Dave Cameron Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Senators
Cameron's extension was announced earlier today.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun confirms that Dave Cameron has agreed to a two-year extension.
Extension with Cameron agreed on.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 4, 2015 Two years for Cameron. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 4, 2015 Dave Cameron became coach on December 8, 2014 after Paul MacLean was fired mere months into his three-year extension. It was Cameron's first NHL gig as a head coach, having been an assistant with the Senators since 2011. He had also been an AHL head coach with the BInghamton Senators, and an OHL head coach with the Mississauga St Mike's Majors and the Sault Ste Marie Greyhound. He coached the 2011 World Junior Canadian team to a silver medal finish. He was known to be a friend of owner Eugene Melnyk, and most saw the hiring as a temporary measure in which Melnyk had likely meddled. Cameron's poor record with the B-Sens and overseeing of Canada's third-period collapse against the Russians in the World Junior gold-medal game didn't inspire much confidence.
He exceeded expectations, leading the Sens on a 32-15-8 charge, making the playoffs as the first wild card seed. The Sens overcame the largest points deficit in NHL history to qualify for the playoffs. He made his presence known early, making Chris Phillips a regular healthy scratch. In the playoffs, he was also willing to sit healthy veterans David Legwand and Chris Neil. Young players including Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, Patrick Wiercioch, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau were given more responsibility and rose to the occasion. The Senators also greatly improved their shot and shot-attempt differentials under Cameron's watch.
The extension has not been made official, nor have the numbers made public. However, it is not required for teams to reveal the salaries of non-player personnel. Cameron definitely saw an increase from his assistant coach salary.
