Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[KevinRedkey]

He needs to go ASAP IMO

Agree or disagree?

Click to read more...

 

[Gil Gunderson]

You're not making the playoffs when you're this god-awful on the road. Losing two players shouldn't completely derail you like this.

 

[GCK]

Disagree. I think we make the change in the offseason to take the team to a new level. I expect this team will sort it out and be there later in the season but fall short.

New ownership
New POHO
New GM
New coaching staff

 

[NyQuil]

We said this last year.

Outshot 91 to 41 in the two Florida games is pretty telling.

Also Zub is our MVP.

 

[Sens Vader]

100%

 

[L'Aveuglette]

Yes, but he should have been fired this summer. His coaching is messing with the players' heads.

 

[BUCKLE UP]

Barry Trotz pls

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Nah, no coach can overcome how bad our D is.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

 

[Senscore]

I thought I was being modest with a prediction of 5-4-1 after 10.

What a joke.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Nah, no coach can overcome how bad our D is.

No D can overcome how bad our coach is.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Disagree. I think we make the change in the offseason to take the team to a new level. I expect this team will sort it out and be there later in the season but fall short.

New ownership
New POHO
New GM
New coaching staff

Why should we wait for the offseason for a coaching change? We already know what DJ is.

 

[2CHAINZ]

Look a lot of players are playing bad.

Chabot
Stu
Giroux
Debrincat

All need to be better especially Chabot. That said it's clear that DJ is just not capable of getting the best out of his players or implementing a system that plays to his players strengths. Djs system is the same it was when we had 4 lines of garbage.

DJ bro the experiment has come to an end imo. Its time to bring in a coach who can get these players playing at the level they should be both offensively and defensively.

 

[Dan Patrick]

Would love an experienced coach for once, or at least someone with some history of winning.

 

[SAK11]

Offensive talent is there. Defensive structure is not. Smith's system is a joke, it allows the opposition to cycle on us forever and take shots at will.

Not to downplay some of the lapses by the players, but a competent head coach could do a lot for this team.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

We said this last year.

Last year he at least had the benefit of the doubt with our roster as a whole being bad. Now with major improvements the team still looks like crap for large chunks of the game.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

It's easy for the players to look bad defensively when they're totally lost as to how to play on the ice and seem to have precious little direction overall. Every player appears to be trying too hard to overcome the complete lack of systems.

 

[LevelingSolo]

He needs to go, but the only acceptable replacement has to be an established NHL coach

Julien, AV, Trotz, any of those three

 

[SPF6ty9]

He seemed to do a solid job running that pickle ball tournament. Further evaluation is required.

 

[Union2017]

Julien would make us look like a good team. Even Jacques M would fix a lot of our issues. DJ is not an NHL coach. He is as bad as some PWHL coaches I’ve seen

 

[SensontheRush]

Were missing Norris and Zub, essentially our #1C and our most reliable D. Tough losses.

There is something to be said about the speed and physicality that DJ brings out in this team. Other GMs definitely wished their players played that way. I also feel some of the offensive mechanisms employed by our team are actually quite cunning.

That being said, DJ wants every player to play the exact same way, and that just doesn't make sense. That's just too easy and simple, you have to be able to identify and use the unique skills that your players bring to the table. DbC shouldn't be dumping and chasing the puck, body-checking the defense into submission, even if he is surprisingly good at it. This is a player you want to control the puck into the zone, he shouldn't be playing like a Kastelic or a Kelly.

 

[Neil Patrick Harris]

Would love an experienced coach for once, or at least someone with some history of winning.

Careful now! Last time we had one of those we *checks notes* made it to the conference finals.

I'm sympathetic to DJ; I don't think he's a completely godawful coach, but I fear there's too much complacency in that locker room right now. We've too much talent to keep making the same sloppy mistakes. Can DJ, and bring in somebody who can knock some discipline into this roster.

 

[DaveMatthew]

With the news today, I’m pretty certain of two things:

- DJ Smith will not get this team into the playoffs
- If this team is not in the playoffs, new ownership will not bring back Pierre Dorion or DJ Smith next year

It’ll take a few more months, but I think based on the above, next season is when we take the step.

1 more year Sens fans!

 

[Dan Patrick]

Im curious if potential new ownership will throw a wrench into this.

This might fall to if new ownership feels like cleaning house and hiring a new GM (they could also 'promote' PD to a hockey ops role) and give the new guy his choice of coach.

We might have to deal with dj for the rest of the season if thats the case.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Nah, no coach can overcome how bad our D is.

No but they can reach them not to all collapse and lose their man when shit hits the fan.

I'm not an expert at hockey. I dont know who is always supposed to cover who. But its clear that this team doesn't know either. So either DJs defensive system is hot garbage, or he doesn't have a clue how to teach it to his players.

Either way... I think its time.