Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I asked a friend of mine, one European coach, what he thinks about D.J. Smith and his style.
He watched a few Sens games. Not all of them. So he can paint the picture.

-The Ottawa defense is not that bad, it is just not managed properly.
D-man do not stand up, forwards do not pressure points. They box up right away. Make goalies to overwork and face a lot of shots.
No awareness to clear the slot area or prevent defensive zone passing by opposing team.

-Bad breakouts. Instead using the whole sheet of ice in the neutral zone and change vectors of an attack frequently, to keep teams guessing, DJ is
forcing his team to simple and predictable D to D and to F along the boards plays. It limits offensive chances, offensive zone time, scoring five on five, leads to broken plays and turnovers. No cross passes are allowed at all in their own zone under pressure. For example Chabot can only pass to his D partner behind the net and there is a book on it now.

-Forwards do not use drop passes or cross passes to sustain offensive zone time to tire defense and increase five on five goal production. It has to be practiced as a keep away all the time.

-The whole team is blowing coverage assignments, do turnovers, making the same mistakes again and again without any corrections. Players could just leave for a change the defensive zone if their stick is broken. Total chaos.
Bottom six are just not NHL caliber players. Watson should not be playing enforcer role, can not fight anymore.
Completely useless.

-Team speed is good, but it is not used correctly. The whole team is always chasing a play, because most of the NHL teams play wide and use the whole sheet of ice with cross passes. He said players are not stupid and fully aware, the coach is limiting them with a safe system for breakouts. But it actually leads to more turnovers. It is very frustrating.

-Debrincat needs a setup man, because his game is one-timer, when half of a net is open. You accommodate him, not leaving him to dry to figure this on his own. He has to play a familiar game and a role to benefit the team's scoring. He sees Claude Giroux as the answer. You just have set Claude free in his decision making and not always play strictly a winger.

His conclusion. The coach is throwing away games.

Great analysis.

And that playing along the boards...that's the one that drives me nuts. Playing along the boards is so limiting, leaves very little space to try and make plays or try something different, and easy to hem in players and cut off passes. And it's boring to watch.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I disagree. I'd much rather they have a solid record the rest of the way, win more games than they lose. Even if it means they miss out. Learning to win. What it takes.

If this group can't push themselves to be better the rest of the way this year, I don't think that is a good sign for the group as a whole or for the moral of the players.

There is no learning to win when you suck, just learning to suck less when people don't take you seriously. We've seen this team finish a season strong and shit the bed to open the next one plenty of times.

There is no hope whatsoever until a major overhaul of the front office and coaching happens and even then, it will take time for progress to be made once competent people show up.

We might as well keep sucking. I'll be happy to see a win when I tune in but I'm done believing a late season surge means anything with this current set up.

 

[swiftwin]

We are 6th worst in defensive zone giveaways, 3 of the teams worse than us are Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, all 3 puck possession teams so it makes sense that they would have more.

I have no idea what the monthly stats are but even if November was god awful, given that we're in that group, then we clearly still have this problem.

We're also a puck possession team. That's very clearly what the metrics indicate. We're 7th in CORSI, which is an indicator of possession.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

We're also a puck possession team. That's very clearly what the metrics indicate. We're 7th in CORSI, which is an indicator of possession.

You've commented in the past about DJs systems from the d zone, clearing to centre instead of carrying the puck. That part doesn't jive with how many d zone giveaways we have. That's more of what I meant.

 

[swiftwin]

You've commented in the past about DJs systems from the d zone, clearing to centre instead of carrying the puck. That part doesn't jive with how many d zone giveaways we have. That's more of what I meant.

I'd be curious to see d zone giveaways earlier in the season vs right now.

Where are you getting this data from?

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

I'd be curious to see d zone giveaways earlier in the season vs right now.

Where are you getting this data from?

Moneypuck..Just cumulative season stats, not monthly though.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Keefe is one of my favourite coaches in the league, if we could somehow snag him I’d be thrilled.

here is the thing, Keene has won zero rounds of the playoffs, and the only way he might become available is if he loses yet another round of the playoffs…… so why in the hell would new ownership be onboard with hiring a coach that cannot win a round of the playoffs, with the roster he has Toronto?

 

[bicboi64]

here is the thing, Keene has won zero rounds of the playoffs, and the only way he might become available is if he loses yet another round of the playoffs…… so why in the hell would new ownership be onboard with hiring a coach that cannot win a round of the playoffs, with the roster he has Toronto?

Toronto's stars might be chokers, but Keefe has the Leafs playing excellent defense even though they've had injuries at the back end. I'd happily hire him

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Carefree hockey DJ having Sens playing like cup champs back at it.

 

[bert]

here is the thing, Keene has won zero rounds of the playoffs, and the only way he might become available is if he loses yet another round of the playoffs…… so why in the hell would new ownership be onboard with hiring a coach that cannot win a round of the playoffs, with the roster he has Toronto?

Because he is a really good coach. That Toronto team doesn't play for one another. Soft team not deep at all. He demands incredible structure. It's quite clear that Dubas is the issue there.

 

[Masked]

Because he is a really good coach. That Toronto team doesn't play for one another. Soft team not deep at all. He demands incredible structure. It's quite clear that Dubas is the issue there.

Don't say that! Dubas is a genius and should be the Leafs GM until he retires in his 70s!

Assen na yo!

 

[DJB]

Because he is a really good coach. That Toronto team doesn't play for one another. Soft team not deep at all. He demands incredible structure. It's quite clear that Dubas is the issue there.

My best bud is a huge Leaf guy and he agrees with this. Keefe is a great coach but Dubas has built a team that will never win a Cup.

Buttery soft in their top 6 will never get it done when it matters

 

[bert]

My best bud is a huge Leaf guy and he agrees with this. Keefe is a great coach but Dubas has built a team that will never win a Cup.

Buttery soft in their top 6 will never get it done when it matters

They have less depth this year than ever. Were they only missing Matthews up front? If so that is a really weak forward group after their big 4. Is bunting really their 5th best forward?

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Because he is a really good coach. That Toronto team doesn't play for one another. Soft team not deep at all. He demands incredible structure. It's quite clear that Dubas is the issue there.

Dubas has no feel for the game, it is all spreadsheets.

He has completely failed to manage the cap despite being handed a basically almost perfect situation.

 

[Cosmix]

I'd be curious to see d zone giveaways earlier in the season vs right now.

Where are you getting this data from?

I would like to see stats on D zone play, give-aways and exits too. Too many times the goaltender fires the puck from behind the net around the boards to an opposing player, giving the puck away.

 

[bicboi64]

If the Leafs keep Dubas, he'll be negotiating the next contracts for Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, etc... He overpaid each of them the first time and didn't get enough term. I hope the Leafs keep him

 

[Samsquanch]

If the Leafs keep Dubas, he'll be negotiating the next contracts for Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, etc... He overpaid each of them the first time and didn't get enough term. I hope the Leafs keep him

The fact that without blinking Matthews got a 5yr deal at max market value ++ is going to go down as one of the biggest blunders in Leafs management history. Especially if they never get out of the 1st round before they have to give him a raise for all of his efforts next season . And because his teammate Marner and his family think so highly of themselves and demanded to be overpaid by about the same amount as a result.

They are doomed if they don't win now. It will break the bank to keep him, and it will break the team to lose him as a UFA.

Paying Marner and Tavares $11m per to lead your team to the promised land is losing strategy. Marner is the real overpayment by Dubas - Tavares got market value but is a declining asset with no track record of getting it done.

You need Matthews to carry that roster to a cup win, or else shed one or both of those other contracts and get more depth in the lineup for any chance at a deep run while your busy paying Matthews to be the highest paid player in the game (for a few seasons until McD is UFA). Hes getting $13-14m you can book it now.

 

[bicboi64]

The fact that without blinking Matthews got a 5yr deal at max market value ++ is going to go down as one of the biggest blunders in Leafs management history. Especially if they never get out of the 1st round before they have to give him a raise for all of his efforts next season . And because his teammate Marner and his family think so highly of themselves and demanded to be overpaid by about the same amount as a result.

They are doomed if they don't win now. It will break the bank to keep him, and it will break the team to lose him as a UFA.

Paying Marner and Tavares $11m per to lead your team to the promised land is losing strategy. Marner is the real overpayment by Dubas - Tavares got market value but is a declining asset with no track record of getting it done.

You need Matthews to carry that roster to a cup win, or else shed one or both of those other contracts and get more depth in the lineup for any chance at a deep run while your busy paying Matthews to be the highest paid player in the game (for a few seasons until McD is UFA). Hes getting $13-14m you can book it now.

I'd say the Nylander signing made it pretty bad too. Even if he got overpaid at the time by pennies, its about cap percentage. His best comparable at the time was pastrnak and that's the deal they should've stuck with. If they wanted to pay Matthews and Marner the money they did, they should've gotten 8 years at the least. Just reiterates my point though, I do hope Dubas is extended lol

 

[SweSensFan]

I asked a friend of mine, one European coach, what he thinks about D.J. Smith and his style.
He watched a few Sens games. Not all of them. So he can paint the picture.

-The Ottawa defense is not that bad, it is just not managed properly.
D-man do not stand up, forwards do not pressure points. They box up right away. Make goalies to overwork and face a lot of shots.
No awareness to clear the slot area or prevent defensive zone passing by opposing team.

-Bad breakouts. Instead using the whole sheet of ice in the neutral zone and change vectors of an attack frequently, to keep teams guessing, DJ is
forcing his team to simple and predictable D to D and to F along the boards plays. It limits offensive chances, offensive zone time, scoring five on five, leads to broken plays and turnovers. No cross passes are allowed at all in their own zone under pressure. For example Chabot can only pass to his D partner behind the net and there is a book on it now.

-Forwards do not use drop passes or cross passes to sustain offensive zone time to tire defense and increase five on five goal production. It has to be practiced as a keep away all the time.

-The whole team is blowing coverage assignments, do turnovers, making the same mistakes again and again without any corrections. Players could just leave for a change the defensive zone if their stick is broken. Total chaos.
Bottom six are just not NHL caliber players. Watson should not be playing enforcer role, can not fight anymore.
Completely useless.

-Team speed is good, but it is not used correctly. The whole team is always chasing a play, because most of the NHL teams play wide and use the whole sheet of ice with cross passes. He said players are not stupid and fully aware, the coach is limiting them with a safe system for breakouts. But it actually leads to more turnovers. It is very frustrating.

-Debrincat needs a setup man, because his game is one-timer, when half of a net is open. You accommodate him, not leaving him to dry to figure this on his own. He has to play a familiar game and a role to benefit the team's scoring. He sees Claude Giroux as the answer. You just have set Claude free in his decision making and not always play strictly a winger.

His conclusion. The coach is throwing away games.

That analysis seems very accurate to me!

 

[aragorn]

My best bud is a huge Leaf guy and he agrees with this. Keefe is a great coach but Dubas has built a team that will never win a Cup.

Buttery soft in their top 6 will never get it done when it matters

Why is it when I called them soft & said they were a regular season team people were all over me? Life is so unfair at times ... btw ... LEAF SUCK ... oh ... and HABS SUCK TOO.

 

[Bileur]

Why is it when I called them soft & said they were a regular season team people were all over me? Life is so unfair at times ... btw ... LEAF SUCK ... oh ... and HABS SUCK TOO.

Honesty in light of the Leafs old goon teams and Canadian media outlets gushing all over them and their bullshit (cheering on McCabe’s patented « can opener » instead of saying « why isn’t that a trip »; using Domi’s blatant and predatory interference/charging on Havlat as part of the HNIC opener for years, feeding into false underdog leaf/choking sens narratives despite the leafs being a better team in the standings and spending several times more money in many of the series etc) what is happening to the Leafs the last several years with their soft, choking, team being repeatedly embarrassed in the playoffs is the greatest evidence of karma I’ve ever seen.

 

[JD1]

The fact that without blinking Matthews got a 5yr deal at max market value ++ is going to go down as one of the biggest blunders in Leafs management history. Especially if they never get out of the 1st round before they have to give him a raise for all of his efforts next season . And because his teammate Marner and his family think so highly of themselves and demanded to be overpaid by about the same amount as a result.

They are doomed if they don't win now. It will break the bank to keep him, and it will break the team to lose him as a UFA.

Paying Marner and Tavares $11m per to lead your team to the promised land is losing strategy. Marner is the real overpayment by Dubas - Tavares got market value but is a declining asset with no track record of getting it done.

You need Matthews to carry that roster to a cup win, or else shed one or both of those other contracts and get more depth in the lineup for any chance at a deep run while your busy paying Matthews to be the highest paid player in the game (for a few seasons until McD is UFA). Hes getting $13-14m you can book it now.

I think Toronto is screwed with the Matthews situation. Sure, the cap is going up. But he's going to eat a lot if it. And he's led them to nothing. I don't see a cup in Toronto this year, in fact i expect they're out in the first round again

 

[BankStreetParade]

18-11-2 in their last 31 games, which puts them T-10 in the league during that span. Looks like their results finally started catching up to those underlying numbers from the beginning of the year?

 

[Ouroboros]

18-11-2 in their last 31 games, which puts them T-10 in the league during that span. Looks like their results finally started catching up to those underlying numbers from the beginning of the year?

Looks like a raucous 'Sorry DJ' chant is in order for the game against Oilers on the 11th.

I, for one, will be there with my jersney on my head screaming like a madman.

 

[Alex1234]

I think Toronto is screwed with the Matthews situation. Sure, the cap is going up. But he's going to eat a lot if it. And he's led them to nothing. I don't see a cup in Toronto this year, in fact i expect they're out in the first round again

It would take a miracle for them to get out
Tampa is ferocious and have the refs on their side as usual