A Senators legend is crossing enemy lines to join the Maple Leafs bench

The Toronto Maple Leafs stunned everyone by hiring Daniel Alfredsson as their associate head coach, plucking him from the Senators to add to Jim Hiller's staff.

On Tuesday afternoon, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs were looking to an old rival to help balance their coaching staff as the team is bringing in former Ottawa Senators captain and assistant head coach Daniel Alfredsson to help round out Jim Hiller's staff:

This is a sentence I never thought I'd write:

Daniel Alfredsson is joining the Maple Leafs. The Hall of Famer, who spent the last three seasons as an Ottawa assistant coach, is expected to become Toronto's associate head coach.

The Maple Leafs later confirmed the move while also announcing Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden as well as former University of Calgary assistant head coach Brad Werenka to Jim Hiller's staff:

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Gruden and Werenka will be assistants and as stated previously, Alfredsson will be an associate head coach:

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Alfredsson will be well-known to Maple Leafs fans as he spent the majority of his career as a key part of the Ottawa Senators lineup and always made the Battle of Ontario a testy affair against fellow Swede and close friend Mats Sundin.

The 18-year veteran had 1,157 points in 1,246 career games with the Senators and Red Wings and waste of the most consistent two-way players of his generation and is beloved and respected by the entire NHL community - even if Leafs fans get nightmares of times past.

Alfredsson joins a front office that already has his old rival Mats Sundin

It's interesting though seeing Alfredsson join forces with his old rival in Sundin, as the two were always neck and neck with each other during the Battle of Ontario, and Alfredsson at times wasn't exactly the most pleasant to his rivals.

But the two also played together on the Swedish Olympic team as well as being two of the greatest players the country has produced, so there is some level of friendship and respect. Since leaving the ice, both men have seemingly put any animosity aside for the sake of working together.

There seems to be a real Swedish contingent being formed in Toronto and Alfredsson will hopefully be a great mentor and voice in the ear of William Nylander and perhaps spark him to play a little more sound defensively and round out his game.

Hall of Fame leadership can only mean good things for the Maple Leafs going forward

One thing you can't overlook however is the fact that Toronto has a former captain in the front office and one behind the bench; both of whom are in hockey's hallowed halls. Both men command respect and no doubt Alfredsson will have no issues being heard from his team.

Not only is this a big win for players like Nylander and Auston Matthews, but also for the young guns like Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan, and Gavin McKenna. Who better to learn from than one of the best in the last 20 years, and someone who can guide everyone through the roadblocks that come along?

There is no idea as to what part of the system Alfredsson will work on. In Ottawa he was working as more of a skills coach and helped with development, so it could be that he has a similar role given he's an associate; not an assistant.

But for now, it looks like the Battle of Ontario is going to have a new wrinkle added to the mix with the former Senators captain crossing the line and siding with the enemy.

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