Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[boxbox]

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

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.

passes. And it's boring to watch.

Cool cool cool. I guess in Europe they don't pay attention to goatending. It seems very odd how rarely the finger is pointed at our goalies. Ottawa’s netminders have combined for the 25th-ranked 5-on-5 save percentage. Talbot has been a dissapoitment. I was not expecting him to steal games but a .906 save % just does not cut it from him. I am hoping he turns it around in the second half because this team with steady goaltending is a playoff team. The goalies aren't gettting peppered with shots so this whole lack of sturcture and defense being terrible and DJ can't coach being constantly labeled as the reason for the team not having more success is a little odd especially when no one ever brings up the goalies, Sens are a middle of the pack team when it comes to shots against this year. We have the 2nd ranked powerplay and a penalty kill in the top 10 as well. A top 10 pk is a solid indicator that the deam is good defensevly and that there is structure. For most of the year our starting goalie had a sub .900% sv ...I am not saying that this is all on the goalies, but the goalie more so then any other player/position in hockey has the ability to impact the game as they play the full game and is the last thing between the puck and the net.

 

[Micklebot]

Cool cool cool. I guess in Europe they don't pay attention to goatending. It seems very odd how rarely the finger is pointed at our goalies. Ottawa’s netminders have combined for the 25th-ranked 5-on-5 save percentage. Talbot has been a dissapoitment. I was not expecting him to steal games but a .906 save % just does not cut it from him. I am hoping he turns it around in the second half because this team with steady goaltending is a playoff team. The goalies aren't gettting peppered with shots so this whole lack of sturcture and defense being terrible and DJ can't coach being constantly labeled as the reason for the team not having more success is a little odd especially when no one ever brings up the goalies, Sens are a middle of the pack team when it comes to shots against this year. We have the 2nd ranked powerplay and a penalty kill in the top 10 as well. A top 10 pk is a solid indicator that the deam is good defensevly and that there is structure. For most of the year our starting goalie had a sub .900% sv ...I am not saying that this is all on the goalies, but the goalie more so then any other player/position in hockey has the ability to impact the game as they play the full game and is the last thing between the puck and the net.

Why do you think our 5v5 goaltending is 25th but our PK goaltending is ranked 6th? We are bottom 10 in pk xGA/60, SCA/60 and HDCA/60 spot doesn't appear to be elite PK structure.

You don't expect Talbot to steal games, and .905 isn't good enough, yet .905 ranks 21st out of 40th in goalies with 20+ games, it's essentially average.

Idk, do I think the goalie carry some of the blame, sure, they've been pretty inconsistent imo and lost us some games, but I really don't think they're getting a ton of help,

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

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.

Playoff spot first, then the chant comes out.

 

[ffayyca]

I think we are getting better puck luck in this win streak. Still don't like the general breakout strategy like using the board way too much, too much dump in and chase.

 

[LevelingSolo]

It's all just smoke, Montreal is shite and Toronto in recent years has taken the Sens lightly

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

DJ remains Coach until the final game of the season for the Senators.

the rumours are that new ownership will not take over, at the earliest, around the end of April.

 

[HSF]

I think people are underrating the Leafs

at some point they will make it out of the 1st round. They are playing really well this year and will add a significant forward at the deadline

Will they win a cup? who knows a lot of good teams don't win

 

[Silencio]

I think people are underrating the Leafs

at some point they will make it out of the 1st round. They are playing really well this year and will add a significant forward at the deadline

Will they win a cup? who knows a lot of good teams don't win

Problem is they are almost definitely going to be facing Tampa again in the first round.

The Leafs will win a playoff series eventually, but I don't think this is the year.

 

[HSF]

Problem is they are almost definitely going to be facing Tampa again in the first round.

The Leafs will win a playoff series eventually, but I don't think this is the year.

I think the series could be a coin flip like it was last year

biggest thing though is goaltending and Tampa has the edge there.

I am not a big fan of Dubas but I do think the management and leadership of the leafs is a few steps above what Ottawa has. They have identified issues with their organization and have adapted quickly and have tried different solutions while hugging the cap. They have improved their drafting. If they lose out in the 1st round again I suspect they will pivot with a new GM or coach. Having a POHO is very important for a well run organization imo. Can't have a GM calling all the shots

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think people are underrating the Leafs

at some point they will make it out of the 1st round. They are playing really well this year and will add a significant forward at the deadline

Will they win a cup? who knows a lot of good teams don't win

Hopefully they get "Jeff Friesened" along the way if they do get over the hump.

 

[Tuna99]

I think people are underrating the Leafs

at some point they will make it out of the 1st round. They are playing really well this year and will add a significant forward at the deadline

Will they win a cup? who knows a lot of good teams don't win

“Matt Murray on line 1…”

 

[boxbox]

Why do you think our 5v5 goaltending is 25th but our PK goaltending is ranked 6th? We are bottom 10 in pk xGA/60, SCA/60 and HDCA/60 spot doesn't appear to be elite PK structure.

You don't expect Talbot to steal games, and .905 isn't good enough, yet .905 ranks 21st out of 40th in goalies with 20+ games, it's essentially average.

Idk, do I think the goalie carry some of the blame, sure, they've been pretty inconsistent imo and lost us some games, but I really don't think they're getting a ton of help,

Because when you are on the PK the main objective is to prevent the other team from scoring so that leads me to believe that the guys are pretty decent at defending and playing within a structure. As I've said before, Ottawa doesn't get out shot often so one can't really say the goalies are behind the good PK numbers. Also I've never said Ottawa needs the goalies to steal games...I said we need consistent goaltending ... Talbots save% in his last 10 games where he played more then two periods 0.909 0.789 0.900 0.917 0.737 0.840 0.870 0.961 0.925 0.792... thats a mind blowing average save% of 0.864 , which would actually put him at the bottom of the list ...for a vet goalie starting goalie that just does not cut it... yet you are telling me that its our defense and structure thats the problem ? if anything those numbers would be way worse if our PK wasnt better then average...and its actually the team the bailed him out in a couple of those stinkers for him to get the W... there were way too many games this year where he let in 4-5 goals on 19 or less shots...19 shots lol and the D is the problem ? Yes they make mistakes, every D group in the league does, but our D is far from worse in the league but our goalies for the majority of the year were...you simply can't get on a consistent role as a team when your goalie either puts up amazing numbers or absolute crap ones...half the game is mental

 

[swiftwin]

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?

Pretty crazy considering we were missing Norris, Zub, Joseph and Motte for most of those games.

 

[Micklebot]

Because when you are on the PK the main objective is to prevent the other team from scoring so that leads me to believe that the guys are pretty decent at defending and playing within a structure.

Except that's not reflected in scoring chance data on the pk, all teams have that same Main objective on the PK so if we were good systemically on the PK it should be reflected somewhere beyond just the sv%,

We have the 7th highest xGA/60 on the PK, 9th highest HDCA/60 and 7th highest SCA/60, none of those are good numbers but we have the 11 the best GA/60,

I'm not seeing how you can presume our PK is systemically driven when nothing that removes goaltending from the equation suggests as much. In fact, the opposite is true, all the stats say the PK should be bad if not for goaltending

As I've said before, Ottawa doesn't get out shot often so one can't really say the goalies are behind the good PK numbers.

Being outshot isn't the relevant issue, shots allowed is. We allow the 13th most shots per game in the league, how many times we shoot on the opposition has no bearing on our goalies workload.

Also I've never said Ottawa needs the goalies to steal games...I said we need consistent goaltending ..
Talbots save% in his last 10 games where he played more then two periods 0.909 0.789 0.900 0.917 0.737 0.840 0.870 0.961 0.925 0.792... thats a mind blowing average save% of 0.864 , which would actually put him at the bottom of the list ...for a vet goalie starting goalie that just does not cut it... yet you are telling me that its our defense and structure thats the problem ? if anything those numbers would be way worse if our PK wasnt better then average...and its actually the team the bailed him out in a couple of those stinkers for him to get the W...

You're coming in with the assumption that it's the goalie not the defense that caused those sv%, maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I won't deny Talbot had a bad stretch, the question is why, I think part of it is we just aren't a consistent defensive team, that doesn't mean Talbot is great or played great, but it acknowledges the problem isn't just one thing.

there were way too many games this year where he let in 4-5 goals on 19 or less shots...19 shots lol and the D is the problem ? Yes they make mistakes, every D group in the league does, but our D is far from worse in the league but our goalies for the majority of the year were...you simply can't get on a consistent role as a team when your goalie either puts up amazing numbers or absolute crap ones...half the game is mental

I mean, there's three games that fits those thresholds. Is that too many, sure, was the D the problem in those games? I'd have to go back and watch them. The reality is we've had some pretty catastrophic breakdowns in our end this year, I'm not willing to absolve the Defensive effort because I've watched them play, they have had some attrocious habits and left the goalies hung out to dry on more than one occasion, and that's not the norm with other teams.

You say the game is mental, and i absolutely agree, but that impacts the goalie too, when you have no idea what to expect in front of you it can be a daunting task.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Ian Mendes maybe throws a bucket of water on those of us hoping for near immediate changes to members of the front office and coaching staff
Clean house or stay loyal? How a Senators ownership change could impact coach, GM

 

[bert]

Hopefully they get "Jeff Friesened" along the way if they do get over the hump.

They dont get out of the first round do you really see Matthews extending there? I think they have to make some noise this year or he is a gonner.

I dont see them beating Tampa in 7 games. They had a much better team last year.

Ian Mendes maybe throws a bucket of water on those of us hoping for near immediate changes to members of the front office and coaching staff
Clean house or stay loyal? How a Senators ownership change could impact coach, GM
View attachment 648082

Any of those teams miss the playoffs for 6 straight years? Or have the 2nd worst winning percentage over that period of time? New GM is going to want to pick a new coach I believe.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

They dont get out of the first round do you really see Matthews extending there? I think they have to make some noise this year or he is a gonner.

I dont see them beating Tampa in 7 games. They had a much better team last year.

I actually do think he stays even if they lose and they'll back up the brinks truck to make it happen, but if they miss out, they'll nuke it with Dubas/Keefe gone and probably Trotz brought in, which concerns me more than them winning a round with this crappy squad.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

They dont get out of the first round do you really see Matthews extending there? I think they have to make some noise this year or he is a gonner.

I dont see them beating Tampa in 7 games. They had a much better team last year.


Any of those teams miss the playoffs for 6 straight years? Or have the 2nd worst winning percentage over that period of time? New GM is going to want to pick a new coach I believe.

No doubt .. but how soon lol. I am hoping for a POHO/Senior Advisor type to be hired quickly and for changes to come soon after.

 

[Ice-Tray]

No doubt .. but how soon lol. I am hoping for a POHO/Senior Advisor type to be hired quickly and for changes to come soon after.

Yeah, a POHO, a few legacy players in senior vice president, aka job shadowing roles, flesh out the scouting on the pro and amateur sides, and then see how things filter out.

RR and his people (ideally) can flesh out the business side of the operations with his production company, working with the big names coming in on the arena deal.

You don’t need to fire everyone off the hop, we just need to fill out the front office and let the relationships and job performance shake out a bit.

Firing everyone immediately has the potential to be a waste of human resources, and I’d like to see a planned and measured approach to change, for a change.

 

[bert]

I actually do think he stays even if they lose and they'll back up the brinks truck to make it happen, but if they miss out, they'll nuke it with Dubas/Keefe gone and probably Trotz brought in, which concerns me more than them winning a round with this crappy squad.

Keefe is one of the best coachs in the league. A big reason they are good is the structure he has created. I dont know how much better they get with Trotz. The leafs roster construction is very poor. Very top heavy due to poor contracts by Dubas. They have a bunch of 3/4 D men no legit #1. Rielly is debatably a number 2, losing Muzzin is massive. They have very little grit up front. No one to pull the team into the fight. Their big 4 up front are very very good but after that is a very weak overall team.

I think If they dont show they can win that Matthews is going to Cali.

No doubt .. but how soon lol. I am hoping for a POHO/Senior Advisor type to be hired quickly and for changes to come soon after.

If Alfie is the president Dorion is a gonner.

 

[HSF]

No doubt .. but how soon lol. I am hoping for a POHO/Senior Advisor type to be hired quickly and for changes to come soon after.

I agree

It would be nice to have POHO in place to atleast see some of the games live this year so they can see what needs to be changed. Seems like it might be a summer move but hiring a POHO/ GM in the summer might take time for someone to really understand where the Sens organization is at

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Keefe is one of the best coachs in the league. A big reason they are good is the structure he has created. I dont know how much better they get with Trotz. The leafs roster construction is very poor. Very top heavy due to poor contracts by Dubas. They have a bunch of 3/4 D men no legit #1. Rielly is debatably a number 2, losing Muzzin is massive. They have very little grit up front. No one to pull the team into the fight. Their big 4 up front are very very good but after that is a very weak overall team.

I think If they dont show they can win that Matthews is going to Cali.

Keefe is a good coach, but Trotz brings with him a lot of experience that i could see having a big impact. It would also come with a new GM, so the decision making and roster would change, gravitating away from Dubas' advanced stats reliance and possibly fixing some of the flaws you describe.

Agreed though, it could go either way and he could go elsewhere or they could still stink with Trotz there, I'm just making a guess.

If Alfie is the president Dorion is a gonner.

What sweet justice that would be after all these years of the bullshit Alfie went through.

 

[HSF]

Ian Mendes maybe throws a bucket of water on those of us hoping for near immediate changes to members of the front office and coaching staff
Clean house or stay loyal? How a Senators ownership change could impact coach, GM
View attachment 648082

Would be interesting to see what the current on ice state of those teams were. Were they good teams vs bad teams? I think a POHO or some sort of senior advisor gets hired real quick to see the state of the team

 

[Micklebot]

Would be interesting to see what the current on ice state of those teams were. Were they good teams vs bad teams? I think a POHO or some sort of senior advisor gets hired real quick to see the state of the team

Atl was a 500 team, .
Fla was good two years prior but collapsed the year leading into the sale finishing last
Carolina was a 500 ish club
Tbay really bad the yearprio but bought mid season after Stamkos broke out, about a 500 team that year
edm was pretty bad the year leading in and bought mid year at a little better than 500
Wild were a touch a over 500 missing the playoffs
Njd were exactly 500
Van had narrowly missed the playoffs the year prior and were bought mid season when they were actually pretty good
Stars had narrowly missed the playoffs the year prior, were bought mid season. In a year where they again missed, this time by a bit more
Buffalo had made the playoffs the year prior and were bought mid season in a year they narrowly missed (3 pts back from us claiming the final spot)
StL blues were runner up for the president's trophy leading into the sale
Nsh was a very good team coming off Two 110 pts seasons


So yeah there's some correlation to success there...

 

[Ice-Tray]

Keefe is one of the best coachs in the league. A big reason they are good is the structure he has created. I dont know how much better they get with Trotz. The leafs roster construction is very poor. Very top heavy due to poor contracts by Dubas. They have a bunch of 3/4 D men no legit #1. Rielly is debatably a number 2, losing Muzzin is massive. They have very little grit up front. No one to pull the team into the fight. Their big 4 up front are very very good but after that is a very weak overall team.

I think If they dont show they can win that Matthews is going to Cali.


If Alfie is the president Dorion is a gonner.

Alfie won’t be president. Putting a figure head in charge would be a terrible idea, especially when there are legit, and well travelled paths for former stars to follow to enter the management stream while being active in the media.

He has zero experience and would need a lot of time in management to learn the various ropes before being put in charge of the whole organization.

He also has to want to go down that road, which we don’t yet know.