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

[Dionysus]

JM torching the players consistency, effort, and willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of the team. Love it. Very concise and accurate assessment of this groups current play.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

It's kind of concerning if pouting is indeed happening. Given where the team has finished the last 5 years they need to keep their mouths shut and come prepared to work.

 

[Relapsing]

It's kind of concerning if pouting is indeed happening. Given where the team has finished the last 5 years they need to keep their mouths shut and come to prepared to work.

It confounds me that they can't seem to figure that last part out.

You guys haven't done shit. Shut up, learn and execute.

At this rate, if Brady drunkenly rambles about the playoffs in the market this offseason, someone is gonna yell at him to shut the f up, and there's a non zero chance he'll never recover from it and ask for a trade soon after.

I just do not understand how any of this young core went through their careers to date and forgot how to do what the coach tells you to do, every time.

 

[swiftwin]

Vancouver’s first 8 games when Tocchet took over was 3-5-1

Tocchet wasn't an interim coach though.

It's going to be more difficult to get buy in from a substitute teacher.

 

[coladin]

Martin: When you haven't had success, something has to be done

Sens head coach Jacques Martin joins the show for his weekly visit to talk about Ottawa's loss in Vancouver, to look ahead to tomorrow's game in Seattle, and to talk about the changes he's trying to implement

www.tsn.ca

Interesting that its not just us goofs on here that have had some concern over the bruised feelings of letting DJ go.
Hopefully there are no ringleaders dragging them in another direction

Martin: To be successful, there's a price to be paid

Sens head coach Jacques Martin speaks to the media in Seattle after his team's practice

www.tsn.ca

Did he say support?




These players better wake the f up.

Jacques Martin of the past would have never , ever , been so revealing of his thoughts. He was platitudes guy, and clearly the great benefit of being interim is he doesn’t give two f***s about his job security. That was epic.

I have been telling my son about his key phrases like “no doubt”, and “standpoint” , and he said he hasn’t heard them yet. Well today he will!

Of course there is “a good hockey club”, “depp “, “specialty teams”, etc…

Lastly, my feeling is guys are sulking and pouting and glad AJ said it out loud

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

JM torching the players consistency, effort, and willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of the team. Love it. Very concise and accurate assessment of this groups current play.

Where are these "torching" quotes? that is a bit of a exaggeration.



fragility.... puck-luck - great games and losing

we gotta be hungrier.... show more determination.... don't take nights off

 

[IpsoPostFacto]

I really appreciated that interview Martin had with AJ. Sounds like he's not coddling anyone anymore.

I did miss the part where AJ asked Martin about players pouting and the response from Martin. Did anyone catch that bit?

Pouting paraphrased: I can't do anything about that. they are payed good money and should get to work.

I also had to laugh when he said "people pay good money to go and see games ...". Yorkie brought that up on Coming in Hot as something Martin would always say.

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

Where are these "torching" quotes? that is a bit of a exaggeration.



fragility.... puck-luck - great games and losing

we gotta be hungrier.... show more determination.... don't take nights off

He said this on TSN1200:

"But the players are paid to perform. I would understand if this team had performed. But when you look at this team in the last five years, they haven't made the playoffs. They haven't even been close. And to me, they have to take a look in the mirror to see where we're at, where they're at, and how we're going to make progress. "

That's about as "torching" as you'll get from a guy who's been so buttoned up for 20+ years. And it was in response to a question about players pouting... which leads me to believe that the players are actually pouting.

His perspective so far has been pretty different from the "we have a great room and have made so many strides and we know we can win it's just too bad we've had so many injuries" that's been the company line for the last 2 years.

I'm just waiting for him to quote the great Pierre Dorion... "the locker room is broken".

 

[coladin]

Where are these "torching" quotes? that is a bit of a exaggeration.



fragility.... puck-luck - great games and losing

we gotta be hungrier.... show more determination.... don't take nights off

This ain’t it. Listen to AJ’s interview. As far as a Jacques Martin interview, it is an all-timer.

And I’ll say this: last night with Timmy at the end of the bench after that stupid pass on the PP, Alfie was talking at him and he kept staring forward, nodding his head. These guys better not forget who is talking to them…

The way he incredulously said “not even close” about making the playoffs was hilarious because he was almost incredulous at their arrogance

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

This ain’t it. Listen to AJ’s interview. As far as a Jacques Martin interview, it is an all-timer.

And I’ll say this: last night with Timmy at the end of the bench after that stupid pass on the PP, Alfie was talking at him and he kept staring forward, nodding his head. These guys better not forget who is talking to them…

The way he incredulously said “not even close” about making the playoffs was hilarious because he was almost incredulous at their arrogance

ah... makes more sense then...

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

It confounds me that they can't seem to figure that last part out.

You guys haven't done shit. Shut up, learn and execute.

At this rate, if Brady drunkenly rambles about the playoffs in the market this offseason, someone is gonna yell at him to shut the f up, and there's a non zero chance he'll never recover from it and ask for a trade soon after.

I just do not understand how any of this young core went through their careers to date and forgot how to do what the coach tells you to do, every time.

To your last paragraph, I think they were doing what they were told to do when DJ was coach. Unfortunately what they were told to do came from someone who was unqualified for their job

 

[UglyPuckling]

This ain’t it. Listen to AJ’s interview. As far as a Jacques Martin interview, it is an all-timer.

And I’ll say this: last night with Timmy at the end of the bench after that stupid pass on the PP, Alfie was talking at him and he kept staring forward, nodding his head. These guys better not forget who is talking to them…

The way he incredulously said “not even close” about making the playoffs was hilarious because he was almost incredulous at their arrogance

I think this is a link to the Martin interview that is being talked about.

Martin: When you haven't had success, something has to be done

Sens head coach Jacques Martin joins the show for his weekly visit to talk about Ottawa's loss in Vancouver, to look ahead to tomorrow's game in Seattle, and to talk about the changes he's trying to implement

www.tsn.ca

 

[JD1]

To your last paragraph, I think they were doing what they were told to do when DJ was coach. Unfortunately what they were told to do came from someone who was unqualified for their job

No, I think that's nonsense. Sorry, don't mean to crap on you but time and time and time again, we've seen this core not execute. We've seen high risk plays. We've seen incredibly stupid puck mgmt. Sometimes I try to count how many times we have clear possession in our end but don't clear due to a bonehead play. I lose count.

DJ was clearly not telling them "ok, when you get possession in our end, do something stupid with the puck" yet we see that over and over and over and over again

Sometimes I find it hard to understand. I ask myself "how did you make it this far in hockey yet do so many stupid things?
"

 

[LiseL]

I really appreciated that interview Martin had with AJ. Sounds like he's not coddling anyone anymore.

I did miss the part where AJ asked Martin about players pouting and the response from Martin. Did anyone catch that bit?

When AJ asked him the question, he specified Brady and Tim and added that they were pouting because DJ is no longer there. JM replied there was nothing he could do about that. Interesting that he didn't dispute they were pouting lol.

 

[LiseL]

It's so refreshing to read that and see accountability being installed instead of listening to a coach talk about bad bounces which has led to a country club atmosphere among our core.

DJ was a horrible match for what we needed these past few years.

As great as it is that JM is so forthcoming in the media, imagine what's being said being closed doors to managment. Oh to be a fly on the wall lol.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

No, I think that's nonsense. Sorry, don't mean to crap on you but time and time and time again, we've seen this core not execute. We've seen high risk plays. We've seen incredibly stupid puck mgmt. Sometimes I try to count how many times we have clear possession in our end but don't clear due to a bonehead play. I lose count.

DJ was clearly not telling them "ok, when you get possession in our end, do something stupid with the puck" yet we see that over and over and over and over again

Sometimes I find it hard to understand. I ask myself "how did you make it this far in hockey yet do so many stupid things?
"

I mean it's pretty clear hard off the boards and rim arounds were a DJ thing was it not? I mean other teams do it too but the Sens rely on it heavily. What about stretching the D by having a forward high up the ice away from the defensive zone? Is Brady doing that all by himself? I'm sure DJ isn't telling them to be stupid but he isn't adjusting or holding them accountable. Maybe it's a combination of both players and DJ but that marriage was not conducive to a winning environment.

Also if the players are treating the interim coaching tag that Jacques has similar to how substitute teachers are generally treated then the issues run much deeper than structural.

 

[JD1]

I mean it's pretty clear hard off the boards and rim arounds were a DJ thing was it not? I mean other teams do it too but the Sens rely on it heavily. What about stretching the D by having a forward high up the ice away from the defensive zone? Is Brady doing that all by himself? I'm sure DJ isn't telling them to be stupid but he isn't adjusting or holding them accountable. Maybe it's a combination of both players and DJ but that marriage was not conducive to a winning environment.

Also if the players are treating the interim coaching tag that Jacques has similar to how substitute teachers are generally treated then the issues run much deeper than structural.

High rim around and off the boards, flipping it high and out. Those are things you do when you don't have time. Every player and every team does that. And there's nothing wrong with it. It gives you a chance to regroup and better defend to get a clean break out.

What our team does that's bad, and they do this far more frequently than other teams, is have clear possession of the puck and go to make a play that doesn't result in the puck getting out, it results in a loss of possession. And some of it is imo just frustratingly lazy play.

Rimming the puck on the boards and the high flip is just clearing the zone when you have no option. We get in to far more trouble when there's a play to be made, it's attempted, but we f*** it up

 

[JD1]

As great as it is that JM is so forthcoming in the media, imagine what's being said being closed doors to managment. Oh to be a fly on the wall lol.

Indeed.

That goal Buffalo scored the other night. Many guys crapping on JBD. Chabot handcuffed JBD. And I f***ing hope he got reemed for it because there's no chance to correct it unless he did.

Details matter.

 

[Relapsing]

This really stood out to me from JM's interview on TSN 1200 (emphasis mine):

To me, it seems that, um, we need to be better as a team... and I think the players overall realize that, and I think that it's not easy sometimes to bring change... breaking some old habits. But when you haven't had success there's something that needs to be done about it. If they'd been a successful team, I could understand, but I think people pay good dollars to see them play, they want to see them perform. And that's not always the same by win or losses, I think, and I'm prepared to accept that, but to me there's certain areas you need to be good on a consistent basis as far as how you play the game

I couldn't agree more, and I'd bet that most people here ultimately feel the same. Losses are still an acceptable use of our time and money so long as the players and ultimately the team plays consistent, high level hockey. There is still excitement and engagement to be had in a hard fought loss. At the end of the day, we devote our most valuable commodity, time, to watch these guys play and expect relatively little in return.

I think there's 3 main reasons to play the game at this level:

1) Unbridled love of the game.

2) Winning.

3) Money.

Ideally, we get to enjoy watching a team who has unbridled love for the game, performs every night, and desires to be the best out of 32 teams and in doing so, win. In return, they get a handsome paycheque.

This is a very acceptable transactional relationship between Team and Fan, and one that is expected in any professional sports league. Everybody wins, even if the team doesn't ultimately win it all.

Right now, we get to be frustrated watching a team who probably largely still has unbridled love for the game (maybe), but aren't doing what it takes to be the best out of 32 teams and in doing so, win. In return, they get a handsome paycheque.

This is a very unbalanced transactional relationship between Team and Fan.

I'm prepared to accept that this Team may never win a Cup in my lifetime. I'm OK with this. It's not really what it's about for me. The journey, not the destination, right?

It is also perfectly OK to be unhappy with a Team that is unable to hold up their end of the bargain.

Jacques gets it.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Jacques is the best man, what a great interview. He's obviously toning it down a bit but I'd love to hear the uncensored version of his thoughts on DJ. He's saying straight up our roster is too good for these results and we got a bunch of whiny babies who are too used to doing whatever they want on the ice with no repercussions.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

If the alleged pouting is true, it just goes to show how rotten DJ Smith made this locker room.
Wouldn't doubt he talked up these young guys as the apparent superstars they are all the while not being taught the importance of playing a complete game.
Whoever shows any indication of not buying in needs to be shipped out.

I'm just curious what the problem is. I honestly don't know.

Dorion and DJ are gone, and we still suck. Can I blame Tkachuk and Stützle, or are they not the issue either?

It takes time to scrub off years of shitty culture.
That's why teams like Boston remain competitive when on paper a team like Buffalo or Ottawa have the flashier players (higher draft picks).

 

[Bileur]

It wasn't Dorion, because this was a well-constructed team and the hockey decisions he made were right.
It wasn't the coach, because so far, Jacques has fared the same as DJ.
It's not the players, because they're all super talented and Dorion did not draft or acquire bad players.
It's not the culture, because the vibes are strong and the players like each other.
It's not the effort, because these players don't "cheat on effort", not with Brady, the great leader that he is, as captain.

What is it? Ghosts?

Bounces and injuries

 

[Flamingo]

If the alleged pouting is true, it just goes to show how rotten DJ Smith made this locker room.
Wouldn't doubt he talked up these young guys as the apparent superstars they are all the while not being taught the importance of playing a complete game.
Whoever shows any indication of not buying in needs to be shipped out.



It takes time to scrub off years of shitty culture.
That's why teams like Boston remain competitive when on paper a team like Buffalo or Ottawa have the flashier players (higher draft picks).

And how Dorion signing all these young players to 8-year $8 million contracts could lead to complacency. Plus if Brady really did need to be promised the C to sign, he’s starting with the chip on his shoulder in the locker room rather than on the ice.

I worry some players are thinking the team is lucky to have them, rather than the other way around.

 

[Crosside]

This team really needs Roy

the Amazon add seems fix. Now, if you can fix refresh. I m starting to lose my mind

 

[PatrickEaves]

If the alleged pouting is true, it just goes to show how rotten DJ Smith made this locker room.
Wouldn't doubt he talked up these young guys as the apparent superstars they are all the while not being taught the importance of playing a complete game.
Whoever shows any indication of not buying in needs to be shipped out.



It takes time to scrub off years of shitty culture.
That's why teams like Boston remain competitive when on paper a team like Buffalo or Ottawa have the flashier players (higher draft picks).

The amount of damage DJ Smith did to this group of player is sickening.

Yet, there is a contingent of people here that maintain he was the right coach for the rebuild.