Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Alex1234]

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.

6 years lol

 

[Golden_Jet]

EVEN STRENGTH goal differential

Empty net goal is even strength unless it’s on PP or PK.

 

[Tuna99]

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.

I think you could argue DJ’s team haven’t ever meant the expectation of make it look like your team knows what’s it doing. They looked like they were playing turnstiles the last 3 years.

 

[LevelingSolo]

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.

He never say's anything critical about the organization anymore, everything is always sunshine and rainbows

I swear he's bought out by them

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

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

lol there is no world in which we "may as well stick with DJ". He's very apparently not the answer long-term.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Empty net goal is even strength unless it’s on PP or PK.

If a team scores, while on the PK, I think the players on the ice get a + …. If not they should.

 

[BankStreetParade]

They haven't been great, collectively, at even strength but if you wanna talk about it, here's some numbers to consider.

Player​	Even strength goal differential​	EV TOI/GP​
Batherson	-26	14:50
Pinto	-16	13:44
Hamonic	-14	15:13
Debrincat	-12	15:13
Tkachuk	-9	14:18
Chabot	-8	21:44
Stutzle	-7	15:51
Sanderson	-7	15:59
Giroux	-1	14:56
Zub	0	19:20
Motte	+2	10:34
Joseph	+2	11:19

Does anything jump out at you lol? At least Pinto's a rookie and slotted too high in the lineup for where he's at in his development cycle, so you can excuse his numbers a bit. Last year, in 46 games, he was a +5 in EV GD which was best on the team of anyone who played 40+ games. This year he's last in the same category in nearly the same amount of games. This stuff isn't rocket science. We can call it coaching all we want but under the same coach, the same system and mostly the same teammates, he went from the best on the team to the worst in one offseason? Really?

All that to say, when you say "they" get caved in at even strength, what you actually mean is 1 line and, more specifically, 1 guy.

Empty net goals do count for plus minus.

Empty net is even strength.

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 +/-

Empty net goal is even strength unless it’s on PP or PK.

Ok, easy mistake to make. It doesn't really change the table very much though because if we say he's -8 with the goalie pulled then you can also say the same thing for Debrincat, Giroux, Stutzle, Tkachuk, Chabot. We've also scored against empty nets, with guys like Batherson on the ice, so it's fairly close to being even.

Point is he's a -26, or whatever the exact number is, in even strength goal differential and that's far and away the worst on the team. This team would win more games if Batherson wasn't so unbelievably abysmal at even strength. And it's another reason why Debrincat's defensive metrics have fallen off a cliff this year. Hell, his play might be a primary reason for Debrincat's inability to produce the kinds of numbers we expected. His primary linemates are a rookie center who looks way out of place in that spot and the worst even strength player on the roster.

 

[slamigo]

Well, someone is at least voicing the concerns of the fan base.

Denley: It's time the Ottawa Senators parted ways with D.J. Smith

The Sens are not just a hockey team; they are part of Ottawa’s identity. They need a leader who can help make us proud.

ottawacitizen.com

 

[BankStreetParade]

Well, someone is at least voicing the concerns of the fan base.

Denley: It's time the Ottawa Senators parted ways with D.J. Smith

The Sens are not just a hockey team; they are part of Ottawa’s identity. They need a leader who can help make us proud.

ottawacitizen.com

Oh good, an opinion columnist who usually writes about municipal politics wants to weigh in on the Senators.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Oh good, an opinion columnist who usually writes about municipal politics wants to weigh in on the Senators.

So? Did you expect Bruce to write an opinion piece criticizing the team?

The guy acknowledges that he isn't a sports writer and is coming at this as a fan.

I realize that problems such as the one I am about to address are commonly dealt with elsewhere in this publication by those steeped in the art of sports coverage, but they are kinder, gentler people. As a long-time fan of the Ottawa Senators, I feel there is something unpleasant that really must be said: It’s time to fire coach D.J. Smith.

Dude is bringing facts and serious heat

This year was supposed to be different, but it’s not. Smith recently won his 100th game as Sens coach. Quite a milestone, but it took him 250 games to do it. Over his four years with the team, the Senators have finished 30th, 23rd and 26th in the league. This year, they are 25th.

In any other city in the league, that kind of record would have meant a coaching change. Only five NHL coaches have led their teams for more games than Smith. Four of those have won Stanley Cups.

 

[Micklebot]

Oh good, an opinion columnist who usually writes about municipal politics wants to weigh in on the Senators.

Do you have issues with his opinions, or just his line of work?

 

[bashbros32]

So? Did you expect Bruce to write an opinion piece criticizing the team?

The guy acknowledges that he isn't a sports writer and is coming at this as a fan.



Dude is bringing facts and serious heat

"and four of them have won Stanley Cups"

the fifth is Rod Brind'Amour...

 

[slamigo]

A few glaring things stick out for me from watching Sens games:

1. lack of structure 5v5
2. lack of accountability (who gets benched and who plays does not seem to be merit based)
3. players seemingly either disengaged or actually confused while on the ice

None of these things is a talent problem. They are all coaching.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Its time. Just go with Cap and finish out the year. There is no chance DJ is back next year, zero zip nada, so might as well move the process along by going interim to finish the season and make it known that you'll be hiring a new coach.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Only way it makes sense to fire DJ, imo, is if we're promoting Mann to interim HC. Firing DJ just to promote Capuano, who runs the D, makes no sense to me. Won't be a new face, won't be a new system, and if that's the case I would rather DJ finish the season/wait for new ownership.

My preference:
1) Fire DJ and bring in an established coach from outside the org.
2) Fire DJ and promote Mann.
3) Keep DJ until end of season/ownership change.
4) Fire DJ and promote Capuano.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Only way it makes sense to fire DJ, imo, is if we're promoting Mann to interim HC. Firing DJ just to promote Capuano, who runs the D, makes no sense to me. Won't be a new face, won't be a new system, and if that's the case I would rather DJ finish the season/wait for new ownership.

My preference:
1) Fire DJ and bring in an established coach from outside the org.
2) Fire DJ and promote Mann.
3) Keep DJ until end of season/ownership change.
4) Fire DJ and promote Capuano.

1 feels like it just won't happen. It's not about saving the season because that's so far fetched, and new ownership should be making the call down the line on anybody beyond just finishing out the year, so Cap or Mann are the only realistic options at this point imo.

 

[Icelevel]

I’d like to try replacing capuano first then look at replacing dj

 

[BankStreetParade]

Do you have issues with his opinions, or just his line of work?

I see casuals writing hot takes every day here, don't think we really needed more of that type of voice in the mix.

 

[bert]

I’d like to try replacing capuano first then look at replacing dj

Yeah the D coach? By far the most mismanaged aspect of this team? Havent tried Zub with Sanderson once this year.

Chabot plays his best game of the season with JBD, they promptly send JBD down. Zub plays his worst with Chabot but they keep forcing it.

The guy who forces Zaitsev into the line up. The guy that couldnt identify that Zub was good for 10 games?

Thats the guy.... No thanks. If anything he should be replaced first.

 

[BankStreetParade]

So? Did you expect Bruce to write an opinion piece criticizing the team?

The guy acknowledges that he isn't a sports writer and is coming at this as a fan.



Dude is bringing facts and serious heat

It's kinda crazy how black and white everything is for you guys. Like the only 2 options are either someone who doesn't write about hockey or someone who shouldn't be??? We've all read just about everything there is to read about this season. Many of you repeatedly post the same sentiments day in and day out, why do we need to read the words of someone who's only qualification is that he writes opinion columns for the newspaper?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I see casuals writing hot takes every day here, don't think we really needed more of that type of voice in the mix.

 

[BankStreetParade]

Yeah the D coach? By far the most mismanaged aspect of this team? Havent tried Zub with Sanderson once this year.

Chabot plays his best game of the season with JBD, they promptly send JBD down. Zub plays his worst with Chabot but they keep forcing it.

The guy who forces Zaitsev into the line up. The guy that couldnt identify that Zub was good for 10 games?

Thats the guy.... No thanks. If anything he should be replaced first.

JBD's been injured for a large chunk of this season. If they had played Sanderson-Zub together, would that mean Chabot-Hamonic on the top pair? Doesn't feel like what we need is Hamonic playing more minutes.

 

[bert]

JBD's been injured for a large chunk of this season. If they had played Sanderson-Zub together, would that mean Chabot-Hamonic on the top pair? Doesn't feel like what we need is Hamonic playing more minutes.

No it would have meant that Sanderson Zub take the hard matchups against the other teams best players. They would be the top pair in that regard. Getting Chabot more favorable matchups. What we do know is that Zub and Chabot does not work. Zub has looked better with literally everyone he has played with.

Zub Sanderson would be great to put out after a PP. Its a momentum changing shift and they hypothetically would give the team its best chance to not get scored on.

Need to play to a teams strength.

 

[BankStreetParade]

View attachment 636729

What about that piece was particularly of interest to anyone here? Which part(s)?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

What about that piece was particularly of interest to anyone here? Which part(s)?

nothing to get your shorts in a knot one way or another