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

[Tnuoc Alucard]

If our guy is available, absolutely hire him. Tocchet was available, and they grabbed him.

Everything we’re seeing is telling us the guy/s we want isn’t available.

If we end up hiring Roy or some other guy available now, yeah, we can call that short sighted, but something tells me, maybe it’s common sense, that the fact we haven’t hired one of the guys available means the guy/s we want won’t be available until after the season.

Unless you’re of the impression they should just hire a long term coach for the sake of hiring a long term coach , regardless of who they have their crosshairs on.

How does anyone know who will become available in the off-season?

If “our guy” is currently under contract with another team, what makes you think he’ll not be resigned before July?
If “our guy” is fired after their team is eliminated….how do we actually know he’ll be fired, and want to come to Ottawa?

There are plenty of qualified Head Coach candidates available right now, make a decision and bring him in asap…”our guy” may or may not be available unless our rookie GM can 100% read the future…..

The players know that J Martin is a substitute teacher, and know whomever is taking over as Head coach, is going to want them to play his system, not J Martins’ system…. So are they really taking whatever J Matrin is serving up seriously, because whatever it is, it’s NOT working and they know it…. The players know the real head coach is coming, and they can’t help just playing out the rest of the season, knowing they’ll have to start, with a new system, from scratch, next training camp IF out rookie GM waits until the off-season in the hopes “our guy” is fired, or does not resign with his current team.

 

[RickyLafleur]

Pretty clear the team needed to switch to Jacques earlier this year

This team is just as bad under him as it was DJ.

 

[Micklebot]

If our guy is available, absolutely hire him. Tocchet was available, and they grabbed him.

Everything we’re seeing is telling us the guy/s we want isn’t available.

If we end up hiring Roy or some other guy available now, yeah, we can call that short sighted, but something tells me, maybe it’s common sense, that the fact we haven’t hired one of the guys available means the guy/s we want won’t be available until after the season.

Unless you’re of the impression they should just hire a long term coach for the sake of hiring a long term coach , regardless of who they have their crosshairs on.

I imagine they might want to interview more than one guy too, maybe want to see if someone unexpectedly becomes available both deBoer and Cassidy did in 2022.

Maybe Cooper, Sullivan or Ruff gets let go, any of them would be strong candidates to add to Gallant and Berube.

Alternatively, maybe guys like Gallant, Roy and Berube aren't interested in coming in mid season with the mess we have and prefer to get a clean slate in the offseason

Idk, I'm not as down on the roster as you are, it has flaws, but there's a lot of good too. Swap out one of Chychrun or Chabot for a vet defensive minded RHD in the mold of Methot, bring Pinto back into the fold and replace Kubalik with a vet penalty killing 3rd line or middle six guy that plays a heavy game and I think we're suddenly looking pretty well balanced. Maybe bring in Kleven to replace Brannstrom if he's ready.

Coaching can fix things like addressing gap control when defending the entry, ensuring you have back pressure through the NZ, and situational puck management, these things will help make life easier for the goalies and hopefully they'll get their confidence back.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

This team is just as bad under him as it was DJ.

No he is NOT “just as bad” he is worse than DJS was

Our rookie GM thought J Martin, hired in the first week of December had seen enough of the Senators system to be able to come in, as an interim coach, and improve the teams play on the ice, get them to play more defensively….but they’re not responding to whatever J Martin is trying to get them to do….besides they know the playoffs are not happening, and they will have a new head coach next training camp, who will not be expected to use J Martin’s’ system and that they will all have to go back to the starting line, and learn a the new head coach’s’ system…. So there is no motivation to adhere to whatever the substitute teacher is asking of them…. sure, they will go through the motions, and it shows on the ice, we all can see that they’re not responding to J Martin…… they’re mentally waiting for whomever will be the New Head Coach….. so the rookie GM needs to make the pick of the litter of current available head coaches and bring him in now….give him the rest of the season to see what he has to work with, so he can use the off-season to formalise the best system he can and be able to hit the ground running in training camp, instead of coming in cold and only see then what he has to work with.

 

[Micklebot]

How does anyone know who will become available in the off-season?

Typically teams are more willing to release contracted assistants and AHL coaches in the offseason than mid season. If we are targeting one someone for a promotion, then it's more likely to be an offseason move.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Typically teams are more willing to release contracted assistants and AHL coaches in the offseason than mid season. If we are targeting one someone for a promotion, then it's more likely to be an offseason move.

Vancouver did not roll the dice to see who became available in the off-season, they fired their head coach also one year ago, and brought in the best available head coach they thought could turn the Canucks around.

Do you really think they would be sitting 2nd overall (today) if they appointed a substitute teacher for the remanded of last season, and started the process all over again by hiring a head coach in the offseason?

Bringing in someone like Berube today, allows him to learn pretty much everything about the current roster, on and off the ice…to see who is buying into the new system, and who is not…..then he can consult with our rookie GM and the rest of the management and provide his insider feedback on the roster after having 1/2 a season working with them under his belt.

I don see a downside to this approach…. And we can all see that J Martin is not working…. So what is there to lose doing what the Canucks did, when they got rid of their head coach a year ago?

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Maybe the Rookie GM is waiting for the leafs for make a coaching change, so they can bring in another coach from the leafs, seeing how that worked out so well the last time?

Why is our rookie GM so afraid of making a bold move, and making an offer to Berube, as other teams are looking at him, why is our rookie GM looking to pick up the scraps other teams disgard?

Craig Berube: The Ideal Coaching Solution for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Discover how Craig Berube's proven NHL coaching record makes him a prime candidate to rejuvenate the Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup aspirations.

www.nhltraderumor.com

Quick Shifts: Craig Berube says it would be an 'honour' to coach Maple Leafs

This week, Luke Fox covers Craig Berube's love for coaching in Ontario, Auston Matthews' take on the new skills contest, why the NHL should steal the PWHL's ideas, how Nick Robertson handles healthy scratches and eight more NHL goodies in this edition of Quick Shifts.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[BondraTime]

Funny after a decade of mismanagement and awful results, 3 months is all it took for the Count to reverse course and become hypercritical of ownership and management

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Funny after a decade of mismanagement and awful results, 3 months is all it took for the Count to reverse course and become hypercritical of ownership and management

The lover has become the hater. Ironic.

 

[Tuna99]

No he is NOT “just as bad” he is worse than DJS was

Our rookie GM thought J Martin, hired in the first week of December had seen enough of the Senators system to be able to come in, as an interim coach, and improve the teams play on the ice, get them to play more defensively….but they’re not responding to whatever J Martin is trying to get them to do….besides they know the playoffs are not happening, and they will have a new head coach next training camp, who will not be expected to use J Martin’s’ system and that they will all have to go back to the starting line, and learn a the new head coach’s’ system…. So there is no motivation to adhere to whatever the substitute teacher is asking of them…. sure, they will go through the motions, and it shows on the ice, we all can see that they’re not responding to J Martin…… they’re mentally waiting for whomever will be the New Head Coach….. so the rookie GM needs to make the pick of the litter of current available head coaches and bring him in now….give him the rest of the season to see what he has to work with, so he can use the off-season to formalise the best system he can and be able to hit the ground running in training camp, instead of coming in cold and only see then what he has to work with.

If any Sens players don’t want to learn winning NHL hockey over the next 43 games because they think they are getting a new coach- these are the guys you trade

If the players are waiting for perfect, send them to Arizona

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

Maybe the Rookie GM is waiting for the leafs for make a coaching change, so they can bring in another coach from the leafs, seeing how that worked out so well the last time?

Why is our rookie GM so afraid of making a bold move, and making an offer to Berube, as other teams are looking at him, why is our rookie GM looking to pick up the scraps other teams disgard?

Craig Berube: The Ideal Coaching Solution for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Discover how Craig Berube's proven NHL coaching record makes him a prime candidate to rejuvenate the Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup aspirations.

www.nhltraderumor.com

Quick Shifts: Craig Berube says it would be an 'honour' to coach Maple Leafs

This week, Luke Fox covers Craig Berube's love for coaching in Ontario, Auston Matthews' take on the new skills contest, why the NHL should steal the PWHL's ideas, how Nick Robertson handles healthy scratches and eight more NHL goodies in this edition of Quick Shifts.

www.sportsnet.ca

You keep using rookie GM to describe Staios, but I'd still take him over a veteran GM like Dorion any day. Not exactly the putdown you seem to intend it to be.

RE: coaching, it's patently obvious at this point that the team had some bad habits creep in. Bringing in JM to tear the team down and build it back up is going to be fraught with growing pains and some regression. But by the time we bring in a new coach in the offseason, hopefully the worst of that will be done.

Jacques as an interim guy tasked with bringing the team back to fundamentals makes a hell of a lot more sense than anyone in the room thinking he's the long-term answer. Personally, I think it's smart to do this NOW rather than saddle our new coach — who will need fanbase buy-in, and quick — with the unenviable task of trying to build good habits while also being competitive.

 

[Beech]

No he is NOT “just as bad” he is worse than DJS was

Our rookie GM thought J Martin, hired in the first week of December had seen enough of the Senators system to be able to come in, as an interim coach, and improve the teams play on the ice, get them to play more defensively….but they’re not responding to whatever J Martin is trying to get them to do….besides they know the playoffs are not happening, and they will have a new head coach next training camp, who will not be expected to use J Martin’s’ system and that they will all have to go back to the starting line, and learn a the new head coach’s’ system…. So there is no motivation to adhere to whatever the substitute teacher is asking of them…. sure, they will go through the motions, and it shows on the ice, we all can see that they’re not responding to J Martin…… they’re mentally waiting for whomever will be the New Head Coach….. so the rookie GM needs to make the pick of the litter of current available head coaches and bring him in now….give him the rest of the season to see what he has to work with, so he can use the off-season to formalize the best system he can and be able to hit the ground running in training camp, instead of coming in cold and only see then what he has to work with.

over the last 2 weeks, I have moved to your view point.

Get a guy in now.. give him games 41-82.

I think you are right, we have a substitute teacher situation.. that never works out.

 

[Beech]

You keep using rookie GM to describe Staios, but I'd still take him over a veteran GM like Dorion any day. Not exactly the putdown you seem to intend it to be.

RE: coaching, it's patently obvious at this point that the team had some bad habits creep in. Bringing in JM to tear the team down and build it back up is going to be fraught with growing pains and some regression. But by the time we bring in a new coach in the offseason, hopefully the worst of that will be done.

Jacques as an interim guy tasked with bringing the team back to fundamentals makes a hell of a lot more sense than anyone in the room thinking he's the long-term answer. Personally, I think it's smart to do this NOW rather than saddle our new coach — who will need fanbase buy-in, and quick — with the unenviable task of trying to build good habits while also being competitive.

Tnuoc may be right.. We have a substitute teacher situation.. That never works out.

If they hire in the summer, that coach will only see and interact with the team in Mid September. He will have 5 weeks to evaluate and implement. All the while, he may have injured players, contract status keeping players away. Deals that may move some players that he may have other wise liked.

My view is becoming, get a new, permanent teacher in there ASAP.. Get him to evaluate, familiarize himself, formulate a game plan, etc. in the 40 games left.

 

[slamigo]

I think that Jacques Martin has exposed just how many bad habits DJ let them get away with. It's obvious to me that some players are sulking and others are building their game.
I also think Staios is paying close attention to which players are willing to work and which players are complacent. It doesn't matter who the coach is at this point, the team has not been constructed well. Dorion left a big mess. A comfy little country club where half the players are just there cashing a pay cheque and don't seem to care too much about playing the right way.

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

Tnuoc may be right.. We have a substitute teacher situation.. That never works out.

If they hire in the summer, that coach will only see and interact with the team in Mid September. He will have 5 weeks to evaluate and implement. All the while, he may have injured players, contract status keeping players away. Deals that may move some players that he may have other wise liked.

My view is becoming, get a new, permanent teacher in there ASAP.. Get him to evaluate, familiarize himself, formulate a game plan, etc. in the 40 games left.

I'd buy this if we were dealing with kids, but we're not. These are adults who are paid very well to do their jobs. If they feel complacent enough to tune out a seasoned veteran like Jacques Martin, that says a lot about how much rot is in the core.

Hiring at the start of the off-season lets the coach touch base with players early, start building that rapport, and I'd also assume any incoming coach would be given the lay of the land and a brief overview of where the team is heading. I really don't think this is as much of a concern as it's being made out to be... off-season hires happen literally every single year.

 

[bert]

How does anyone know who will become available in the off-season?

If “our guy” is currently under contract with another team, what makes you think he’ll not be resigned before July?
If “our guy” is fired after their team is eliminated….how do we actually know he’ll be fired, and want to come to Ottawa?

There are plenty of qualified Head Coach candidates available right now, make a decision and bring him in asap…”our guy” may or may not be available unless our rookie GM can 100% read the future…..

The players know that J Martin is a substitute teacher, and know whomever is taking over as Head coach, is going to want them to play his system, not J Martins’ system…. So are they really taking whatever J Matrin is serving up seriously, because whatever it is, it’s NOT working and they know it…. The players know the real head coach is coming, and they can’t help just playing out the rest of the season, knowing they’ll have to start, with a new system, from scratch, next training camp IF out rookie GM waits until the off-season in the hopes “our guy” is fired, or does not resign with his current team.

Do you truly not understand the concept of management group wanting to evaluate and understand the type of team they have prior to choosing a coach? Is it that hard of a concept for you to wrap your head around? Certain teams are better fits with certain coach's.

You also don't seem to understand there are way more options in the offseason. Another very basic principle.

They took over the team in pre season. Inherited a mess.

The argument that you guys are making about an interim coach being a reason for players not buying in is also hilariously dumb.

Management is making personel decisions... They are the ones making the call. The players were absolutely informed they're being evaluated. The coaching staff will be in management and be reporting directly to management. If players aren't buying in when they are told this they are part of the problem. And won't be part of the solution. Martin is giving the fans and players a clear and concise message of what's expected. If you can't correlate what he is saying to what's happening on the ice you're either not watching or don't understand what you're looking at. It's not complicated. Some players are doing it and some aren't

 

[HF Reader]

How much longer will it take, for our Rookie GM, Rookie Owner and anyone else in management to realize that J Martin is not the answer, the team is playing worse in all aspects of the game, than they were under DJS.

No, I don’t think they should have kept DJS, or should they bring him back…. He is gone and forgotten

J Martin in NOT the long term solution, and our rookie GM need to turn this ship around asap.

Bring in the new head coach NOW, do not wait until the offseason…..

Deleted my response

 

[Beech]

I'd buy this if we were dealing with kids, but we're not. These are adults who are paid very well to do their jobs. If they feel complacent enough to tune out a seasoned veteran like Jacques Martin, that says a lot about how much rot is in the core.

Hiring at the start of the off-season lets the coach touch base with players early, start building that rapport, and I'd also assume any incoming coach would be given the lay of the land and a brief overview of where the team is heading. I really don't think this is as much of a concern as it's being made out to be... off-season hires happen literally every single year.

John Cooper, promoted March 2013.. has never looked back
Joel Quenneville, October 16, 2008... 5 straight WCF..cup in second year.
D Dutter, LA, Dec 2011... huge success the next 3-5 years
Mike Sullivan, promoted to head coach Dec 2015... huge success

these are example of hugely successful coaches that were hired in mid season.. or promoted.. These all took over "rebuilding teams"... (Sullivan a different matter).

Ottawa may be in a similar boat.

Even Jacques Martin's first stint here was a mid season hire.

I tried looking for, off season hires that resulted in a cup.. few.. Cassidy in Vegas.. But he took over a good team.. others all took over good teams that were looking to shake things up..

I see very few; rebuilding and struggling teams, that did not benefit from a mid season coaching change.. and I see very few teams that rebuild/struggle/hired in the off season and launched success.

Sadly the trend tends to show.. hire in mid season.

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

John Cooper, promoted March 2013.. has never looked back
Joel Quenneville, October 16, 2008... 5 straight WCF..cup in second year.
D Dutter, LA, Dec 2011... huge success the next 3-5 years
Mike Sullivan, promoted to head coach Dec 2015... huge success

these are example of hugely successful coaches that were hired in mid season.. or promoted.. These all took over "rebuilding teams"... (Sullivan a different matter).

Ottawa may be in a similar boat.

Even Jacques Martin's first stint here was a mid season hire.

I tried looking for, off season hires that resulted in a cup.. few.. Cassidy in Vegas.. But he took over a good team.. others all took over good teams that were looking to shake things up..

I see very few; rebuilding and struggling teams, that did not benefit from a mid season coaching change.. and I see very few teams that rebuild/struggle/hired in the off season and launched success.

Sadly the trend tends to show.. hire in mid season.

This is wonderful research that completely misses the nuance of the situation here. All those guys were brought into rebuilding teams, yes, but how many had glaring deficiencies in their ability and willingness to compete? I'd wager few.

And if we're going by the logic of mid-season hire = good, then how do we reconcile that with the fact that Martin's second stint here is also a mid-season hire? The timing alone doesn't make a hire good or bad, it takes the right components and a willingness to put in the work, two parts that we're still evaluating to determine what can be salvaged from this wreckage.

 

[HF Reader]

How much longer will it take, for our Rookie GM, Rookie Owner and anyone else in management to realize that J Martin is not the answer, the team is playing worse in all aspects of the game, than they were under DJS.

No, I don’t think they should have kept DJS, or should they bring him back…. He is gone and forgotten

J Martin in NOT the long term solution, and our rookie GM need to turn this ship around asap.

Bring in the new head coach NOW, do not wait until the offseason…..

When you say that JM is "not the answer", what do you think is the question?

I assume Staios hired JM as an experienced (and respected?) hockey person to evaluate the state of the team on the ice, evaluate players and if needed instill changes in how the team plays.

I doubt JM was brought in to win games in the short run, if that is what you mean by "turn the ship around asap". Maybe turning this ship around is a lot more difficult than you believe.

I agree it would be encouraging to see more wins, or at least more evidence of improvement in areas that are weak.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

This is clearly about evaluation, breaking bad habits, introducing structure and attention to details. Change is hard.

Imo we have seen some change and some commitment to change . I think we have a personnel issue on the back end. I think we have a depth issue up front and few players that have been taught to play the right way.

Firewagon , run and gun hockey may have suited our top 6 very well but that brand of hockey does not bring sustainable success even though it may very well have suited the personnel on this team better. There is a shift in how to play philosophy .. imo any quality NHL coach is going to demand the same types of things JM and Alfie are trying to instill. This is a good and necessary transition that will have longer term benefits. The team will get some personnel changes that are consistent with this change. I am on board for the changes and the process to improve the mindsets of how we play. Clearly some fans want a quick turn around or do not appreciate the changes that are needed but we should all know this isn't a quick fix.

 

[Dionysus]

This is clearly about evaluation, breaking bad habits, introducing structure and attention to details. Change is hard.

Imo we have seen some change and some commitment to change . I think we have a personnel issue on the back end. I think we have a depth issue up front and few players that have been taught to play the right way.

Firewagon , run and gun hockey may have suited our top 6 very well but that brand of hockey does not bring sustainable success even though it may very well have suited the personnel on this team better. There is a shift in how to play philosophy .. imo any quality NHL coach is going to demand the same types of things JM and Alfie are trying to instill. This is a good and necessary transition that will have longer term benefits. The team will get some personnel changes that are consistent with this change. I am on board for the changes and the process to improve the mindsets of how we play. Clearly some fans want a quick turn around or do not appreciate the changes that are needed but we should all know this isn't a quick fix.

Very much agree on the changes needed to the personnal to match a detailed, consistent team.

I think shipping out Kubalik and Tank by the deadline is a start. One of Chabot and Chychrun, possibly Brannstrom/Hamonic.

Bring in a defensibly responsible wingers by trade if a deal is there. If not add one in free agency along with a right shot D.

I think adding two hardworking, responsible wingers that can play in the middle 6 would really go a long way. Along with Grieg continuing to improve and Pinto coming back, it would really change the makeup of the forward group.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Tnuoc may be right.. We have a substitute teacher situation.. That never works out.

If they hire in the summer, that coach will only see and interact with the team in Mid September. He will have 5 weeks to evaluate and implement. All the while, he may have injured players, contract status keeping players away. Deals that may move some players that he may have other wise liked.

My view is becoming, get a new, permanent teacher in there ASAP.. Get him to evaluate, familiarize himself, formulate a game plan, etc. in the 40 games left.

Naw, we have a two time cup winner and legendary Sens coach in to guide the team. He has stepped down from on high to teach sound fundamental team play for the interim. None of the kids are ignoring him.

Then you have Alfie, who not only is the most important Ottawa athlete of all time, but is a HHOF player who is also on the bench teach the players how to engage in a 200 foot game.

Neither guy fits the bill of “Substitute teacher” in the way you mean it. In truth, a class that had a sub come in who were legendary cup winners and HHOFers the class would go nuts and hang off every single world they dropped. It would be the best class they ever had.

No, the players are buying in and making changes and working it, the success is staring right at them, those are the guys you absolutely listen to.

It’s a solid interim move I think, because even in a losing season I think JM and Alfie are two guys who will continue to be listened to. They also don’t have their jobs on the line, so the power dynamic in the room is now all on the players, and they know player moves are coming.

 

[Relapsing]

At this point I'm just curious: to those who think having JM here now is a problem vis a vis giving the next coach more time with thr players this season.... What can you say is the difference between what JM is teaching and preaching and what thr next coach would?

JM is realigning NHL fundamentals with this team. Do you think those are going to be different under the next coach?

 

[IpsoPostFacto]

If there are guys on the team that aren't playing the way JM wants because "he is just the supply teacher" and figuring that they can just wait him out until a permanent hire is made, then I believe they are in for a shock and may not be around for a new head coach.