Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Cosmix]

New ownership and a new coach cannot come quickly enough.

Still think Troy Mann deserves a chance here, and if DJ gets canned soon then he would be my choice to ride out the rest of the year with.

Keefe (if he doesn’t make it past the first round again I think he’s gone) and Boudreau would be nice candidates as well.

It's far more important to get rid of Dorion than to dump the coaching staff. We need an improved roster before the coaches can make the team win more than they lose. Hire a new GM/POHO first and give him a 5 year mandate to get this team into the playoffs annually (including any coaching, scouting & player changes he deems necessary).

 

[Cosmix]

I expect a lot of push back on this but. Fire DJ and hire Boucher or Jacques Martin to finish just this year. Get him to teach them a neutral zone trap counter system... that system in itself will help the goals against results .. but it will also teach these kids something else that they can have in their tool box to adapt to different ways to be successful .

Boucher certainly had a focus on defensive play by the forwards; however, he went overboard on some of it. I wonder if he has learned any lessons to make him a better NHL level coach.

Martin might be just what we need to communicate the roles and responsibilities to the players and hold them accountable if they do not perform as instructed. Tortorella and Sutter would be good too.

I think he has proven that he is not an NHL head coach.

DJ?

 

[Cosmix]

From the team that brought you Mark Borowiecki playing shifts as a top-6 LW, get ready for top line C Dylan Gambrell!

Putting Borowiecki on the top line was to accomplish two things:
1. to send a message to the forwards who were not playing physical hockey and completing their checks,
2. to add a physical force on a line that needed help.

I did not mind him doing that. I have seen it done before.

DJ will be fired before the next game,

Dorion should have been fired a few seasons ago!

 

[Ice-Tray]

I wonder if Bruce could be brought in to audition for the HC job from new ownership for the rest of the season. Reading some stuff out of Vancouver, it looks like he was pretty effective there to start.

I’m not really interested in tanking, so I’d prefer to see a coaching change to see if we can spark some wins and get us back into the race…

I just don’t really get a happy feeling thinking about riding out the next 38 games like this without at least trying something new.

 

[slamigo]

I really feel like we just need to install an interim guy. Put DJ out of his misery at this point. Zero chance he's back next year and a split now feels healthier for him and the franchise imo.

Interim coach is the way to go right now. DJ is failing and no amount of spin can help.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Running out of runway to get back in the race. 12 pts to pass Pittsburgh. 6 teams to leap frog.
I think its pretty safe to say they are not doing that with any coach. A coaching change is not very likely.
See the writing on the wall. Start playing some callups .. show some patience with them and see what we have. At some point these prospects have to take the next step in the NHL. This team is under 500 as is .. its not tanking .. I don't think .467 takes much of a hit one way or another. I don't think Dorion and DJ are ready to take that approach ... Overboard in the middle of the ocean .. they will tread water as long as they can

 

[coladin]

Senators lineup shake up coming after yet another lopsided loss

With every fresh loss, the hope of the Senators making a mark in the race for a playoff spot become more remote.

ottawasun.com

Just a few days ago DJ was making changes within the top 6 .. saying they need to score more to take care of the minuses .. so in other words score their way out of their woes. Now he wants to change it up again and focus on checking which is a DJ way of saying defending I think. Not sure. But a focus to cutting your goals against should never be an after thought if you want to win..

His low hanging fruit move is to switch Joseph and Batherson.
I am not sure what else he'll do on that front .. Move DeBrincat down for Kelly doesn't seem reasonable. Watson for Giroux? laughable.

Now does he play the same system expecting one or two changes to make a big difference. Does he tweak the undisciplined all out forecheck to more of a 2-1-2 keeping one man high and rotating ?

It just seems to me that DJ has gone too long to focus at all on goals against vs goals for.. Believing the the XGFs could turn into GFs. Every playoff team will be able to defend and make adjustments to defend .. This team makes zero adjustments. Its peddle to the metal dump , forecheck , hope to score , or draw a penalty. The Dzone from a defenseman perspective is at least partially personnel... The forwards playing with attention to detail and responsible positionally with out the puck does not change by switching a couple of wingers around. The detail you want you need to describe in detail through all three zones. Players want to know , and need to know specifics of their responsibilities . To hold them accountable or at least tell them where they broke down they need to know what you want first. There are a lot of details missing. Check hard doesn't do it. Track hard doesn't do it. Hopefully its a step in the right direction for them but my confidence level in making changes making a difference is pretty low.

I don’t think the issue necessarily is Tkachuk Stutzle and whomever is on that line. Tkachuk is the “grinder” there anyways. I think he is referring to a certain change of Batherson’s dropping down, maybe all the way down with Kastelic.

Personally I would do

Tkachuk Norris Joseph
DBC Stutzle Giroux
Kelly Pinto Brassard
Watson Kastelic Batherson

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Interim coach is the way to go right now. DJ is failing and no amount of spin can help.

His body language tells me he knows its over too. Not like they show him much, but he looks like a coach that's out of answers.

 

[Matsens15]

I would try

Tkachuk-Norris-Joseph
DeBrincat-Stutzle-Giroux
Sokolov-Pinto-Batherson
Kelly-Kastelic-Watson

 

[PlayOn]

It would be shocking if Dorion or DJ is back next year so I’d rather just wait it out. I don’t particularly care to throw in an interim coach and then go looking for a new one next summer under new ownership. Seems like a move just to make the season more interesting vs one that will actually accomplish something.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I don’t think the issue necessarily is Tkachuk Stutzle and whomever is on that line. Tkachuk is the “grinder” there anyways. I think he is referring to a certain change of Batherson’s dropping down, maybe all the way down with Kastelic.

Personally I would do

Tkachuk Norris Joseph
DBC Stutzle Giroux
Kelly Pinto Brassard
Watson Kastelic Batherson

I did say that promoting Joseph and demoting Batherson was the most obvious move and other moves did not look probable.
The Cs stay .. Tkachuk stays what are the other options DBC and/or Giroux but who is the "worker" that moves up for one of them. No option seems reasonable. So the big statement is to demote Batherson .. they don't have reasonable options. This isn't a roster with a lot of quality depth .. which is part of the problem.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

I wonder if Bruce could be brought in to audition for the HC job from new ownership for the rest of the season. Reading some stuff out of Vancouver, it looks like he was pretty effective there to start.

I’m not really interested in tanking, so I’d prefer to see a coaching change to see if we can spark some wins and get us back into the race…

I just don’t really get a happy feeling thinking about riding out the next 38 games like this without at least trying something new.

I dont want to throw in the towel either. I'd rather this team finish strong as shit and just miss out than play like garbage the rest of the way.

This is the team now. There can be some additions and some tweaks, maybe a big trade or two... but this is the group. They need to learn how to win.

They aren't getting Bedard. And nothing short of another franchise player makes another garbage season worth it.

 

[Cosmix]

I don’t think the issue necessarily is Tkachuk Stutzle and whomever is on that line. Tkachuk is the “grinder” there anyways. I think he is referring to a certain change of Batherson’s dropping down, maybe all the way down with Kastelic.

Personally I would do

Tkachuk Norris Joseph
DBC Stutzle Giroux
Kelly Pinto Brassard
Watson Kastelic Batherson

Move Batherson up with Pinto and Kelly. Dump Brassard on waivers.

I dont want to throw in the towel either. I'd rather this team finish strong as shit and just miss out than play like garbage the rest of the way.

This is the team now. There can be some additions and some tweaks, maybe a big trade or two... but this is the group. They need to learn how to win.

They aren't getting Bedard. And nothing short of another franchise player makes another garbage season worth it.

The probability of the Senators winning the first pick in the lottery is much less than 25%; most likely about 5%. There is a chance but I would not bet a lot of coin on it happening.

 

[coladin]

I did say that promoting Joseph and demoting Batherson was the most obvious move and other moves did not look probable.
The Cs stay .. Tkachuk stays what are the other options DBC and/or Giroux but who is the "worker" that moves up for one of them. No option seems reasonable. So the big statement is to demote Batherson .. they don't have reasonable options. This isn't a roster with a lot of quality depth .. which is part of the problem.

I think that Greig or Sokolov would provide that “ worker” attitude, but you are right, there isn’t any jam in this lineup and a guy like Tyler Boucher is years away. But he would be good for what this team needs

 

[Cosmix]

It would be shocking if Dorion or DJ is back next year so I’d rather just wait it out. I don’t particularly care to throw in an interim coach and then go looking for a new one next summer under new ownership. Seems like a move just to make the season more interesting vs one that will actually accomplish something.

In jest I suggest we fire DJ and make Dorion head coach for the rest of this season! Make him experience what DJ has.

I think that Greig or Sokolov would provide that “ worker” attitude, but you are right, there isn’t any jam in this lineup and a guy like Tyler Boucher is years away. But he would be good for what this team needs

What flavor of jam do you want?

I want Reaves style.

I would try

Tkachuk-Norris-Joseph
DeBrincat-Stutzle-Giroux
Sokolov-Pinto-Batherson
Kelly-Kastelic-Watson

Plus bring up GReig and Sokolov to gain some experience.

 

[BondraTime]

I dont want to throw in the towel either. I'd rather this team finish strong as shit and just miss out than play like garbage the rest of the way.

This is the team now. There can be some additions and some tweaks, maybe a big trade or two... but this is the group. They need to learn how to win.

They aren't getting Bedard. And nothing short of another franchise player makes another garbage season worth it.

38 games of garbage and a pick in the top 7 is definitely better than 38 games of .550 hockey and a pick in the 10-15 range.

If this was done in the first 25 games of the year, when it should have been done, I’d agree. But at this point with 44 games played, and so far out of it with so many ahead, just keep the status quo, especially with new ownership.

 

[Beech]

38 games of garbage and a pick in the top 7 is definitely better than 38 games of .550 hockey and a pick in the 10-15 range.

If this was done in the first 25 games of the year, when it should have been done, I’d agree. But at this point with 44 games played, and so far out of it with so many ahead, just keep the status quo, especially with new ownership.

46 played

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

38 games of garbage and a pick in the top 7 is definitely better than 38 games of .550 hockey and a pick in the 10-15 range.

If this was done in the first 25 games of the year, when it should have been done, I’d agree. But at this point with 44 games played, and so far out of it with so many ahead, just keep the status quo, especially with new ownership.

Also seems pretty clear from the last couple seasons that strong finishes don't really carry anything meaningful over to the next season.

 

[slamigo]

Also seems pretty clear from the last couple seasons that strong finishes don't really carry anything meaningful over to the next season.

Exactly. The players that thrive in the 'zero pressure because the games don't actually matter' never seem to be able to play well in November when the games are defining the season.

 

[Beech]

Also seems pretty clear from the last couple seasons that strong finishes don't really carry anything meaningful over to the next season.

Remember Pierre McGuire !!he has been saying that the last 20 years on Ottawa radio..He would call it fools gold.

it fills buildings, it ensure sales for next year and that is pretty much it.

 

[Beech]

38 games of garbage and a pick in the top 7 is definitely better than 38 games of .550 hockey and a pick in the 10-15 range.

If this was done in the first 25 games of the year, when it should have been done, I’d agree. But at this point with 44 games played, and so far out of it with so many ahead, just keep the status quo, especially with new ownership.

do you think they will regret last years #7..Korchinski

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

do you think they will regret last years #7..Korchinski

Have to see how DeBrincat fits going forward... In a complete vacuum I like the trade. But its an an expense of shrinking ability to improve elsewhere.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I dunno, who cares anymore?

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Exactly. The players that thrive in the 'zero pressure because the games don't actually matter' never seem to be able to play well in November when the games are defining the season.

Remember Pierre McGuire !!he has been saying that the last 20 years on Ottawa radio..He would call it fools gold.

it fills buildings, it ensure sales for next year and that is pretty much it.

I think McGuire is right on that one. Just don't see enough value in it to counteract the idea of a much higher caliber player being added in the draft.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

I would try

Tkachuk-Norris-Joseph
DeBrincat-Stutzle-Giroux
Sokolov-Pinto-Batherson
Kelly-Kastelic-Watson

That 4th line is horrendous