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Guy Boucher to coach Senators in second NHL stint

The Ottawa Senators have hired Guy Boucher as their new coach on a three-year contract, the team announced Sunday.

"We wanted a great coach and this process yielded our top pick. I couldn't be happier," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said in a statement.

The 44-year-old Boucher becomes the 12th head coach in Senators franchise history, replacing Dave Cameron, who was fired on April 12.

Former Avalanche, Canucks, Kings and Stars coach Marc Crawford was named an associate coach by Boucher on Monday.

"I wanted someone who can handle and excel under pressure and Marc fits that bill," Boucher said.

Boucher coached the Tampa Bay Lightning beginning in 2010-11, taking the team to the Eastern Conference finals in his first season. He was 97-78-20 overall in Tampa Bay before being fired midway through the 2012-13 season.

‎"Guy is a very bright, innovative young coach," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. "It's great to see him back in the NHL."

Boucher most recently coached at SC Bern in Switzerland for parts of three seasons, going 44-29-5 before he was fired in November. Crawford also spent the past four seasons coaching in Switzerland.

A source told ESPN's Scott Burnside that Bruce Boudreau had a six-hour interview with the Senators earlier this week. The Minnesota Wild hired Boudreau on Saturday.

ESPN's Pierre LeBrun and The Associated Press contributed to this report.