Bruce Boudreau, the man considered to be one of the top candidates for the Senators’ coaching job, arrived in Ottawa on Thursday night.

And, in an exclusive interview with Postmedia at his Ottawa hotel, he sounded like a man who wouldn’t mind if he got the chance to stick around for awhile.

Friday, the former Anaheim Ducks coach will sit down with Senators GM Pierre Dorion for a face-to-face interview about the club’s vacant post behind the bench. Accompanied by his daughter Kasey, who makes her home in the area, the 61-year-old Boudreau indicated he’s excited about the possibility of coaching Ottawa.

Though he was hesitant to speak specifically about the Senators because that’s a discussion he has to have with Dorion, Boudreau has a few reasons why he’s interested in coaching Ottawa, not the least of which is for family reasons.

“My daughter lives here, my grand-daughter who I don’t get to see too often and she’s only (18 months) and actually all my family is back East. That’s always a really compelling thing,” Boudreau told Postmedia. “Ottawa itself is compelling itself because they’ve got the opportunity to be a pretty good team and they’ve got a lot of pretty good pieces in place.”

Those words will be music to the ears of Dorion and the Senators’ faithful because this team felt like it underachieved last year and should have made the playoffs. Boudreau has a track record of being able to push the right buttons and it’s no accident he has won eight division titles. Getting to the post-season would be a good first step for this team.

Plus, he has experience coaching an offensive defenceman because Boudreau was with Mike Green when he was at his peak with the Washington Capitals. Here, he’d have the chance to coach captain Erik Karlsson.

“Erik’s got a different dynamic than Mike but they’re both offensive defencemen,” Boudreau said. “They’re both great players. I love Mike Green. I’m not going to say one is better than the other. Erik, when you’ve been up for the Norris, three or four years in a row, you must be doing something right.”

This has been a busy week for Boudreau.

Let go by the Ducks last Friday after they were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs, Boudreau interviewed with Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday in Anaheim while there has also been talk the Calgary Flames may show interest. He said this has been a whirlwind week for him since being dismissed by Anaheim GM Bob Murray.

“It really has. Since it’s last Friday it’s been pretty crazy, just with the phone blowing up, but I’ve gone through it before so I know the phone blows up a lot when these things happen,” Boudreau said.

He’s excited that teams have shown interest and that there’s a strong chance he’ll be behind a bench next season.

“Listen, I’m a hockey lifer and that’s all I want to do is work,” Boudreau said. “If somebody has got interest in me that’s fabulous. You’ve got to remember, I was 33 years in the minors where nobody had interest me so that’s really positive stuff.”

Maybe the best bet for Dorion and the Senators, if they’re impressed with what they hear from Boudreau during what’s expected to be a lengthy meeting Friday, is to suggest he doesn’t leave town, especially if he’s going to be on a shortlist of two or three candidates.

It’s not like this hasn’t been done in the past.

When the Edmonton Oilers hired GM Peter Chiarelli last year, they contacted him only days after he’d been fired by the Boston Bruins to see if he’d fly out for an interview. He arrived in Edmonton on the Monday and since Oilers president Bob Nicholson knew he had a captive audience with Chiarelli, kept meeting with him until he signed a deal.

By the Wednesday the Oilers had asked Chiarelli to fly his wife into Edmonton to get a look at the city and Friday morning he was introduced as the replacement for Craig MacTavish. Yup, it all happened so quick, Chiarelli barely missed a paycheque.

Boudreau doesn’t have any timetable for making a decision on what’s next because he doesn’t believe he’s the one pulling those strings.

“That’s not up to me. What I do know is there’s only 30 jobs available and it’s real honour to be the head coach in any one of them because there’s only 30 in the world at the highest level,” Boudreau said. “So, if you’re asked to be a head coach somewhere, it’s a pretty good thing.

“Like I said, being in the minors for so many years, who am I to say no to somebody?”

He said he hopes the interview with the Senators goes well and clearly he’s done his homework, so he’d be comfortable with the situation here. Boudreau has one goal — no matter where he lands next season.

“All I want to do is win. I’m not a good loser,” said Boudreau.

THE COACHING LIST

Senators GM Pierre Dorion is expected to speak with as many as 10 candidates for the club’s coaching job by the time the search ends. Here are some names we know are on it:

BRUCE BOUDREAU, Anaheim and Washington: He is in town Friday to meet with the Senators and has a proven track record, which is what the club wants in its new coach. Was fired after the Ducks lost to the Nashville Predators in Round 1 in Game 7 at home.

MIKE YEO, Minnesota: Was fired in February with the club struggling. Has a strong track record with the Wild and will come heavily recommended by Minny GM Chuck Fletcher. Led to believe he’s already had a second interview.

GUY BOUCHER, Tampa Bay Lightning: He hasn’t worked in the league two years but he’s the darkhorse candidate. Has learned a lot being outside the NHL and there’s a strong belief that often a coach is better the second time around.

RANDY CARLYLE, Toronto, Anaheim: He met with Dorion recently and won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007 when they beat out the Senators. He will get consideration from the Flames and the Wild but has been out of the league for a year.

MARC CRAWFORD, Colorado, Vancouver, Dallas: He met with the Senators staff last week and has a strong resume, especially after a couple of years in Europe. Big issue for him is he didn’t make the playoffs the last four years he coached in the league.

BENOIT GROULX, Gatineau (QMJHL): He doesn’t have any head coaching experience in the NHL but he’s had a sitdown with the Senators. Not sure what kind of interview he had, but he would have had to be excellent. Possible fit for AHL Binghamton.

KEVIN DINEEN, Chicago, Florida: He is an assistant with the Hawks and was the head coach of the Panthers when they got to the playoffs in 2012. Has a previous history with winger Bobby Ryan because Dineen was behind the bench in AHL Portland. Well respected.

BOB HARTLEY, Calgary, Atlanta, Colorado: Not sure if he’s going to get an interview with the process winding down and Boudreau in town. The Senators nearly hired him in 2008 and Bryan Murray has often said he should have picked Hartley over Craig Hartsburg.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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