OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators announced today the hiring of former NHL head coach Davis Payne as an assistant coach. Payne joins D.J. Smith's coaching staff after signing a three-year contract with the Senators, effective for the 2019-20 NHL season.

Payne, aged 48, most recently spent the last two seasons as associate coach with the Buffalo Sabres. Before his time in Buffalo, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings where he helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2014.

A native of Port Alberni, B.C., Payne joins Jack Capuano as members of the Senators staff who have experience as an NHL head coach, having spent parts of three seasons as the head coach of the St. Louis Blues between 2009-12.

As a player, Payne was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round (140th overall) in the 1989 NHL Draft. A forward, he played in eight professional seasons including parts of two NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, appearing in 22 games.

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