Hoffman eager for reunion with Boucher

OTTAWA SENATORS

formed in his own end.

“I think (Boucher) is going to be great for myself,” Hoffman said. “He knows how to work with me. He’s a great coach. He’s going to be great for all the players in Ottawa and I’m really looking forward to working with him.

“He set me on the right road (in Drummondville). I came in there as a young player and I needed to learn a lot. He teaches you a lot about on-ice and off-ice behaviour. I give a lot of credit to my career on his coaching and what he did for me in Drummondville.”

Dorion said he was determined to get this deal done.

“We see Mike as a huge piece of our team,” said Dorion. “This was something where we wanted to avoid arbitration and we wanted a contract that was fair for both sides. I think both sides are extremely happy today.

“We just feel that Mike’s productivity can only get better under Guy Boucher and getting him a longer-term contract makes everyone happy.”

The Senators went to arbitration with Hoffman last year and won when he was awarded a oneyear deal worth US$2 million. They were prepared to go through the process again this summer, but that wasn’t anybody’s preference. Hoffman was able to prove last year the 27 goals he scored in 201415 were no accident.

“It’s great. I’m extremely happy we could come to an agreement on a deal,” Hoffman said.

“(Arbitration is) part of the business. Sometimes you have to go and I didn’t want it to ruin the relationship between myself and the hockey club. I think everyone handled themselves very professionally. I had to prove myself again — I didn’t just want to be a one-hit wonder kind of guy. Last year, I think I showed what I can do in this league and I’m really looking forward to moving on.”

Now the ball is in Hoffman’s court to continue to improve.

“The thing that’s exciting about Mike Hoffman is he’s going to play for a coach (who) Mike has been productive (with). I know it’s junior and it’s a different thing, but they have a history together,” said Dorion.