Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[swiftwin]

Honestly, at this point give me a re-tread (who has shown he can be successful) over another first time HC who will never sniff the gig again.

How's that working out for Florida? Last season they won the presidents trophy with a 1st time coach. This season they hire one of the biggest re-treads (Paul Maurice), and now they're neck-and-neck with us in the standings. Oh yeah, and Maurice's old team, the Jets, is now 1st in the western conference after missing the playoffs last year.

I'm ok with giving a re-tread a 2nd or 3rd chance. I'm not ok with hiring a coach who's been fired 3 times in the last 7 years, and can't even make it a full season with his most recent team.

 

[Micklebot]

Interesting listening to Bobby and York talk about the team in the latest, really critical of the forcheck the other night, talking about guys being on the wrong side of the puck, alarming how often the third man got caught deep, said the reload was terrible.

I didn't catch the game but given the score it certainly makes sense.

 

[JD1]

The lack of depth down the middle has been an issue, no doubt, but you don't think a team 1 game below .500 could possibly have pulled out a 3-5 game swing to put them in the hunt? Seems kind of irrational especially given how close a lot of the games were. That would seem like arguing they have maxed out their ceiling with this group and I simply wouldn't agree with that. I'm sure DJ would admit there's been a lot of lost opportunity along the way as well.

Sure there's been a lot of lost opportunity. Sure, they could have pulled out some additional wins here or there. Ya I get that. It's certainly possible and sounds easy right? Except it kinda isn't. There's a fair bit of parity in this league and night in night out things have to go well to win. With our experience in the top 2 C positions, it's really an uphill battle in terms of making the playoffs, and likely a battle we had very little chance to win the moment they said Norris long term

 

[Cosmix]

It's a long shot, but with a new ownership group, Alfie involved, and almost certain vacancies at GM and behind the bench, this summer will be our best opportunity at getting a real, elite coach: Trotz. Without all of the above, its a pipe-dream... but if our new group is willing to spend money on staff, I think it's possible.

Bring up Mann as an assistant, hire a hands-on president, keep Bowness and other Mann as AGMs, and have Trotz slowly transition to full-time GM with Mann taking over behind the bench.

I doubt they would bring up Mann. It would probably be Capuano. But agreed with your general point.

If they hire Trotz as GM, let him hire his own coaching staff and scouting staff. Do not impose present day staff on him.

Interesting listening to Bobby and York talk about the team in the latest, really critical of the forcheck the other night, talking about guys being on the wrong side of the puck, alarming how often the third man got caught deep, said the reload was terrible.

I didn't catch the game but given the score it certainly makes sense.

"reload"? Was that supposed to be "rebuild"?

 

[Golden_Jet]

If they hire Trotz as GM, let him hire his own coaching staff and scouting staff. Do not impose present day staff on him.


"reload"? Was that supposed to be "rebuild"?

No meant reload, as in regroup after a change of possession.

 

[Cosmix]

Please dear god no. Why would we want a coach that's already been fired 3 times in the last 7 years??? Look at how f***ed up an toxic the Nucks locker room is right now. We don't need to undo the good locker room vibes we already have.

I want Trotz. Otherwise, may as well stick with DJ.

Trotz, Torts, Sutter. All good in my book.

I particularly like the way Torts and Sutter focus on the play of each individual player and provide feedback on what he is doing right and wrong and how they want him to play in various situations. Having a very good defensive system is great but I believe a VG coach looks at the play of his individual players and "coaches" them to make the smarter plays in all situations. The fact that Batherson continues to increase his negative +/- figure and make stupid plays in his D zone is astounding. He should have been benched a few times already and sat for a game or two to drive the teaching points home.

 

[bicboi64]

Huge no to Boudreau for me. He's an upgrade over DJ, but would be fire in a season and a half because he can't coach defense at all. This is the guy that let Semin, Ovie, and Bckstrom do whatever they wanted as long as they scored. We'd outscore out defensive woes, but I hope the next hire is someone that is defense first. We have enough offensive guys that a defensive coach should be able to utilize effectively

 

[Micklebot]

How's that working out for Florida? Last season they won the presidents trophy with a 1st time coach. This season they hire one of the biggest re-treads (Paul Maurice), and now they're neck-and-neck with us in the standings. Oh yeah, and Maurice's old team, the Jets, is now 1st in the western conference after missing the playoffs last year.

I'm ok with giving a re-tread a 2nd or 3rd chance. I'm not ok with hiring a coach who's been fired 3 times in the last 7 years, and can't even make it a full season with his most recent team.

If that were the only change in Florida you might have a point, but they swapped out Weegar and Huberdeau to get younger with Tkachuck. They also lost Duclair to injury.q

"reload"? Was that supposed to be "rebuild"?

No, reload, its the process of the forchecking forward getting back above the puck so that other forcheckers can pressure the puck while the reloading player can provide cover. You don't want all three forwards caught on the wrong side of the puck, somebody's got to reload into a more defensive position when the third forward activates.

 

[Micklebot]

ENG don't count into the even strength goals against category, so they wouldn't factor in to his -26 EV GD.

My bad, I misread and thought you were posting +/-,

 

[BankStreetParade]

Empty net goals do count for plus minus.

EVEN STRENGTH goal differential

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

If they hire Trotz as GM, let him hire his own coaching staff and scouting staff. Do not impose present day staff on him.

Agreed entirely. I like the sound of what I imagined, and there are members of our organization that I suspect Trotz would view as good staff to keep on, but of course it would be his staff to choose.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Agreed entirely. I like the sound of what I imagined, and there are members of our organization that I suspect Trotz would view as good staff to keep on, but of course it would be his staff to choose.

I’d prefer a president of hockey ops as the hire and they can start assembling staff.

 

[LevelingSolo]

I get that their is demand for a more structured defensive system but it's not like they can score under DJ's "offensive" system either.

Constantly one of the lowest scoring teams under this coach

 

[OD99]

Much better effort, which is the bare minimum we should expect, but same old, same old.

A bad goal against and then unable to score a goal when we need it despite generating great chances.

Liked JBD, Branny and surprisingly Holden.

Batherson (for the most part) was better and Stu was flying at times.

 

[Hossa18]

SensChirp does

Senschirp isn't very knowledgeable when it comes to game play and hockey in general. He kind of just leans in the direction that the majority of his posters lean towards. That blog has really regressed lately.

 

[swiftwin]

EVEN STRENGTH goal differential

Empty net is even strength.

 

[Alex1234]

We are still waiting for you to give us a run down of the systems DJ uses and why they are effective.

Too effective for this league
Thats the problem
Is there a better higher league than the NHL where DJ ‘s superior coaching could translate in wins?

 

[Micklebot]

I get that their is demand for a more structured defensive system but it's not like they can score under DJ's "offensive" system either.

Constantly one of the lowest scoring teams under this coach

The first few years we lacked the personnel to be anything but one of the lowest scoring teams. This is the first year with any degree of expectations.

 

[JD1]

EVEN STRENGTH goal differential

Are we saying that goals scored against don't count against one's +/- if the goalie is pulled? They do. Teams are at even strength. 6 players aside. It also counts as a positive if you score.

 

[BondraTime]

EVEN STRENGTH goal differential

It is even strength, you pulled the goalie to put out a player

Empty nets do count against +/-

 

[JD1]

It is even strength, you pulled the goalie to put out a player

Empty nets do count against +/-

You know....there should be like a 20 question quiz you have to pass in order to be allowed to post

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Too effective for this league
Thats the problem
Is there a better higher league than the NHL where DJ ‘s superior coaching could translate in wins?

There is a higher league, but it’s just a simulation. I’m sure DJ will kill it there.

 

[SENATOR]

No system. Another goal from a scrambled play. No rhythm. This team is not coached to the professional level or NHL standards. I am telling you this, since DJ was hired for a buck from the bus stop. It isn't very comfortable to watch this team play for the last 6 years.

 

[Alex1234]

Please dear god no. Why would we want a coach that's already been fired 3 times in the last 7 years??? Look at how f***ed up an toxic the Nucks locker room is right now. We don't need to undo the good locker room vibes we already have.

I want Trotz. Otherwise, may as well stick with DJ.

2nd best NHL coach available behind Trotz lol

 

[Micklebot]

Are we saying that goals scored against don't count against one's +/- if the goalie is pulled? They do. Teams are at even strength. 6 players aside. It also counts as a positive if you score.

It is even strength, you pulled the goalie to put out a player

Empty nets do count against +/-

He's referencing on ice numbers pulled from Natural statrick not plus minus, I'm not sure if the separate EN from ES, they do for 5v5, but looking at the numbers it appears they don't for ES which probably caused the confusion. I'd have assumed if EN isn't considered 5v5 then it isn't ES but it seems like they've opted to use ES as a catch all for not shorthanded. Unsure what is done if you pull the goalie while on a PP,