Confirmed with Link: DJ Smith fired, Jacques Martin in as interim, Alfie as assistant

[PatrickEaves]

Gord Wilson on TSN 1200, asked to assess DJ Smith's tenure:

"I can't make that assessment, but I think if you asked Brady Tkachuk, he'd give DJ Smith a passing grade."

Does he know that these comments make Tkachuk look like a loser?

Hey Gord, safe to say you have no idea what you are talking about?

 

[Senscore]

It sure makes Gord look like a loser.

What a weasel. Not even a basic "this a results-oriented league" platitude.

 

[Bileur]

The time to do it was when they got back from Sweden. They won but they did not play well and hadnt played well for a while. Then they went on a for 5 games where they did unexpectedly played well then we have seen whats happened in the last 4 games. Been a roller coaster. I wonder what posters are going to think when Martin benches Stutzle. Wonder if he gets the Spezza treatment. Not sure if many have been around here since then but he did not play spezza in the playoffs and he had a 55 point season under his belt and was the same age as Stutzle is now.

I don’t think he’ll get the Spezza treatment.

Spezza did need an attitude adjustment and seemed to think he was bigger than the team. He loafed defensively on top of his giveaways.

Stutzle seems to have always been willing to put in the work but hasn’t (IMO) been developed. Jacques won’t hesitate to bench him for mistakes but he’s not going to scratch him or send him down either.

 

[Cosmix]

Jacques Martin as Sens coach. Is it 2004? Am I 10 years old again?

I wish I was.

 

[PatrickEaves]

I wish I was.

Me too. I would spend all my college money on Amazon stock.

 

[bert]

They don't have an in house replacement for the assistant coach who works with the D.

That's gotta be it. The D has been a disaster, I was trying to think of who they could have hired and Jason York seemed like he could have been a guy. Or Promote Redden.

 

[Senator Stanley]

I don’t think he’ll get the Spezza treatment.

Spezza did need an attitude adjustment and seemed to think he was bigger than the team. He loafed defensively on top of his giveaways.

Stutzle seems to have always been willing to put in the work but hasn’t (IMO) been developed. Jacques won’t hesitate to bench him for mistakes but he’s not going to scratch him or send him down either.

Yeah, it's totally different circumstances.

Spezza was a rookie coming into a very good team that could afford to ease him in. Stutzle is a fourth-year player, point-per-game player, and the 1st/2nd line centre on a team that can't afford not to play him.

 

[robsenz]

Cheryl Pounder basically explaining how Martin will bring defense which we didn't have before. That defense will in turn fuel the offense.

Just telling it like it is.

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My sources are telling me to be on the look out for a Todd Simpson signing any day now!

 

[Cosmix]

I will say if there's anyone I want as an interim it's Jacques. He will calm things down in general but also get to fixing this mess over the next weeks and months whether he stays or not long term. These players were in desperate need of an authoritative voice in the room with real NHL experience, and they've got it in spades with Martin.

Not expecting any big turnaround in the near future but I'm confident he'll at least get these kids back on track.

I think he will initially focus on the D zone, N zone and O zone play without the puck. Defence first will be the mantra. No individual high risk plays that could cause man advantage attacks by the opponents. Holding players accountable for their actions based on his defence first mantra.

 

[Grizwald]

To an extent I guess, but he's had plenty to with the last two years and we've had to write both seasons off in December.

Oh I agree and a coaching change was long overdue. I just feel relief for DJ today, almost akin to euthanasia, whereas when Dorion was fired I was overjoyed, like good 'effin riddance...lol

 

[SanderSen]

LOL. Back after running around and thought I would check TSN and maybe see an early Xmas gift, and lo and behold, there it was!

Saw an article header about will the firing fix the Sens, well sure as sugar it ain't going to make them worse.

Spend to the cap, for the same results and bad team D on the ice that has always been there. Time for a new approach.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/this-is-almost-like-a-mercy-fire-lebrun-breaks-down-senators-decision-to-fire-d-j-smith~2830892

 

[ottawagm]

Huge thanks to Vegas for getting both DJ and Dorion fired for us.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Only NHL coach Brady has had. He is in no position to assess.

No idea why Gord couldn’t assess, he goes in loser category as well.

 

[Super Cake]

YES!!!!!! It finally happened.

 

[Cosmix]

I do wish they'd done this 2 or 3 games ago, or more. Feels like the hole might have been dug a little too deep to matter at this point.

He should never have been extended by Dorion after his first contract. It was clear then that he was not an NHL level Head Coach. Unfortunately, we had a person at GM who was not an NHL level GM.

 

[TonySoprano11]

Holy shit I thought this was never going to happen! Amazing. We still have a chance to salvage the season. A small chance, but still a chance.

 

[Cosmix]

Ya, I don't feel bad for a grown man getting paid lots of money and getting fired for sucking at his job.

I would love to get a gig like that for one year.

I'm afraid the players might see Jacques Martin as a back stabber, he was hired to assist and now his the head coach, interesting!!

They better welcome Jacques with open arms; the smart ones will; the dumb ones will be replaced.

 

[NyQuil]

Finally we get to see what some of these guys look like with a different look behind the bench.

 

[Cosmix]

LOL the guy runs a light hearted fun 'attaboys' practice after a 3 game road losing streak? Those hotdogs should be being bag skated for their effort level lately.
So glad this clownshow is finally over.

No to the bag skate. Practicing D zone play without the puck would be far more useful.

YESSSS!!!!!!

Best day in Sens history!!!

You've caught the Dorion doofus bug!

 

[DueDiligence]

Isn't Martin too old to be doing this shit anymore

Martin will be the Head coach for only 7 months until the new GM is hired and they choose a coach. But he will be a senior advisor for as long as he wants as he is doing the team a favour. He's got the perfect assistant in Alfie who knows exactly what JM wants done. DA will take on a large role and take some of the workload off Jacques.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

He should never have been extended by Dorion after his first contract. It was clear then that he was not an NHL level Head Coach. Unfortunately, we had a person at GM who was not an NHL level GM.

Well ya, I don't disagree, in the big picture, but in the context that the decision to bring him back was already made. Feels like they waited 7-10 days too long if they hope to save the season. Arguably more of course, but at least they were around .500, not 4 games under.

 

[SensFactor]

The imprint of Melynk and Dorion slowly being fixed

 

[bicboi64]

Yeah, it's totally different circumstances.

Spezza was a rookie coming into a very good team that could afford to ease him in. Stutzle is a fourth-year player, point-per-game player, and the 1st/2nd line centre on a team that can't afford not to play him.

Man I remember as a kid I used to be so upset when I didn't see Spezza play more and when my cousins tried to explain that its okay, I'd huff and puff and talk smack about JM. 20 years later its easy to laugh about