The Ottawa Senators are at a crossroads.

This season was supposed to be different. A strong push last spring and some big additions in the summer brought dreams of playoffs by the fall.

But as the calendar flips back to winter, the team is essentially in the same spot as it was one year ago. The only difference? There’s a new owner and a new president in place, and they have seen enough to show both GM Pierre Dorion and — this week — head coach D.J. Smith the door.

So, where does the team go next?

“What I’m looking for is consistent play,” team president Steve Staios said after releasing Smith. “There’s been too many times through the season where we’re not quite sure what we’re going to get on a night-by-night basis. So, I think there’s a process that needs to take place with this group.”

While Jacques Martin is back behind the bench with an interim tag, the now 71-year-old is not the long-term solution at head coach.

The Senators have a lot of questions to answer, including who will be the next GM. But in the aftermath of Smith’s firing, here are some candidates the Senators may consider for the head-coaching role.

You can read the rest of the article on Sportsnet.ca.