Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Dan Patrick]

How about a bunch of people who really really really want a Stanley Cup like we currently have? Do they have to be experienced or proven winners or is being fun at a BBQ enough?

I’ve heard Dorion’s most important coach qualification is whether or not they have that dog in him

 

[Golden_Jet]

DJ turned Nikita Zaitsev into Nikita Zaitsev

DJ is turning Thomas Chabot into Nikita Zaitsev

What did he turn Stützle into?

 

[Tuna99]

What did he turn Stützle into?

You tell me

 

[Golden_Jet]

You tell me

Lol, nice side step

 

[armani]

What did he turn Stützle into?

Süperstar

 

[Tuna99]

Lol, nice side step

If we can argue over advertising on the boards for regional advertising g we can certainly over if DJ Smith has turned Chabot into a better player or a worse player - you’re in the “I do t care I’m just here to argue camp”

 

[boxbox]

whats the WAR on the new coach ? plus how many more wins over DJ?

top 5 in the league with the most even strength scoring, at the minimum the Sens would be with different coaching

 

[Senscore]

I think we lost sight of what really matters

 

[swiftwin]

Figures this thread gets bumped after our first loss.

 

[Sun God Nika]

As much as I appreciate the team's recent winning streak, I remain steadfast in my support for parting ways with DJ. While the team has shown flashes of brilliance, they continue to struggle with consistent mental errors that have plagued them in the past. Whether it's underperforming in front of a packed home crowd or succumbing to trap games, or starting the season with a losing streak, these slip-ups cannot be ignored.

Perhaps a change in leadership is what the team needs to motivate them to perform at their best. If they see the consequences of their actions resulting in the removal of someone they deeply care about, it may serve as a pivotal moment in their careers, igniting a fire that will drive them to play harder and support each other more than ever before.

 

[Bileur]

The strength of late season schedule and importance of racking up points early when the opponents were easier on paper and when there were far fewer back to backs was highlighted immediately when the schedule came out.

This is no surprise and is one of the reasons it was so important to come out firing early in this season in particular.

Once again they’ve dropped the ball with a beatable opponent. We’ll see how DJ has them ready for the next game.

Sens have a tough row to hoe the rest of the way.

 

[bert]

Figures this thread gets bumped after our first loss.

A true cop out to look for someone to blame or an inability to understand the sport if people think last night was DJ's fault.

 

[Big Muddy]

A true cop out to look for someone to blame or an inability to understand the sport if people think last night was DJ's fault.

I wasn't sure how to even interpret the "bump" post. I guess I don't have enough clairvoyant capability or something?

 

[Alf Silfversson]

A true cop out to look for someone to blame or an inability to understand the sport if people think last night was DJ's fault.

Last night was a failure from top to bottom including, but far from exclusive to, DJ Smith. That was a complete mess. Our best players were Brannstrom and Joseph and while I like those players for what they are you ain't winning anything if they are easily your best players.

The players and coaches ought to be embarrassed. Hopefully they come out with redemption on their minds in the next game.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

 

[slamigo]

A true cop out to look for someone to blame or an inability to understand the sport if people think last night was DJ's fault.

It's not just last game. There has been a consistent lack of structure, consistent lack of preparedness and consistent lack of accountability. I firmly believe that when this team is playing well, it's simply because the players are taking over the game and making things happen. They can do that now because of the skill. But that skill level is hard to bring night in and night out due to fatigue etc. So that's when you rely on structure and players being worried about being held accountable. I have been watching DJ for years now and I just don't see that. It really isn't a cop out. I wholeheartedly disagree.
But you are right that it isn't that simple and blaming DJ and replacing him isn't the panacea that people think it will be. The players are on the ice, not DJ. I'm sure he isn't telling them to coast and screw around and not complete their checks. Better hockey minds than mine need to take charge.

I think this could even possibly be a good situation where an experienced coach is brought in to help DJ. Another voice, not just some dinosaur but a real hockey mind to help with the structure and communication on accountability with the players.

 

[DrEasy]

I'm neither pro or against DJ (I couldn't judge coaching if it hit me in the face), but couldn't this also be interpreted in favor of him, in that he is able to exploit home ice advantage very well?

 

[JD1]

It's not just last game. There has been a consistent lack of structure, consistent lack of preparedness and consistent lack of accountability. I firmly believe that when this team is playing well, it's simply because the players are taking over the game and making things happen. They can do that now because of the skill. But that skill level is hard to bring night in and night out due to fatigue etc. So that's when you rely on structure and players being worried about being held accountable. I have been watching DJ for years now and I just don't see that. It really isn't a cop out. I wholeheartedly disagree.
But you are right that it isn't that simple and blaming DJ and replacing him isn't the panacea that people think it will be. The players are on the ice, not DJ. I'm sure he isn't telling them to coast and screw around and not complete their checks. Better hockey minds than mine need to take charge.

I think this could even possibly be a good situation where an experienced coach is brought in to help DJ. Another voice, not just some dinosaur but a real hockey mind to help with the structure and communication on accountability with the players.

Wow.

The skill level is the one thing that is there night after night. You don't lose skill playing the back half of a back to back or on the first game of a road trip.

What's not there consistently is the determination to win. This team is led by young talent that hasn't yet learned the determination to win needs to be present because without it there's 20 guys on the other bench that, although you might have more skill than them, are trying to win also and if there determination is higher in any given game...well, we see what happens

The poster boy for this imo is Chabot. He looks great some nights and other nights it looks like he is playing pond hockey with his buds and smoking a cracker between periods.

Too much skill is actually a problem we are battling. We've got a ton of it in our top 10 players. And when we couple that skill with a determination to win, to adhere to how we should play, we usually get the result we're looking for. And when we don't....we see what happens

I'm neither pro or against DJ (I couldn't judge coaching if it hit me in the face), but couldn't this also be interpreted in favor of him, in that he is able to exploit home ice advantage very well?

Yes it could be. It could be interpreted that he doesn't have the horses to compete without being able to control the matchups. In fact I'd consider that the most logical conclusion looking at DJ's tenure here

 

[Alex1234]

After all the stones I threw at Dorion, I have to admit he gave a hell of a team to DJ in the last calendar year

Now last game was on the players but its a results oriented businees and you cannot fire all the players

DJ has to find a way
No matter the 3554 excuses
No matter what

 

[BankStreetParade]

Young teams are almost always worse on the road than at home. Doubly so for a team that spent most of that coach's career being a bottom feeder/lottery team.

For example: in 2017-18, Colorado were 28-11-2 at home but 15-19-7 on the road.

Even looking at home ice records on the whole, this year there's only 5/16 current playoff teams with better road than home records. Home ice is a big advantage and "great" coaching isn't enough to override that.

 

[DueDiligence]

If we can argue over advertising on the boards for regional advertising g we can certainly over if DJ Smith has turned Chabot into a better player or a worse player - you’re in the “I do t care I’m just here to argue camp”

Chabot has regressed but Brady, Stutzle, Norris all have gotten much better. Sanderson is developing really well. Is DJ responsible for all that?

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Chabot has regressed but Brady, Stutzle, Norris all have gotten much better. Sanderson is developing really well. Is DJ responsible for all that?

Dude, those are highly skilled young players that would improve regardless of the coach, just based on age.

Chabot should be entering his prime but looks like Zaitsev, he hasn't looked this bad since he was drafted.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Dude, those are highly skilled young players that would improve regardless of the coach, just based on age.

Chabot should be entering his prime but looks like Zaitsev, he hasn't looked this bad since he was drafted.

True. Anybody can coach elite kids.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

True. Anybody can coach elite kids.

Not everyone can turn a prince into a frog though, that's DJs speciality.

 

[Big Muddy]

That is an interesting stat. I wonder what the averages are for all teams, both average win percentages for home games, and then average win percentage for away games.