the Senators didn’t want him going anywhere and the negotiations to get a new contract in place weren’t that difficult. Both sides were motivated to get a deal done and really it was more about making sure all the i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed to get this extension completed.

You have to think there would be NHL teams who would be interested in having Mann as an assistant on their staff, but he’s better to run his own program with the Senators until he makes the next step.

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In his three years with Belleville, Mann, who spent four seasons as the head coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears and won a Calder Cup, has helped the right players reach the next level. Centre Josh Norris, along with wingers Drake Batherson and Alex Formenton, who have all made the next step to the NHL, are among those who praise the development work they’ve done with Mann and his staff.

Norris, Batherson and Formenton were all named AHL all-stars. Formenton was brought up at the end of last season and coach D.J. Smith stated at the end of the year he believed the speedy winger had established himself as a full-time NHL player. Mann also helped winger Nick Paul make the next step to this level.

Drake Batherson.
Drake Batherson. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia News

The Senators finished the year with an 18-16-1 record while playing out of the Canadian Tire Centre because the organization couldn’t get clearance to play at the CAA Arena in Belleville. Next year will be played under more normal circumstances, which means Mann, his staff and the players won’t be based out of the Brookstreet Hotel or the Bell Sensplex.

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Before the AHL went on pause because of COVID-19 in March 2020, Belleville was on the verge of winning its division and making the playoffs for the first time since the organization moved its club there. In three seasons, Mann has a 93-67-14 record, but the key is his ability to work with prospects and help them make the next step to the Senators.

Mann has good communication skills and has helped graduate players to the next level. As noted earlier, some of the club’s top players have spent time with Belleville while goalies Filip Gustavsson and Joey Daccord have also spent time developing there to push for a spot here.

Naturally, Belleville will have a different roster next season.

Winger Jonathan Davidsson, who has spent parts of the past two years with Belleville after being brought to Ottawa from the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the Matt Duchene deal at the deadline in February 2019, signed with HVZI in the Swedish league Tuesday. He had a tough time staying healthy with the Senators and only played 24 games over two years.

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His brother, Marcus Davidsson, also signed with HV71 so it will allow the two to play together.

“Two extremely exciting players who enjoy playing together and have previously been reliable scorers in the SHL,” said HV71 GM Johan Hult. “Modern hockey players with strong skating combined with fine club technique.”

Defenceman Olle Alsing also signed overseas along with winger Vitaly Abramov. All three players spent time in Belleville last season, but the club has lots of good prospects in the organization and the club won’t have an issue helping the club form a roster.

The Senators will also pick up more potential players in the NHL draft that will be held virtually July 23-24.

There’s still plenty of work on the table in the next couple of months. The expectation is if they haven’t already, then discussions will begin in earnest with winger Brady Tkachuk and Batherson, who are both restricted free agents, while work also takes place on putting together the protection list for the Seattle expansion draft set for July 21.

Getting Mann signed to a new deal is another task that Dorion can check off his “To Do” list as the NHL off-season continues.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

Twitter: @sungarrioch

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