Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Micklebot]

uhhh instability is continuing to lose with no improvements year after year.

I mean, the team has pretty clearly improved even if the record isn't great so far.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I mean, the team has pretty clearly improved even if the record isn't great so far.

It just reminds me too much of the last two years. A lot of those games we lost in the first month (both years) were games that we “should have won” and lost. We kept thinking luck would balance and suddently the season was over before the 20 game mark.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

Before I do that I'd waive Zaitsev. WIth Zaitsev gone (hopefully someone grabs him...) we improve by subtraction.
Slot in a JBD or just anyone, really and work the way up. Smith is basically falling into the same tropes all NHL coaches, overplay vets when things are tight and you need a spark. That said, Smith is pretty mediocre on his own. He's not getting a head coaching job elsewhere in the NHL, so I'm not opposed with punting him ASAP if we can find a reasonable replacement.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Laviolette, Sullivan, AV, Julien…there could be a number of coaches available soon.

We’re not getting Trotz.

 

[NB613]

I believe it is time to let him go.

How about now?

 

[ToasterStutzle]

#FireDJ

Laviolette, Sullivan, AV, Julien…there could be a number of coaches available soon.

We’re not getting Trotz.

Big Sully fan. Not so much for AV, CJ would be a good fit too, Lavi I feel unsure about..... but give me them all over DJ

 

[Gil Gunderson]

There is definately a lack of killer instinct on this team. We had a lot of games we should have won the last two seasons too but we couldn’t finish. We’ve also allowed a late period goal in almost every game this year. This goes beyond X’s and O’s.

 

[ChurchOfAlfie]

I've never wanted a sens coach fired more than I want DJ fired.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Apparently there was a fire DJ chant in the 300s

 

[Psycroptic86]

I missed the game (work), but 7 straight losses and another slow start. It’s time for DJ to go.

 

[Senscore]

Vancouver, having started the season winless in their first 7 games, is now ahead of us.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Vancouver, having started the season winless in their first 7 games, is now ahead of us.

Tuesday might be our first blowout loss.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

There is definately a lack of killer instinct on this team. We had a lot of games we should have won the last two seasons too but we couldn’t finish. We’ve also allowed a late period goal in almost every game this year. This goes beyond X’s and O’s.

It's cuz DJ has no killer instinct. writing on the wall was there from the start when he sat zub for the first 10 games of the season in favour of his vets who were playing the worst defensive hockey in the league.

 

[Samsquanch]

I mean, the team has pretty clearly improved even if the record isn't great so far.

This. At some point soon yes the results have to come, or else a change has to be made.

But I just don't feel the same sense of helplessness or doom that I did in previous years. It still feels like things will get better and not worse, and that the luck might go our way soon and we see the team get rewarded with a string of wins.

This is the best time of the season to have your worst slump of the year and galvanize the room when the slump gets broken and the light goes on. And imo this will be the lowest of lows this season.

 

[Samsquanch]

Apparently there was a fire DJ chant in the 300s

Nothing like home sweet home... gotta love that our home crowd can barely muster up a go Sens go chant the entire game (if they did it didn't come through well on my feed), but are consistently top notch at booing the Sens on the powerplay, or missed calls by the refs...

I find it hilarious actually with the Zub chant and how consistently loud and on point the crowd is with it. It just comes so naturally to them. The Sens crowd can in fact be loud and booming, and the arena isnt actually half asleep - the people just simply prefer to be making booing type sounds when they want to be heard (or else no sounds at all). That's how "cheering" is done Ottawa . Rable Rable Rable

Maybe a symptom of being a frugal government town that highly values accountability, transparency, and with a hawkish eye for where dollars are being allocated.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Nothing like home sweet home... gotta love that our home crowd can barely muster up a go Sens go chant the entire game (if they did it didn't come through well on my feed), but are consistently top notch at booing the Sens on the powerplay, or missed calls by the refs...

I find it hilarious actually with the Zub chant and how consistently loud and on point the crowd is with it. It just comes so naturally to them. The Sens crowd can in fact be loud and booming, and the arena isnt actually half asleep - the people just simply prefer to be making booing type sounds when they want to be heard (or else no sounds at all). That's how "cheering" is done Ottawa

Maybe a symptom of being a frugal government town that highly values accountability, transparency, and with a hawkish eye for where dollars are being allocated. Rable rable rable.

So we're going to berate the fanbase when they don't spend money on the team, and then do it again when they actually pay money during an economic crisis and show concern about the team's direction?

 

[Samsquanch]

So we're going to berate the fanbase when they don't spend money on the team, and then do it again when they actually pay money during an economic crisis and show concern about the team's direction?

I didn't know I was berating the fanbase, just pointing out the obvious. And I have no idea where your going with the rest of your post to be quite honest.

It's a low energy crowd out in Kanata on most nights. That's the truth. And that's a big part of the allure of a downtown arena imo.

 

[Rand0m]

The team is playing much better than last year. Unfortunately, the record isn’t close to reflecting that.

Although it’s what would be needed to kick this team into gear, I just don’t see a coaching change happen days after the team is officially up for sale.

No legit coach is going to want to come into this team at this point when the GM is likely gone as soon as the team is sold. I don’t think we’ll see any trades or coaching changes until the team is sold.

 

[c_mak]

I think the loss of Norris is being felt more than anticipated.
I think Zaitsev is putrid
I think Sanderson has more to learn than we thought
I think Stuzle is trying to do too much
I think the eventual sale of this team is a bit of a road block to hiring/ firing moves
I think DJ Smith is getting out coached This was most evident last night Philly came in and played a perfect road game. DJ waited to long to adjust

 

[Sun God Nika]

I've never wanted a sens coach fired more than I want DJ fired.

It really sucks because I think part of it is DJ has one of the worst defensive corps this team has ever had but he also makes dumb decisions like keeping Zaitsev in the line up but then again how much of that is Pierre saying Zaitsev can’t be scratched too much due to his salary ?

 

[yogibear]

The team is playing much better than last year. Unfortunately, the record isn’t close to reflecting that.

Although it’s what would be needed to kick this team into gear, I just don’t see a coaching change happen days after the team is officially up for sale.

No legit coach is going to want to come into this team at this point when the GM is likely gone as soon as the team is sold. I don’t think we’ll see any trades or coaching changes until the team is sold.

It is a valid point. Who’s available and desperate enough to come here?

 

[BankStreetParade]

Firing DJ won't change the fact that the defensemen are all double-clutching with the puck in their own zone on nearly every possession or change the soft clearing attempts or make some players actually care about winning battles or make the offensive guys stop over-passing the puck and just take the Grade A chances when they get them.

You guys are watching the games. At some point the players need to perform the way we've seen them perform multiple times this year, which gives us a high chance of success. DJ can't coach determination and effort into guys, that's on the players. He can only play with the lineup so much, the results are dependent on the players executing.

This doesn't absolve the coaching staff. There's clearly some issues on special teams (would help to have Norris and Zub right now, though) and some issues with some defensive zone coverage schemes but pretending that this is all 1 person's fault is kinda ridiculous. The players need to be better before we can determine if the coaching strategies and Xs and Os are the problem or not.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I missed the game (work), but 7 straight losses and another slow start. It’s time for DJ to go.

Slow start ?
they scored 2 minutes in, and at one point shots were something like 15-5 for .Ottawa

 

[Psycroptic86]

Slow start ?
they scored 2 minutes in, and at one point shots were something like 15-5 for .Ottawa

Not this game specifically. I'm talking about their W/L column.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Firing DJ won't change the fact that ….or change the soft clearing attempts or make some players actually care about winning battles or make the offensive guys stop over-passing the puck and just take the Grade A chances when they get them.

Won’t comment on the rest of your thoughts, but wrt these three things I’d yes absolutely a new coach could change these behaviours.