Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[bert]

Sharing without comment for discussion purposes only. Don't @ME.

I mean who cares what that guy has to say.... I'll wait until we hear what happened from a credible source before I pass judgement.

DJ is not stupid dispite what some people think.

Has his time run out with this group? I believe it has. But there is no way he isn't communicating and there is no way there are different sets of rules for different players for off ice behavior and responsibilities.

He is loyal and fair. From an ice time distribution perspective I think he is way too forgiving. But the same people that want him to bench guys like Batherson or Chabot are the same people that rip on the bad players and say they aren't NHL caliber. I truly wonder if he had a longer leash if he would be sitting this teams stars. But he is clearly on the hot seat and the fact of the matter is the depth is really bad. So who's fault does that really fall on?... Dorion.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I mean who cares what that guy has to say.... I'll wait until we hear what happened from a credible source before I pass judgement.

DJ is not stupid dispite what some people think.

Has his time run out with this group? I believe it has. But there is no way he isn't communicating and there is no way there are different sets of rules for different players for off ice behavior and responsibilities.

He is loyal and fair. From an ice time distribution perspective I think he is way too forgiving. But the same people that want him to bench guys like Batherson or Chabot are the same people that rip on the bad players and say they aren't NHL caliber. I truly wonder if he had a longer leash if he would be sitting this teams stars. But he is clearly on the hot seat and the fact of the matter is the depth is really bad. So who's fault does that really fall on?... Dorion.

No one has to care. He makes the point about communication meaning DJ , if its a policy thing , he can say that; If its a lineup decision he can say that.

I am not including Chabot , Batherson, or the 3rd and 4th liners in this conversation .. that is a separate topic.

I don't think he's on the hot seat... I think he is part of a holding pattern wrt to the sale. No one knows his future here but I think he lasts the year.

Agree there is a serious depth problem in the roster construction and evaluation and that falls on Dorion. DJ has not shown me personally that he has much versatility as a coach. He and probably Dorion as well want an up tempo team that is hard to play against .. I personally don't think the roster construction really lends itself to that get it deep , be hard and agressive on the forecheck style. This is coupled with track back hard on the back check; while the D is asked to have good gap control.. I think that is born out of necessity from having the forwards working deep in the ozone I like the agressive style but I don't think the personnel is there across the lines to do that effectively. They can get beat up the ice with quick ups and put a lot of pressure on the D defending zone entries with speed. I'd like to see some versatility in the systems.

 

[OD99]

Yes, Batherson is a top 6 winger. But when a player is struggling, a healthy lineup will allow you to move him down a line or two. If Formenton, Joseph, Motte are healthy, you an bet your arse that DJ would have made him more accountable for his lackluster play. That is more my point

I wouldn't bet on that, personally.

Maybe if Formenton was around Batherson would have a few shifts on 3rd line but I don't see what DJ has done in the past to make me think he would move Bath down.

He and Chabot both haven't been good but players at that level usually just get to play through it.

 

[DylanSensFan]

He should be fired for not playing a healthy Joseph.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

He should be fired for not playing a healthy Joseph.

He should be fired, but not at all for this.

I get it, everyone is pissed off. For good reason. But this is not a good reason to be pissed.

 

[DylanSensFan]

He should be fired, but not at all for this.

I get it, everyone is pissed off. For good reason. But this is not a good reason to be pissed.

This is basically the nail in the nail in the nail in the coffin. Essentially he's just destroying nails by driving them into each other.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

This is basically the nail in the nail in the nail in the coffin. Essentially he's just destroying nails by driving them into each other.

Seems like you are just seeing nails where you wanna see them

 

[DylanSensFan]

Seems like you are just seeing nails where you wanna see them

Maybe I am.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Posted this in the race to 96 thread, but @BondraTime pointed out that in our last 37 games, we've only got 4 wins against a team in a playoff position (before today).

Going back to those wins, none of them were in regulation. How this guy gets to keep his job after not having a regulation win against playoff teams over a 37 game stretch is astonishing.

 

[Micklebot]

This is basically the nail in the nail in the nail in the coffin. Essentially he's just destroying nails by driving them into each other.

So, if Joseph did break a team rule, like being out past curfew or missing team meeting, which all the team knows the repercussions for, you think DJ should give him a pass?

 

[Tuna99]

So, if Joseph did break a team rule, like being out past curfew or missing team meeting, which all the team knows the repercussions for, you think DJ should give him a pass?

DJ needs to go harder as a coach.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

DJ needs to go harder as a coach.

Yeah seriously, its hard to see how anyone could view DJ as a guy who holds his players too accountable

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Posted this in the race to 96 thread, but @BondraTime pointed out that in our last 37 games, we've only got 4 wins against a team in a playoff position (before today).

Going back to those wins, none of them were in regulation. How this guy gets to keep his job after not having a regulation win against playoff teams over a 37 game stretch is astonishing.

It's really not astonishing at all when you consider the context.

When is the last time a coach was fired when the sale of a team was in process, and before the buyer is chosen/identified? Especially when the GM knows he's almost certainly on the way out, and when hiring a new coach actively harms the value of the franchise?

 

[Tuna99]

It's really not astonishing at all when you consider the context.

When is the last time a coach was fired when the sale of a team was in process, and before the buyer is chosen/identified? Especially when the GM knows he's almost certainly on the way out, and when hiring a new coach actively harms the value of the franchise?

He should be fired today. But when they get to the deadline if they haven’t reached their goals (which they have failed their early season good start goal so “meaningful” games is a goal they will not meet.) then he should be fired

Fire DJ and Dorion when the team it’s official they won’t be playing meaningful games and they have failed at even low ball goals. You got to

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

He should be fired today. But when they get to the deadline if they haven’t reached their goals (which they have failed their early season good start goal so “meaningful” games is a goal they will not meet.

Fire DJ and Dorion when the team it’s official they won’t be playing meaningful games. You got to

I agree, but its just not how things work.

Bringing in a player is one thing, although I can't see any significant salary being added for next year at this point; but firing them and bringing in new guys to run the team for a month or two, only to have ownership come in and pick their own guys, makes no sense. It would basically be the current regime throwing away $5m+ of the incoming regimes money.

Only way DJ or Dorion go is if a) there is a huge scandal that requires action or b) the sale is well underway and the buyers are involved in the decision-making process.

It is possible that new ownership will be all-but-formalized by the deadline but I don't see anything happening if it isn't.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

So, if Joseph did break a team rule, like being out past curfew or missing team meeting, which all the team knows the repercussions for, you think DJ should give him a pass?

That's kinda hard to judge without more details.

Five minutes late to a team meeting, I probably wouldn't make him a healthy scratch in front of 50 friends and family knowing he wants to put on a good show against his brother.

Outright missing a team practice or function? That's different (also assuming nothing serious happened to prevent him from attending a team function). A healthy scratch is deserved in a case like that.



That's the frustrating thing about this sort of speculation...too many unknowns to know what is going on and who is justified doing what.

 

[Tuna99]

I agree, but its just not how things work.

Bringing in a player is one thing, although I can't see any significant salary being added for next year at this point; but firing them and bringing in new guys to run the team for a month or two, only to have ownership come in and pick their own guys, makes no sense. It would basically be the current regime throwing away $5m+ of the incoming regimes money.

Only way DJ or Dorion go is if a) there is a huge scandal that requires action or b) the sale is well underway and the buyers are involved in the decision-making process.

It is possible that new ownership will be all-but-formalized by the deadline but I don't see anything happening if it isn't.

I see it differently, this ownership group will want to start their messaging right away and built the relationship with the fans on their terms and I don’t see Dorion doing that for them, like at all in any way. So he’s gone and DJ is just here because it’s convinient not too fire him, not because he’s a great guy.

I don’t see ownership giving Dorion even a microphone to speak into, I think he’s gone the moment they take over. I doubt they Risk any storylines coming from Dorion’s mouth so they’ll get rid of him just for the simple reason they do t want him around

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I see it differently, this ownership group will want to start their messaging right away and built the relationship with the fans on their terms and I don’t see Dorion doing that for them, like at all in any way. So he’s gone and DJ is just here because it’s convinient not too fire him, not because he’s a great guy.

I don’t see ownership giving Dorion even a microphone to speak into, I think he’s gone the moment they take over. I doubt they Risk any storylines coming from Dorion’s mouth so they’ll get rid of him just for the simple reason they do t want him around

I agree, but we are talking about two different things now.

Incoming ownership will not want the current regime to choose & hire new staff. They will want to do that themselves. It will probably/possibly be the very first thing they do, and there's a fair chance they'd work with current ownership to make changes before the official handover, but we are still not near that place. You say the new group will want to start their messaging right away, and I agree 100%... but nothing will happen until that new group is established, at least semi-formally.

 

[Bileur]

You dont know why he is being healthy scratched it could be a litany of things not exclusively to what you have suggested. Not only have you made that assumption but its lead you to another assumption which you are yet again stating as fact.

The only thing you know about is ice time distribution. Have you seen them bench anyone for a mistake all year?

Chabot isnt taking practices off. Another assumption.

Its ok to be upset but stop making things up as fact because its suits a narrative you're trying to push.

To be fair the bolded is an assumption too. We don’t know if anyone took a practice off, if they were late for meetings, if they were disrespectful, if they’re on the trade block.

People are deep into conjecture of how DJ handled this « disciplinary » matter with Joseph and we don’t even know that’s the case.

The only people who can control the message and handle damage control from this situation are the Sens and they’ve given the fans/media nothing so we’re left to speculate on something that is objectively a bad look. You know some will run with it in different directions, control the message.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I’d say late for meeting, and not the first time. Usually doesn’t happen on first violation.

 

[JackieDaytona]

DJ just needs to bare down and coach harder, that’s all. I looked at “The Analytics,” and the underlying numbers say he sucks less than we all think. Don’t ask me about the numbers. *shrug* *aggressive gum chewing*.

 

[Sens Vader]

He's gone by the summer anyway, same with Dorion

so just gonna be annoyed til then, but also excited for when they both get canned

 

[bert]

DJ will not consider breaking up Sanderson and Hamonic. Sad. Like the guy alot but its time to go. Its adjustments like these when JBD and Chabot play well together that a coach has to try when you are way out of a playoff spot like this.

He has handled Stutzle's development well. No way is Jack Hughes pking. Haula has taken all the center responsibilities.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

It's really not astonishing at all when you consider the context.

When is the last time a coach was fired when the sale of a team was in process, and before the buyer is chosen/identified? Especially when the GM knows he's almost certainly on the way out, and when hiring a new coach actively harms the value of the franchise?

How to prepare to sell a team 101.
Step 1: acquire good players and spend close to the cap to try to make playoffs
Step 2: retain Dollarama coach that can't win hockey games

They'd get more money if they were competitive, that's why they're spending as much as they are.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

How to prepare to sell a team 101.
Step 1: acquire good players and spend close to the cap to try to make playoffs
Step 2: retain Dollarama coach that can't win hockey games

They'd get more money if they were competitive, that's why they they're spending as much as they are.

There is no reason to think that this team will be competitive with just a new coach, and there is no reason to think we can get any type of qualified coach with new owners coming within 6 months.