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

[CanadianHockey]

Long overdue. Excited to see how Martin can address the team's defensive issues.

 

[LiseL]

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.

The worse case scenario is it will show management if roster construction is also part of the problem. I'm just glad they didn't wait until the off-season. Wouldn't it be amazing if they turned it around the way that Berube did for St. Louis the year they won the cup? May be wishful thinking but we do have another thing in common: Tank was/is a player on both teams.

 

[LiseL]

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!!

If that truly is their reaction, then they really do have the loser mentality. Winning should be what matters and they should want to learn how to play winning hockey consistently.

 

[Senator Stanley]

I hate Staois's explanation for keeping Capuano. Essentially, because Alfredsson is a forward.

Where's the accountability for Capuano? He's been here just as long as DJ.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

"My proudest day as a fan."

 

[Cosmix]

Korpisalo has been hot and cold. He's made some great saves, and has had a few great games, but has also let in some real stinkers. More than you'd like.

Goalies have been impossible to evaluate under DJ Smith though. They've all sucked.

Plus the team had an ineffective defensive zone system.

 

[SensFactor]

“A lot of our issues in team play are the strengths of Jacques Martin. Detailed, organized structured. To me he’s the perfect fit in what we were lacking in those areas.” - Steve Staios

 

[Relapsing]

Just realizing Capuano is still with the team.

The defensive coach.

Still on the team

W. T. F

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

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

"I can't make that assessment…”

That’s unbelievable. What exactly is it that Gord thinks he does for a living?

 

[NyQuil]

Why not do it at the end of last season?

They're still going to be ass

Probably for awhile.

 

[Karl Prime]

I just don't understand why you would have a fun leisurely practice after a 3-game losing streak. You work harder after bad losses. That kind of mentality sheds a light on the way DJ ran the team and it's not good.

Alfie being there helps because he was coached by Martin. He can relate to the players if they get benched, or get worked too hard in practice, or told to play in a way they may not like (defensive minded). They can look at him and see a guy who wore the C for Martin and was a great two-way player.

 

[SPF6ty9]

That’s unbelievable. What exactly is it that Gord thinks he does for a living?

DJ just hasn't been given enough time to be properly evaluated, clearly.

Can't believe we couldn't get rid of this guy for so long. Fiiiiinally.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I hate Staois's explanation for keeping Capuano. Essentially, because Alfredsson is a forward.

Where's the accountability for Capuano? He's been here just as long as DJ.

Alfie is replacing Payne, Cappy should of been first to go, and before this season.

 

[Norris4Norris]

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?

I can neither concur nor deny that DJ had a losing record when he was here!

 

[Cosmix]

Capuano coaches the d right? I think the forwards were the real problem here.

If Capuano coached the D and did not have any significant input to the overall strategy for D zone play, I would agree. I also think the Fs and how they played (strategy and tactically) are a major cause of the problem. I think our D have some issues with size, strength, physical play and toughness, which was caused by the GM's roster development. Changing the play of the Fs in the D zone will certainly help improve results; however, I think we need some changes on D.

 

[Cosmix]

I think Alfie is the AC for two reasons.

One, he's a guy who the players already know and respect. He offers some continuity for the young core, and he's less of an outsider than Martin, who the fans know but coached here before some of our players were even born.

Two, Andlauer came from the organization that hired Martin St. Louis off a bantam bench. I'm sure part of their thinking is to see if Alfie is ready for the permanent HC job after the season.

I think hiring Alfie as the HC at this time or next season would be a mistake. He needs more experience.

 

[Relapsing]

If that truly is their reaction, then they really do have the loser mentality. Winning should be what matters and they should want to learn how to play winning hockey consistently.

Damn right. Any premadonnas can let the door hit the on the way out.

Winning is the only metric that truly matters in any professional sports. I don't spend my free time watching guys play so they can feel good about themselves while sucking.

 

[bert]

I hate Staois's explanation for keeping Capuano. Essentially, because Alfredsson is a forward.

Where's the accountability for Capuano? He's been here just as long as DJ.

I dont think they had a D coach available to replace him tbh. I agree to me he's been as big as a problem as DJ.

 

[Cosmix]

Happy they finally made a change but file this one under the too little, too late category. Unreal that it took this long but what are you gonna do as a fan, right?

It's definitely too late to get the team into the playoffs this season; however, Jacques will teach them how to play a more structurally sound defensive system in all zones and hold them accountable too. Alfie will learn a lot from working with Jacques for the rest of this season.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

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?

I wish he got fired too. Guy is a bozo along with Dean Brown

 

[LiseL]

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

With a defence-first head coach and a former 200-ft player as the other assistant, I don't think keeping JC will be an issue.

 

[Relapsing]

The best part about this move is that I now feel 20 years younger by association. Run it back boys! Who else can we get back on the team

 

[BigRig4]

I think Ben Sexton will be helping with the defence too

 

[Relapsing]

Still in catch up mode... DJ ran a practice this morning?! Yikes. How do you not make that call before a practice?

 

[bert]

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

Him and Dean need to go more than the coaching staff did.