Management Coach DJ Smith - Part 2

[AchtzehnBaby]

Not a chance Smith gets another head coaching job in the NHL after this. Capuano, his assistant had a 227-192-64 record in NY with 4 playoff appearances in 6 seasons. Despite his much greater success he never got and never will get another HC role, he is forever an assistant coach.

Paul MacLean was 114-90-35 with 2 playoff appearances in 3 seasons. He most likely will never get another HC gig and has bounced around as an assistant coach.

How will DJ Smith at 120-139-32 with ZERO playoff appearances in four seasons get another HC job somewhere? No one is going to care that it was a rebuild. Successful coaches lead their teams out of rebuilds, DJ has not.

Everyone in the NHL knows he will be working again in the NHL.

He is a good coach. He just went through a scorched earth rebuild.

People can see through the BS

 

[DJB]

Everyone in the NHL knows he will be working again in the NHL.

He is a good coach. He just went through a scorched earth rebuild.

People can see through the BS

Explain the last two seasons though?

Not good enough. Not much improvement and still lack structure and defensive play

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Explain the last two seasons though?

Not good enough. Not much improvement and still lack structure and defensive play

Injuries, new kids learning the system, and injuries

 

[DJB]

Injuries, new kids learning the system, and injuries

The same excuses any team can use

And the kids that are “learning the system” most of them have been in place for multiple years with DJ. His system isn’t complicated and these guys are intelligent

DJ is not good enough

 

[Ice-Tray]

The same excuses any team can use

And the kids that are “learning the system” most of them have been in place for multiple years with DJ. His system isn’t complicated and these guys are intelligent

DJ is not good enough

He’ll absolutely get another HC job.

Folks in here have long ago lost the plot on evaluating elements of this team in line with the league.

EM broke so many of you.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

The same excuses any team can use

And the kids that are “learning the system” most of them have been in place for multiple years with DJ. His system isn’t complicated and these guys are intelligent

DJ is not good enough

DJ is good.

Ask ANYONE in the league.

I have heard it from many players, people who knew him via Leafs, team Canada, and Ottawa

 

[Micklebot]

He’ll absolutely get another HC job.

Folks in here have long ago lost the plot on evaluating elements of this team in line with the league.

EM broke so many of you.

Idk, MacLean won the Jack Adams and was runner up for it another year and he's yet to get another look as HC. It's a competitive market, I don't think there are many safe bets outside of guys with established track records.

 

[DJB]

DJ is good.

Ask ANYONE in the league.

I have heard it from many players, people who knew him via Leafs, team Canada, and Ottawa

He’s a players coach nobody is questioning that. It’s his on ice results which are subpar

 

[TonySoprano11]

DJ is good.

Ask ANYONE in the league.

I have heard it from many players, people who knew him via Leafs, team Canada, and Ottawa

No one is suggesting he is not a good guy. However, he's not a great professional level coach. I am sure he will get another HC gig in the OHL or other development league. That seems to be where he is most effective. Helping young kids find their game and give them confidence. Unfortunately, that is not what is necessary to be a successful NHL coach.

 

[DJB]

He’ll absolutely get another HC job.

Folks in here have long ago lost the plot on evaluating elements of this team in line with the league.

EM broke so many of you.

Not saying he will get another job or won’t but look at the last number of Sens coaches to be fired. Not a single one got rehired as a head coach anywhere

In fact I think Rick Bowness is the only former Sens head coach to be rehired and it took him nearly 20 years before he had some extended time as a head coach (outside of a cup of coffee with Phx and Isle)

 

[Gil Gunderson]

He could be a head coach in the NHL again, but other coaches with a similar resume as him pretty much had to take a step back and do reps in the AHL as winning head coach before getting another HC opportunity.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Idk, MacLean won the Jack Adams and was runner up for it another year and he's yet to get another look as HC. It's a competitive market, I don't think there are many safe bets outside of guys with established track records.

I understand, but DJ was one of the heralded up and comers, has done a great job developing this young team, has a spot on team Canada, and will get another shot in my opinion.

Guys with track records aren’t getting hired either because it’s a new breed of young player that has different coaching needs. DJ is one of the newer style young coaches that players are responding to.

Nothing is a given, but I’d bet in DJ getting hired right away.

 

[Beech]

Not saying he will get another job or won’t but look at the last number of Sens coaches to be fired. Not a single one got rehired as a head coach anywhere

In fact I think Rick Bowness is the only former Sens head coach to be rehired and it took him nearly 20 years before he had some extended time as a head coach (outside of a cup of coffee with Phx and Isle)

you can expand that to coaches in Canadian Markets the last 20 years and to Canadian market GMs.

Go through the list, the last 20 years.

Canada has become a GM and coach grave yard.

 

[Micklebot]

I understand, but DJ was one of the heralded up and comers, has done a great job developing this young team, has a spot on team Canada, and will get another shot in my opinion.

Guys with track records aren’t getting hired either because it’s a new breed of young player that has different coaching needs. DJ is one of the newer style young coaches that players are responding to.

Nothing is a given, but I’d bet in DJ getting hired right away.

MacLean was a heralded up and commer too, a disciple of Babcock when that still meant something.

He was credited with developing Karlsson into the player he became if memory serves, I have a vague recollection of an article talking about MacLean getting Karlsson to watch women's hockey to help him learn to defend as a smaller dman.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I don't think it's a slam dunk he'll be a head coach again, but wouldn't rule it out eventually. As mentioned, it's a very competitive market with not a lot of jobs available. MacLean seemed like a slam dunk to get another job imo and that hasn't happened.

What I don't think will happen is it being quick for DJ. He doesn't have the pedigree for that and the job done here is topsy turvy enough to leave question marks.

Imo if it doesn't work out here, he'll go back to being an assistant somewhere for a few years and have to work his way back in to the conversation and see where that goes.

 

[Beech]

MacLean was a heralded up and commer too, a disciple of Babcock when that still meant something.

He was credited with developing Karlsson into the player he became if memory serves, I have a vague recollection of an article talking about MacLean getting Karlsson to watch women's hockey to help him learn to defend as a smaller dman.

a coach's future is in the hands of his netwroking and therefore friendships with league GMs. Also League exec. and to smaller extent friendships with league office execs (Gary and that crew).

No job is more dependent on:
who you know versus what you know, than that one.

And so DJ's future will depend on how well he has networked. If he is getting regular texts from GMs and POHOs and Presidents, he could get work quickly. If not, he does not.

No one will hire a coach that he has no history with, no connections too, no powerful recommendations about.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Sure I'll ask anyone in the league if DJ is good. I'm sure playoff contenders in our division love DJ coaching the Ottawa Senators. One less team to worry about.

 

[aragorn]

I think Keith Tkachuk made it quite clear that Ottawa was a very hard team to play against last yr & that goes to coaching. They were in most games last yr & only really lost their shot at a playoff spot after they lost both their NHL goalies & still came close.

IMO DJ has a good reputation around the league, Hockey Canada just invited him to represent Canada & he came home with the Gold Medal which I'm sure will tick off some people when they show it off at the first home game next season.

 

[thinkwild]

Im all for replacing DJ if the argument can be made that there is another coach, that there is good reason to believe, would work much better with this team going forward. But if the reason given is: look at his W-L record! then im unpersuaded because it is still possible then that the best coach is with us. The best coach could be on the team with the worst record that just needs more time.

Lets say two years ago we hired a coach that won the Jack Adams, got over that trophy's curse, was universally regarded, is fresh off years of success as a coach. How many more win do you suppose that perfect coach would have brought to this team? I honestly dont know how to evaluate that. Im thinking very few.

 

[JackieDaytona]

Credit to DJ for creating a good, welcoming, happy locker room. The vibes are clearly good and he’s also instilled a strong work ethic team culture. That’s tough to create and sustain and he deserves praise there.

But agree with an earlier post with concerns about 5on5 scoring/scoring differential, and perhaps inadequate buyin to team defense.

Maybe the former are much harder or rare things for a coach to achieve than the latter. So yes, DJ can have weaknesses that are lesser than his strengths and still be considered a really good coach.

But I think this team needs to address those deficiencies to take the next step and I don’t know if DJ is capable of that on his own or if those things are a priority. But I think those are issues that falls on coaching staff.

If we go in to next season and still see these issues not being addressed then I think it would be a huge mistake not to have replaced DJ (or changed other coaching team personnel). It’s not that he isn’t a good coach, but what would be best for this team moving forward. If he can lead necessary adjustments, great. Love to see him stay and the team have success. But not sure that is the case.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I think Keith Tkachuk made it quite clear that Ottawa was a very hard team to play against last yr & that goes to coaching. They were in most games last yr & only really lost their shot at a playoff spot after they lost both their NHL goalies & still came close.

IMO DJ has a good reputation around the league, Hockey Canada just invited him to represent Canada & he came home with the Gold Medal which I'm sure will tick off some people when they show it off at the first home game next season.

Here is the quote:
“This is do-or-die for the Panthers right now,’’ Keith told First Up with Korolnek & Colaiacovo. “I watched them the other night and I know I am staying at Brady’s house and Brady’s team played really well. They have some jam and, you know, I am a little disappointed with the Panthers.

“They are a soft team and they are getting everything they deserve right now.”

To continue on that point, Keith Tkachuk said for the Panthers to snap their losing streak in Toronto, they need to bring a little more toughness to their game.

“Instead of trying to get autographs on the ice from Matthews and Marner,” he said, “they probably should check them a little harder. Whatever it is, it is disappointing. I know I sound like a frustrated person, but I know every time I come and watch Ottawa, they may not be the most talented team but they’re going to play hard.

”Perhaps Florida could take a page out of their book.”


He did not say that Ottawa was a very hard team to play against. He said they play hard. Its been discussed .

I had asked what the difference between play hard and try hard is. I will say the Sens did not cheat us on effort very often but to me hard to play against goes beyond trying hard or playing hard. Joseph tries hard. He is not hard to play against. Not many really were. They want to add to their depth and their grit this off season.

 

[aragorn]

Here is the quote:
“This is do-or-die for the Panthers right now,’’ Keith told First Up with Korolnek & Colaiacovo. “I watched them the other night and I know I am staying at Brady’s house and Brady’s team played really well. They have some jam and, you know, I am a little disappointed with the Panthers.

“They are a soft team and they are getting everything they deserve right now.”

To continue on that point, Keith Tkachuk said for the Panthers to snap their losing streak in Toronto, they need to bring a little more toughness to their game.

“Instead of trying to get autographs on the ice from Matthews and Marner,” he said, “they probably should check them a little harder. Whatever it is, it is disappointing. I know I sound like a frustrated person, but I know every time I come and watch Ottawa, they may not be the most talented team but they’re going to play hard.

”Perhaps Florida could take a page out of their book.”


He did not say that Ottawa was a very hard team to play against. He said they play hard. Its been discussed .

I had asked what the difference between play hard and try hard is. I will say the Sens did not cheat us on effort very often but to me hard to play against goes beyond trying hard or playing hard. Joseph tries hard. He is not hard to play against. Not many really were. They want to add to their depth and their grit this off season.

Is it that big a difference? They play hard, they finish their checks, they hit, is that not all part of being hard to play against? They do have some guys who are not hard to play against but I think they also have some guys who are hard to play against & hopefully next yr they will build on that.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Is it that big a difference? They play hard, they finish their checks, they hit, is that not all part of being hard to play against? They do have some guys who are not hard to play against but I think they also have some guys who are hard to play against & hopefully next yr they will build on that.

I think Florida has some guys who are hard to play against as well. I think you misquoted big Walt unnecessarily to make your point.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

I think Florida has some guys who are hard to play against as well. I think you misquoted big Walt unnecessarily to make your point.

Walt is a DJ fan... Like his son

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Walt is a DJ fan... Like his son

Maybe so