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While the Senators have already spoken with four to five candidates — including former Minny coach Mike Yeo, former Tampa bench boss Guy Boucher and veteran NHL coach Marc Crawford — you have to think Boudreau is one of the names at the top of Dorion’s list because he has a strong track record.

Dorion met with Gatineau Olympiques coach Benoit Groulx for the Ottawa job but he may also have an opportunity for the vacant Binghamton job. The club also has interest in Chicago assistant Kevin Dineen, Los Angeles assistant John Stevens and St. Louis assistant Brad Shaw. TSN’s Bob McKenzie says former Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle will be interviewed.

The Senators would like to get somebody with NHL experience that also has some cachet, name recognition and a record the players will respect. Dorion has made it a priority to improve this club’s defensive play next season, which means whichever coach he hires has to be able to get the players to buy into what he’s selling.

In nine seasons behind the bench — parts of five with Washington and four full years with the Ducks — Boudreau has won eight division titles. The only year he didn’t win a division was in 2011-12 when he was with the Capitals and was fired 22 games into the season with a 12-9-1 record. Less than a week later, he was hired to take over the Ducks.

He has a 41-40 record in the playoffs but has never been able to win a Stanley Cup. Since the Senators have missed the post-season two of the past three years, they need somebody who is going to be able to get them there first. Boudreau certainly looks like he’s able to push the right buttons and, in many cases, the playoffs are a flip of the coin.