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

[BankStreetParade]

Never wish anyone get fired before Christmas, but it's clear as day that D.J has no future in here.

Should have been fired earlier (like, the day we lost 5-0 to the panthers (nov 27)) but it is what it is.

Jacques Martin + Alfie is the best intermediate solution the sens is looking for. Credit to the new ownership, so far every move they make, at least, should be counted as a small step to the right direction.

What I would like to see now, is that, after the change, will we constantly let other team crawl back in regardless of our lead again? (we were leading 4-0 from Detroit in Sweden, and we were leading 4-2 in Dallas). As soon as we solve this issue, we would be a lot better.

I am a bit more optimistic on the goaltending. It affects the goalie a lot, physically and mentally, when your team consistently allows high quality chances from the other side.

Time to see if those players deserve their paycheques

They've done the absolute minimum. As a matter of fact, they had to fire Dorion, so we don't even know if he would still be around right now or not. And they let the DJ thing go on way way way too long to get any credit for something that should have been done at the end of October, beginning of November. Don't know what credit can be handed out for the 2 easiest and clearest decisions you could possibly make.

They actually allowed this hole to be dug through their reluctance and inaction.

 

[Stive Morgan]

Congrats Sens friends!

Just wanted to ask, what's your guys's opinion on Jacques Martin? How's he been for you guys? I felt he didn't really get a fair shake in Montreal. His system was boring, but efficient.

EDIT: Just realized he's only been back with you guys for 12 days lol. Still, feedback on the hire would be appreciated.

 

[Ser Grogu]

You've heard of the 1-3-1. Now get ready for Spider 2 Y Banana.

 

[Sun God Nika]

The last entry in Alfie's DB page is no longer the Detroit Red Wings. This doesn't feel like real life.

 

[justavisitor]

They've done the absolute minimum. As a matter of fact, they had to fire Dorion, so we don't even know if he would still be around right now or not. And they let the DJ thing go on way way way too long to get any credit for something that should have been done at the end of October, beginning of November. Don't know what credit can be handed out for the 2 easiest and clearest decisions you could possibly make.

They actually allowed this hole to be dug through their reluctance and inaction.

Very true, but at least what they replace with (Jacques + Alfie) is the best that we could have at this moment.

Now we will wait and see which GM they will hire.

 

[Neil Patrick Harris]

If nothing else, this'll make for a nicer capstone on Martin's career with the Senators, rather than the unpleasantness of 2004.

Definitely gonna be tuning in tomorrow night to see him back behind the bench.

 

[hockey20000]

feel bad for dj never nice to get fired especially this time of year I wish him all the best and sorry it didn't work out.. he may not of been a great coach for us but i respected him and liked the way he spoke.

 

[swiftwin]

feel bad for dj never nice to get fired especially this time of year I wish him all the best and sorry it didn't work out.. he may not of been a great coach for us but i respected him and liked the way he spoke.

Best time of the year to get fired, especially when his pay is guaranteed anyways. Gets to spend the holidays with his family.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

im pretty sure DJ is relieved he is fired.

 

[HF Reader]

Jacques Martin and Patrick Roy combo?

I don't know Patrick Roy and people say he has matured. Many teams, four plus Ottawa this year alone, have replaced their coaches and Roy isn't getting hired. Even Montreal didn't hire him recently.

I am guessing (as always!l) but I suspect Roy lacks the temperament to fit into an Andlaur organization.

Either Brady or Bath probably.

This should be a poll question
JM will be very careful with the immediate hardass approach but since you asked my money is on Stutzle.

 

[thinkwild]

It feels like Jacques initially left Ottawa in a similar tsunami of fan outrage as DJ now. I guess this is a nice way to come full circle if he can get them back to a structured point before he gets accused of not being able to take that final step

 

[salomonster]

Hopefully Jacques gets to pad his stats as all time winningest coach for the Sens and if he stick around past the interim label he can finish the job and win the Senators a cup.

 

[GCK]

Gruden gives me massive DJ vibes.
Plug at the NHL level who spent most of his career as an AHL'er. Won a chip in the OHL only coaching experience at the NHL level is assistant and he would be coming out of the leafs organization.

Please just please get a guy who has coached at the NHL before. Who learned from his failures with his past stint. A guy you know other teams want and not choosing the senators because they are the only team willing to hire him. Team is spending at the cap lets hire a best in class coach and not someone who is new to the NHL.

I want this guy

One of the worst possible choices

 

[Sun God Nika]

One of the worst possible choices

Interesting, genuinely curious why that is?

 

[GCK]

Interesting, genuinely curious why that is?

Never adjusted to today’s players, you don’t have to be a buddy but you need to explain why to them. There’s still room to be firm and hold players accountable but you can’t survive being an A-Hole.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

They've done the absolute minimum. As a matter of fact, they had to fire Dorion, so we don't even know if he would still be around right now or not. And they let the DJ thing go on way way way too long to get any credit for something that should have been done at the end of October, beginning of November. Don't know what credit can be handed out for the 2 easiest and clearest decisions you could possibly make.

They actually allowed this hole to be dug through their reluctance and inaction.

Yep. The first 2 immediate things they could have done was fire both Dorion and DJ before the season starter. Shake shit up right away and give the team time to get adjusted before the season starts.

Its as if these guys did their due diligence on the team for the past 6 years and thought to themselves that maybe the duo can turn things around.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Never adjusted to today’s players, you don’t have to be a buddy but you need to explain why to them. There’s still room to be firm and hold players accountable but you can’t survive being an A-Hole.

but look at Torts he is surviving just well and he coached the same era and is a bigger hard ass. Vigneault has had lots of success across multiple organizations. I wouldn't be opposed

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

im pretty sure DJ is relieved he is fired.

He knew it was coming. Just didn't know when.

His body language on the bench has been different for a while. His eyes during interviews.

Thats gotta be a shitty position to be in. You can't quit. You'll never get hired again. You just gotta tough it out and pretend that everything is fine even though you know the best job you've ever had is going to cut you loose.

Here's hoping he lands on his feet. Not sure when he will get another head coaching gig but im sure he can find a place as an assistant somewhere.

 

[DueDiligence]

Plus Alfie knows how to play defence in all 3 zones; Alfie was the defensive conscience on the Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson line. The other 2 were offensive dynamos but defensive liabilities! He also was a great player who can serve as a role model for the players and teach them how to deal with the media.

And he played with and edge and a lot of passion. Something that Brady can relate to.

 

[DrEasy]

Jacques is back, baby! Jacques is back! Should have never left in the first place. This is not only undoing the stink of the Dorion years, but Muckler's too. We lost so much time. Hope Jacques still has some energy left, though I imagine he's only here as an interim and will be back to being an advisor at the end of the season.

All our 90s music and movie discussions in the GDTs conjured this moment.

Here's which old tapes from Jacques' former tenure should be shown to whom:

- Hossa for Stutzle
- Havlat for Bath
- Bonk for Norris
- Redden for Sanderson and Chabot
- Phillips for Chychrun just to strengthen the defensive side of his play
- Tugnutt for the goalies
- no need for Alfie tapes: he can tell Brady what responsible captain behavior is like in person.

 

[DueDiligence]

Yep. The first 2 immediate things they could have done was fire both Dorion and DJ before the season starter. Shake shit up right away and give the team time to get adjusted before the season starts.

Its as if these guys did their due diligence on the team for the past 6 years and thought to themselves that maybe the duo can turn things around.

It probably would have happened if the sale had gone through in May or June. But how can you make the changes you really want when you take over the team a couple of weeks before the start of the season.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

It probably would have happened if the sale had gone through in May or June. But how can you make the changes you really want when you take over the team a couple of weeks before the start of the season.

You pre plan. It's not rocket science to be honest. They've had talks with Alfie for how long before the sale completed? Cyril Leeder?

 

[Adrianopolous]

He knew it was coming. Just didn't know when.

His body language on the bench has been different for a while. His eyes during interviews.

Thats gotta be a shitty position to be in. You can't quit. You'll never get hired again. You just gotta tough it out and pretend that everything is fine even though you know the best job you've ever had is going to cut you loose.

Here's hoping he lands on his feet. Not sure when he will get another head coaching gig but im sure he can find a place as an assistant somewhere.

I'm sure he'll find a assistant gig somewhere. He should be thankful he gkt 5 years out of this thing.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Jacques is back, baby! Jacques is back! Should have never left in the first place. This is not only undoing the stink of the Dorion years, but Muckler's too. We lost so much time. Hope Jacques still has some energy left, though I imagine he's only here as an interim and will be back to being an advisor at the end of the season.

All our 90s music and movie discussions in the GDTs conjured this moment.

Here's which old tapes from Jacques' former tenure should be shown to whom:

- Hossa for Stutzle
- Havlat for Bath
- Bonk for Norris
- Redden for Sanderson and Chabot
- Phillips for Chychrun just to strengthen the defensive side of his play
- Tugnutt for the goalies
- no need for Alfie tapes: he can tell Brady what responsible captain behavior is like in person.

alfie tapes for everyone. 2 hours every night.

 

[DueDiligence]

You pre plan. It's not rocket science to be honest. They've had talks with Alfie for how long before the sale completed? Cyril Leeder?

But let's say their GM target was TBL's Mathieu Darche. You can't get permission to talk to him until you own the team. And he's not going to jump 10 days before the season starts.