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

[Ice-Tray]

Teams wouldn't elect children to be their captains, and yet it's not unusual for a 20 something to be chosen. Theyre men, regardless of how old that makes you feel to admit it lol

You also don't need to be in your 30s to realize maybe you should listen to a guy who's been in your business for 90% of your life. That kind of attitude is fostered when you've grown up so far with little to no discipline or accountability.

The more guidance the better from vets, that goes without saying.

Sure, but I didn’t say children.

It has no bearing on my age, it’s just the simply realities of age and development. I mean we can all see how coaches have changed over the years in terms of treating players, and we all know how ‘hard we all had it growing up’ and how coddled todays youth are today etc… Of course this classic mindset colours how we look at things.

Add in the envy of vast wealth and you have an ingrained disconnect that facilitates a lack of compassion and caring. We don’t care that they are young people, we simply want results on the scoreboard!

However,

Young 20 somethings tend to have very little experience dealing with adversity, are not often in situations where they face vast and loud public criticism, and are very much still in the midst of growing emotionally, and figuring out who they are as individuals. That is just the reality of the age group. They aren’t cripples, they are simply developing. Pretending it isn’t so doesn’t really help. They aren’t kids, but they aren’t grown-ass men either. Expectations should be realistic and mature as the players do.

The context here is that the kid pushed back at shitty fan behaviour in the media. It’s not exactly the type of behaviour that would be frowned upon in most contexts if you think about it. In fact it’s only frowned upon here because ‘we’ were the ones he pushed back at. Consider the irony. No one is advocating for coddling them, it’s more like make allowances for the brashness and the fiery emotions of youth. And if you dish it, be prepared to take it.

The whole thing about not trying, sulking, not buying in stuff is lame. The guys are absolutely listening to Martin and Alfie, they just aren’t executing at a speed and level that many Sens fans want to see. The transition hasn’t been seamless to say the least, and all that fan emotion has to be placed somewhere, and excuses must be made.

Whatever, I’ve never been able to change a single heart or mind in here over the decade plus I’ve been here. Ain’t gonna happen now either! Haha

I think I need a hug.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Roy would be entertaining.

I'd settle for a little entertainement while watching the Sens.

 

[JD1]

Yes and no. Have you seen what's happened to Sanderson? He's gotten to used to playing in this style and it's completely messed him up too. He comes into the NHL as a world beater and within 13 months he's worse than how he started. Same with Chabot.

They're not all of a sudden a bunch of low iq brain-dead morons. Something has changed in their heads. They're too used to playing with freedom and without consequence that they're not playing NHL level hockey.

It's confirmation when goalies, who have played behind hundreds of dmen, under many coaches in different systems all have their career worst numbers here.

Your post was about Chychrun and what you posted about was Chychrun losing his hockey IQ/instinct after 38 games under DJ. I don't think so.

Chabot. Maybe. Maybe he just got used to playing hockey like he's out for ax Sunday drive with the kids.

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

The whole thing about not trying, sulking, not buying in stuff is lame. The guys are absolutely listening to Martin and Alfie, they just aren’t executing at a speed and level that many Sens fans want to see. The transition hasn’t been seamless to say the least, and all that fan emotion has to be placed somewhere, and excuses must be made.

This is the part I'm struggling with — if that were the case, why would JM have said "You got a choice. You either sulk, or you take it, be a man, and want to get better" after a loss? It doesn't seem like the type of comment you make about a team that's listening and buying in.

 

[Cosmix]

Sure, but I didn’t say children.

It has no bearing on my age, it’s just the simply realities of age and development. I mean we can all see how coaches have changed over the years in terms of treating players, and we all know how ‘hard we all had it growing up’ and how coddled todays youth are today etc… Of course this classic mindset colours how we look at things.

Add in the envy of vast wealth and you have an ingrained disconnect that facilitates a lack of compassion and caring. We don’t care that they are young people, we simply want results on the scoreboard!

However,

Young 20 somethings tend to have very little experience dealing with adversity, are not often in situations where they face vast and loud public criticism, and are very much still in the midst of growing emotionally, and figuring out who they are as individuals. That is just the reality of the age group. They aren’t cripples, they are simply developing. Pretending it isn’t so doesn’t really help. They aren’t kids, but they aren’t grown-ass men either. Expectations should be realistic and mature as the players do.

The context here is that the kid pushed back at shitty fan behaviour in the media. It’s not exactly the type of behaviour that would be frowned upon in most contexts if you think about it. In fact it’s only frowned upon here because ‘we’ were the ones he pushed back at. Consider the irony. No one is advocating for coddling them, it’s more like make allowances for the brashness and the fiery emotions of youth. And if you dish it, be prepared to take it.

The whole thing about not trying, sulking, not buying in stuff is lame. The guys are absolutely listening to Martin and Alfie, they just aren’t executing at a speed and level that many Sens fans want to see. The transition hasn’t been seamless to say the least, and all that fan emotion has to be placed somewhere, and excuses must be made.

Whatever, I’ve never been able to change a single heart or mind in here over the decade plus I’ve been here. Ain’t gonna happen now either! Haha

I think I need a hug.

Hugs!

 

[Ice-Tray]

This is the part I'm struggling with — if that were the case, why would JM have said "You got a choice. You either sulk, or you take it, be a man, and want to get better" after a loss? It doesn't seem like the type of comment you make about a team that's listening and buying in.

I think execution is the issue, and JM is calling them out a bit for that. Kinda like a ‘get your heads out of your ass’ type thing.

Honestly, Stu and Brady don’t seem the type to do the sulk and not want to try anymore type of thing. They don’t even look that way on the ice. Yes, losing their close mentor hurt, and there is an adjustment period, but I highly doubt either of them considered checking out. Both are highly competitive and seem like ‘good kids’ to me.

I mean, folks love Jacques now that he’s back, but I’m not really willing to turn on the players because he is lighting a fire in the media. The truth seems more like he is an interim coach, knows he is, and is using the time to be as frank, up front, and tough love-ish as possible while he’s there.

It makes sense and it’s what the team needs right now, but it doesn’t mean the players aren’t buying in to playing D and working hard.

Just my take anyways.

 

[Relapsing]

JM is a transition coach tasked with taking a run and gun team and instilling a defense first attitude

The more I think about this, and hearing guys like York and Bobby and others say there really isn't major differences between team systems re: the fundamentals, the more I believe that DJ was an outlier coach when it comes to systems play and how players are handled wrt accountability and performance standards

To put it another way it makes a ton of sense to me to bring in JM as interim to make this transition so the next coach doesn't have to deal with it at all.

The results at of this season is in no way absolutely it their record at the end. It's about setting up the next coach to have some measure of success in his first year.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Cheryl Pounder will be on every Monday in a spot on the TSN 1200 Morning show.

Mornings Hour 3

NHL analyst Cheryl Pounder on Canada's U18 losing in the semifinals and the Senators finally getting a win and Redblacks GM Shawn Burke on restructuring Jeremiah Masoli's contract and CFL free agency.

www.tsn.ca

starts at 10 minute mark here



Schedule has an open day today for a practice. They need it. So much time early in the schedule .. its too bad the assessment to change took as long as it did.

 

[BankStreetParade]

JM is a transition coach tasked with taking a run and gun team and instilling a defense first attitude

The more I think about this, and hearing guys like York and Bobby and others say there really isn't major differences between team systems re: the fundamentals, the more I believe that DJ was an outlier coach when it comes to systems play and how players are handled wrt accountability and performance standards

To put it another way it makes a ton of sense to me to bring in JM as interim to make this transition so the next coach doesn't have to deal with it at all.

The results at of this season is in no way absolutely it their record at the end. It's about setting up the next coach to have some measure of success in his first year.

Well they're in that position because they waited until the season couldn't be salvaged before making the change. If they had pulled the trigger before the Sweden trip, the interim coach wouldn't have had the luxury of being a teaching coach, expectations would have still been to right the ship and push for the playoffs with a roster that should be much closer to the playoffs than to the bottom of the standings.

So, he has the luxury of preaching accountability because there's no other expectations that are in place. He can bench guys and send messages and call them out in the media because no one has the expectation that winning is the most important benchmark. DJ didn't have that luxury. DJ had to squeeze as much juice out of the lineup as possible because he had an expectation to win. So it's not really fair to compare their effectiveness in that area of their coaching responsibilities because they weren't on equal footing.

 

[BondraTime]

There was no salvaging this season.

This is a bottom team, they are in the bottom.

They hoped to be battling for an 8th spot with 4/5 other teams, that's a bad team, 9th-13th in the conference type, hoping to make a run. They never got there, which isn't unexpected.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Cheryl Pounder will be on every Monday in a spot on the TSN 1200 Morning show.

Mornings Hour 3

NHL analyst Cheryl Pounder on Canada's U18 losing in the semifinals and the Senators finally getting a win and Redblacks GM Shawn Burke on restructuring Jeremiah Masoli's contract and CFL free agency.

www.tsn.ca

starts at 10 minute mark here



Schedule has an open day today for a practice. They need it. So much time early in the schedule .. its too bad the assessment to change took as long as it did.

Yep, should have happened after that Florida game where they had plenty of free days for practise until the next game.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Teams wouldn't elect children to be their captains, and yet it's not unusual for a 20 something to be chosen. Theyre men, regardless of how old that makes you feel to admit it lol

You also don't need to be in your 30s to realize maybe you should listen to a guy who's been in your business for 90% of your life. That kind of attitude is fostered when you've grown up so far with little to no discipline or accountability.

The more guidance the better from vets, that goes without saying.

Don’t think NHL teams (players) Elect their Captians…. In pretty much all cases, the management selects and appoints the Captain and the alternates.

So do you not remember when you were in your early 20s, thinking you knew everything there is to know….. and that you didn’t listen to anyone over 30?



Its like all these young people protesting the current issue in the Middle East…like they’ve figured out what the solution is to end the 70 year old problem….

young people don’t know what they don’t know….the young Senators play on the ice is a glaring example that they don’t know how to be defensively responsible……


perhaps the way Gen Z was raised, where everything was handed to them by helicopter parents, shielded from any negative aspects of their lives…. Is part of the problem

 

[Dionysus]

Don’t think NHL teams (players) Elect their Captians…. In pretty much all cases, the management selects and appoints the Captain and the alternates.

So do you not remember when you were in your early 20s, thinking you knew everything there is to know….. and that you didn’t listen to anyone over 30?



Its like all these young people protesting the current issue in the Middle East…like they’ve figured out what the solution is to end the 70 year old problem….

young people don’t know what they don’t know….the young Senators play on the ice is a glaring example that they don’t know how to be defensively responsible……


perhaps the way Gen Z was raised, where everything was handed to them by helicopter parents, shielded from any negative aspects of their lives…. Is part of the problem

Some entitled complaining in this post. Looks like being easily offended is not exclusive to younger generations.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Sure, but I didn’t say children.

It has no bearing on my age, it’s just the simply realities of age and development. I mean we can all see how coaches have changed over the years in terms of treating players, and we all know how ‘hard we all had it growing up’ and how coddled todays youth are today etc… Of course this classic mindset colours how we look at things.

Add in the envy of vast wealth and you have an ingrained disconnect that facilitates a lack of compassion and caring. We don’t care that they are young people, we simply want results on the scoreboard!

However,

Young 20 somethings tend to have very little experience dealing with adversity, are not often in situations where they face vast and loud public criticism, and are very much still in the midst of growing emotionally, and figuring out who they are as individuals. That is just the reality of the age group. They aren’t cripples, they are simply developing. Pretending it isn’t so doesn’t really help. They aren’t kids, but they aren’t grown-ass men either. Expectations should be realistic and mature as the players do.

The context here is that the kid pushed back at shitty fan behaviour in the media. It’s not exactly the type of behaviour that would be frowned upon in most contexts if you think about it. In fact it’s only frowned upon here because ‘we’ were the ones he pushed back at. Consider the irony. No one is advocating for coddling them, it’s more like make allowances for the brashness and the fiery emotions of youth. And if you dish it, be prepared to take it.

The whole thing about not trying, sulking, not buying in stuff is lame. The guys are absolutely listening to Martin and Alfie, they just aren’t executing at a speed and level that many Sens fans want to see. The transition hasn’t been seamless to say the least, and all that fan emotion has to be placed somewhere, and excuses must be made.

Whatever, I’ve never been able to change a single heart or mind in here over the decade plus I’ve been here. Ain’t gonna happen now either! Haha

I think I need a hug.

I would agree with that if the kids weren't making $6-9 mil a year and being idolized all over the place.

Either they are kids who need guidance and help and should have their pay seriously capped until their mid 20s, or they are professionals that get the big bucks AND the big expectations and responsibility that goes with it.

You can't have your cake and eat it too in this world, no matter how much the kids today expect it.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

There was no salvaging this season.

This is a bottom team, they are in the bottom.

They hoped to be battling for an 8th spot with 4/5 other teams, that's a bad team, 9th-13th in the conference type, hoping to make a run. They never got there, which isn't unexpected.

Yeah the core of the problem was not coaching.

DJ wasn't getting the job done but he wasn't the reason the roster sucks.

 

[Senscore]

Bierk reassigned. Peters in at goalie coach

Senators re-assign Zac Bierk; name Justin Peters as new goaltending coach | Ottawa Senators

OTTAWA – Ottawa Senatorspresident of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staiosannounced today that the team has promoted Justin Peters to the role of Senators’ goaltending coach following the re-assignment of Zac Bierk to a scouting and development position. “Zac is exceptionally...

www.nhl.com

 

[Cosmix]

Cheryl Pounder will be on every Monday in a spot on the TSN 1200 Morning show.

Mornings Hour 3

NHL analyst Cheryl Pounder on Canada's U18 losing in the semifinals and the Senators finally getting a win and Redblacks GM Shawn Burke on restructuring Jeremiah Masoli's contract and CFL free agency.

www.tsn.ca

starts at 10 minute mark here



Schedule has an open day today for a practice. They need it. So much time early in the schedule .. its too bad the assessment to change took as long as it did.

I hope the "training session" included teaching the forwards how to cover a man in the D zone as there has been a lot of "watching" going on with little defensive anticipation, reading and reacting going on.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Yeah the core of the problem was not coaching.

DJ wasn't getting the job done but he wasn't the reason the roster sucks.

And the roster doesn't even suck this much.

It's the mentality and character of the roster and it's leaders and best players that sucks.

 

[Cosmix]

Yeah the core of the problem was not coaching.

DJ wasn't getting the job done but he wasn't the reason the roster sucks.

The problem was three-headed: Melnyk - Dorion - Smith.

Melnyk cut the budget, Dorion sold off the best players and made poor trades, and Smith was a poor coach.

The first problem (Melnyk) has been addressed and the budget is at the cap now. The second problem (Dorion) has been fired and we have a new POHO/GM (Staios) who has yet to demonstrate his abilities. The third problem (Smith) has also been fired but only replaced with an interim coaching staff. Much more work remains to be done to fix this team. It will take some time to do (probably several seasons).

 

[PlayOn]

And the roster doesn't even suck this much.

It's the mentality and character of the roster and its leaders and best players that sucks.

It’s the support the roster was given that sucks.

Other NHL teams operate with what, like 5x more staff than we had? You can have a great group of talent but when other teams are investing heavily in performance improvement, analytics, player development and whatever else you will be a step behind, because they also have great talent + the means to support that talent.

The culture at the top sucked. There was no way it wasn’t going to trickle down to every aspect of the org, including the players. Maybe there’s some immaturity there but poor character seems harsh. I think we have a good group, but even the best groups will fail with no accountability.

Just like the players leadership group sets the tone for the rest of the team, someone has to set the tone for them.

 

[Relapsing]

Well they're in that position because they waited until the season couldn't be salvaged before making the change. If they had pulled the trigger before the Sweden trip, the interim coach wouldn't have had the luxury of being a teaching coach, expectations would have still been to right the ship and push for the playoffs with a roster that should be much closer to the playoffs than to the bottom of the standings.

So, he has the luxury of preaching accountability because there's no other expectations that are in place. He can bench guys and send messages and call them out in the media because no one has the expectation that winning is the most important benchmark. DJ didn't have that luxury. DJ had to squeeze as much juice out of the lineup as possible because he had an expectation to win. So it's not really fair to compare their effectiveness in that area of their coaching responsibilities because they weren't on equal footing.

Changing the coach earlier wouldn't have fixed the structural issues that exist within this roster.

Yeah, maybe the coach could have turned it around, but I think at this point in time the best coaches in the world would still have a difficult time getting this team to out perform where DJ had them.

And I don't think the difference between DJ and JMs results to date are indicative that JM is a worse coach. Rather, I think DJs style of play had capacity for us to outscored problems. Proper structural play should result in a better and more sustainable winning percentage.

In a nut shell, we are aiming to stop playing like the leaves and play more re like the avs, lightning etc...

 

[Do Make Say Think]

And the roster doesn't even suck this much.

It's the mentality and character of the roster and it's leaders and best players that sucks.

Yeah yeah

Karlsson would fix everything and Brady is trash

We know

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Yeah yeah

Karlsson would fix everything and Brady is trash

We know

Stutzle
Brady
Batherson
Norris
Chabot
Sanderson
Greig
Giroux
Tarasenko
Zub
Joseph
etc

not because of a lack of talent on the roster these guys are where they are now.

 

[Loach]

Changing the coach earlier wouldn't have fixed the structural issues that exist within this roster.

Yeah, maybe the coach could have turned it around, but I think at this point in time the best coaches in the world would still have a difficult time getting this team to out perform where DJ had them.

And I don't think the difference between DJ and JMs results to date are indicative that JM is a worse coach. Rather, I think DJs style of play had capacity for us to outscored problems. Proper structural play should result in a better and more sustainable winning percentage.

In a nut shell, we are aiming to stop playing like the leaves and play more re like the avs, lightning etc...

Mendes article says the same.

 

[Beech]

The ice rink at Spratt park will most likely be open today or tomorrow..

I have spent the last 10 years playing hockey there. One old man and 1-2 dozen 10-20 year olds.. and so I have seen a whole lot of Gen Z players.. They get to the rink with the their team jackets.. Many play the league hockey in The Gloucester region..

Here is what you see,,, criss crossing, fancy footwork, and everyone wants to do the Michigan.

No sense of structured hockey.

As a boy, and spending way too much time at Parc Christoph Coulomb in the east end of Montreal.. The roughly 50 of us on the ice, would emulate the Habs and go up and down the ice almost as if we where the old fashion hockey table game and can only move in fixed patterns.

My 19 year old Nephew was playing hockey for his school. They came up 5 years ago and played the Bell Canada Cup.. So for 2 days, I watched at the Sens-Plex..A, AA and AAA teams..... Shinny hockey...

And so, if you are 30 and younger (probably 28 or younger... Hello Gen Z), all you understand is " The Michigan.. shinny hockey.. and skating all over the ice..

It is not an accident the Vegas, being one of the older teams, won the cup last year.. Before them, Colorado.. check out their age. Before them, Tampa. Check out their age.

Once the league is dominated by Gen Z.. And the Millennials are flushed out... There will be balance... All teams will play shinny hockey.