Management Coach DJ Smith - Part 2

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

DJ Smith getting a few votes to win the Jack Adams this year.

Sportsnet NHL Insider predictions for 2023-24 season

The 2023-24 NHL season is here and Sportsnet's insiders share their predictions for what lies ahead. Who will win the Stanley Cup? Norris Trophy? How many goals will Connor Bedard score? And more.

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This isn't a vote. Votes for Jack Adams aren't made until after the season.

 

[Golden_Jet]

This isn't a vote. Votes for Jack Adams aren't made until after the season.

Everyone gets that, that’s why it’s called predictions, in the title. (Prediction votes, Three of them chose DJ.)

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

Someone should tell DJ that saying things like this makes him look like an imbecile. Even if everything went perfectly for Josh Norris' rehab, the timeline to get back for the regular season opener was incredibly tight.

Acting like this is some crazy development that no one could have ever thought was possible is insanity.

 

[swiftwin]

This isn't a vote. Votes for Jack Adams aren't made until after the season.

Thanks captain obvious.

I meant votes towards predictions.

 

[Micklebot]

Someone should tell DJ that saying things like this makes him look like an imbecile. Even if everything went perfectly for Josh Norris' rehab, the timeline to get back for the regular season opener was incredibly tight.

Acting like this is some crazy development that no one could have ever thought was possible is insanity.

Alternative explanation: DJ and the training staff have a better grasp of the expected rehab timelines than the fanbase does from 1000 miles above, and 4-5 exhibition games was realistic before whatever setback Norris ran into occured.

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

Alternative explanation: DJ and the training staff have a better grasp of the expected rehab timelines than the fanbase does from 1000 miles above, and 4-5 exhibition games was realistic before whatever setback Norris ran into occured.

Yeah, maybe. Fans can believe what they want.

Personally, I find it curious how the story keeps changing.

One day, Josh Norris is healthy. The next day, he can't play golf and starts camp in a non-contact jersey. But, if the regular season were to start, he'd be playing, without a doubt. Nothing to see here. Great. Then, he has a setback. Okay, it happens. But don't worry, it's no big deal, just a tweak. He'll play in the pre-season. A couple of games at least. Until those games come and he can't play. But it's not because he's hurt. DJ comes out and says that he's been cleared to play in games, he just has to get over a mental hurdle. There's no lingering concern about the shoulder. Cool. Until the next day, when he contradicts himself and says that Norris wants to play, but just hasn't been cleared by the medical staff.

Maybe these guys should get in a room and agree to start giving no comments?

Meanwhile, a team that has to get off to a good start is beginning the season with Rourke Chartier centering their new $5M winger. But these guys know what they're doing. All of these are well thought-out, logical decisions. They have a great grasp of everything!

 

[Loach]

Thanks captain obvious.

I meant votes towards predictions.

Votes towards predictions? Is that like the Deserve to Win - O - Meter thingy?

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I’m still waiting for some kind of structure with this team. He doesn’t seem to be able to play to players’ strengths either.

 

[Icelevel]

Coaching is a problem here. Not sure who is responsible but someone needs some help or needs to go.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Despite the addition of new faces to the roster, the team continues to grapple with the same issues that have haunted them over the past 4-5 seasons.

 

[TheNewEra]

Despite the addition of new faces to the roster, the team continues to grapple with the same issues that have haunted them over the past 4-5 seasons.

Agreed and we have a lot more skill on the team now which is extremely frustrating

Would be one thing if we were full on tanking

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

what is the rational with Chabot being the qb for pp1?

surely an NHL coach can tell that both Sanderson and Chychrun have better offensive instincts.

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

I missed post game comments. Did we track hard and play well?

 

[Alex1234]

what is the rational with Chabot being the qb for pp1?

surely an NHL coach can tell that both Sanderson and Chychrun have better offensive instincts.

DJ likes muffins and Muffins are suppose to surprise opponent goalies

 

[Mookie McGee]

So why is there no talk about moving Giroux to 2nd line center until either Norris is healthy or Pinto is signed?
Grieg is likely a 50 point at best option, and would likely do better as a 3rd line center for match ups. Can also move Tarasenko up to a scoring line, as expected for a $5M player.
Chartier is no scorer, so 4th line for him, and Kastellic goes to the wing.
Maybe not ideal for Giroux to play center at his age, but short term it should be fine.

 

[BondraTime]

So why is there no talk about moving Giroux to 2nd line center until either Norris is healthy or Pinto is signed?
Grieg is likely a 50 point at best option, and would likely do better as a 3rd line center for match ups. Can also move Tarasenko up to a scoring line, as expected for a $5M player.
Chartier is no scorer, so 4th line for him, and Kastellic goes to the wing.
Maybe not ideal for Giroux to play center at his age, but short term it should be fine.

There has been, we've been told Giroux will not be playing C at any point, as he hasn't played C in close to a decade and he's been great on the wing

 

[JackieDaytona]

Unfortunate loss to a really strong team. Can’t win them all against top teams - but they do need to win some if they are going to be a playoff team.

More concerning is that we’re seeing the same problems we have for years with this team. Getting hemmed in and collapsing too much, no structure for breakout of the defensive zone, carelessness with passes through NZ/ lack of good passing options (positioning problems).

One game in is a really poor sample size and I’d love to see a turnaround, but in my view these are coachable errors that continue to not be addressed. DJ is out of his element with this, the team needs coaching support here.

 

[Bileur]

what is the rational with Chabot being the qb for pp1?

surely an NHL coach can tell that both Sanderson and Chychrun have better offensive instincts.

This is the guy who is playing Chabot on the right side with Chychrun, despite Chabot having never played that side in the NHL, when one of the main selling points in acquiring Chychrun was that he had extensive experience on the right side in spite of being a left shot. Questionable lineup decisions have been a constant with this coach.

 

[swiftwin]

Unfortunate loss to a really strong team. Can’t win them all against top teams - but they do need to win some if they are going to be a playoff team.

More concerning is that we’re seeing the same problems we have for years with this team. Getting hemmed in and collapsing too much, no structure for breakout of the defensive zone, carelessness with passes through NZ/ lack of good passing options (positioning problems).

One game in is a really poor sample size and I’d love to see a turnaround, but in my view these are coachable errors that continue to not be addressed. DJ is out of his element with this, the team needs coaching support here.

We have a little bit more than a one game sample size.

We have three games with Chych-Chabot, Sanderson-Zub, Brann-Hamonic in the lineup. We had 7 periods in a row with zero goals against us, and solid looking structure in the D zone.

Carolina is the best team in the league at hemming teams in their zone with their relentless pressure, forcing them to collapse. That's why they're a legit cup contender. This happens to almost every team that plays against them. The fact that we looked solid defensively for the first 30mins of that game should be encouraging, especially when you also consider the 7 period shutout we had going before that.

 

[swiftwin]

what is the rational with Chabot being the qb for pp1?

surely an NHL coach can tell that both Sanderson and Chychrun have better offensive instincts.

Chychrun has a better shot, but he's definitely not a better PP QB. Not by a long shot. Besides, Chychrun is already playing on PP2 as a shooter.

I wouldn't say Sanderson is better, but it's close. I expect, and hope he'll see some reps.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

So why is there no talk about moving Giroux to 2nd line center until either Norris is healthy or Pinto is signed?
Grieg is likely a 50 point at best option, and would likely do better as a 3rd line center for match ups. Can also move Tarasenko up to a scoring line, as expected for a $5M player.
Chartier is no scorer, so 4th line for him, and Kastellic goes to the wing.
Maybe not ideal for Giroux to play center at his age, but short term it should be fine.

They didn't play him there all last season and went with a Rookie at 2C and 4C and filled in with replacement players at 3C. It has been discussed.

 

[h2]

Chychrun has a better shot, but he's definitely not a better PP QB. Not by a long shot. Besides, Chychrun is already playing on PP2 as a shooter.

I wouldn't say Sanderson is better, but it's close. I expect, and hope he'll see some reps.

I have the exact opposite opinion as you re: Chychryn as a PP QB. He has the shot as you mentioned, but he's no slouch in the other areas, calling him a shooter makes him appear one dimensional on the offensive side. He (and Sanderson) also make quicker decisions than Chabot. Chabot likes to hold on to the puck for 3 extra seconds which causes initial opportunities to disappear from what I've seen. Chabot's lack of pace and indecisiveness is a problem, and it happens on the PP frequently.

I'm not giving up on Chabot though, I think he can turn things around, but the last calendar year has been pretty rough for him. I'd like to see what he can do with a new coaching staff, which might be a while.

 

[swiftwin]

I have the exact opposite opinion as you re: Chychryn as a PP QB. He has the shot as you mentioned, but he's no slouch in the other areas, calling him a shooter makes him appear one dimensional on the offensive side. He (and Sanderson) also make quicker decisions than Chabot. Chabot likes to hold on to the puck for 3 extra seconds which causes initial opportunities to disappear from what I've seen. Chabot's lack of pace and indecisiveness is a problem, and it happens on the PP frequently.

I'm not giving up on Chabot though, I think he can turn things around, but the last calendar year has been pretty rough for him. I'd like to see what he can do with a new coaching staff, which might be a while.

I agree that Chabot tends hold onto the puck for a while, but it's not because of indecisiveness. He does it to draw opponents further out of position, then makes the pass, which allows for another quick pass a third open player because Chabot drew the opponent far enough away from position.

We had the 2nd most PP goals in the league last season with Chabot as our main PP QB. Clearly he's doing something right.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

We have a little bit more than a one game sample size.

We have three games with Chych-Chabot, Sanderson-Zub, Brann-Hamonic in the lineup. We had 7 periods in a row with zero goals against us, and solid looking structure in the D zone.

Carolina is the best team in the league at hemming teams in their zone with their relentless pressure, forcing them to collapse. That's why they're a legit cup contender. This happens to almost every team that plays against them. The fact that we looked solid defensively for the first 30mins of that game should be encouraging, especially when you also consider the 7 period shutout we had going before that.

You using pre season to strengthen your argument?

 

[redbrick98]

If Sens lose next 2 games

Is DJ gone after 3 games ?