Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Watching Ottawa, I swear to God we have all the makings of a team that should have made playoffs, even with the injuries we have had.

We bullied Toronto in almost every way and still lost. That shouldn't have happened.

Someone here once posted jokingly that DJ's system is: "Go out there and be you." That's about as accurate a depiction as possible.

There is a lot of chaos in our play. Other coaches have mentioned it. Once every 10 games it comes together beautifully, but the lack of consistency is indication that our boys do not know where to position themselves or defer the puck strategically when they feel the heat, or when the other team is disorganized.

Our defense just freaking toss that puck the hell out instead of a reset of knowing how to slow the play down with area passes knowing their partner will reset there too.

I have been too busy with other obligations that I haven't been able to really break things down and I am speaking in general terms but the eye tests definitely denotes terrible inconsistency in the structural dynamic of the team play, whether it be breaking out of our zone, odd man rush looks, etc; Every rush is a new look up ice. The only constant seems to be Tkachuk cheating for a breakaway 90% of the time, or Chabot thinking he has extra 5 seconds when he should have let the puck go 2 seconds ago.

I am not the least bit surprised to see someone like DeBrincat failing to get a grasp of consistency himself (his finishing been brutal tho so that isn't helping).

Even in the beginning of the year, we were dominating teams (like our game vs Boston) yet they still made it a close game. It's no coincidence that defenders and goalies have looked better away from this team. And guys that have played here longer under DJ (Chabot, Zub) have started to look worse.

I can't wait for this guy to be gone.

 

[OD99]

Chabot has 51 career goals Zub has 12. Coach also gets to see who is better in practice. I dont mind criticism for DJ but this isnt one of those times.

Sure it is.

Regular season goals have nothing to do with shootouts.

We heard about Zub's great moves as soon as he got to the team and we saw a sick backhand move a few times. Greig as well - kid is used to high pressure situations and has taken loads of shootout attempts.

I was mistaken before assuming he had taken a few in the AHL but he is 0-1 attempt. Regardless, I think he could have made a better choice.

 

[bert]

Sure it is.

Regular season goals have nothing to do with shootouts.

We heard about Zub's great moves as soon as he got to the team and we saw a sick backhand move a few times. Greig as well - kid is used to high pressure situations and has taken loads of shootout attempts.

I was mistaken before assuming he had taken a few in the AHL but he is 0-1 attempt. Regardless, I think he could have made a better choice.

I mean are you at practice? Ive seen Chabot score on breakaways in the NHL never seen either of the other guys.

 

[OD99]

I mean are you at practice? Ive seen Chabot score on breakaways in the NHL never seen either of the other guys.

LOL. Of course I am at practice!

Look, it's an opinion. No big deal, I just would have rather seen other players.

 

[aragorn]

DJ does not coach on his own he has a staff of coaches that all contribute to their systems & how this team plays. The days of one coach responsible for everything is long gone. Jack Capuano has NHL HC experience & is responsible for the defence I believe. Donovan, Winchester & Redden all have NHL player experience. Davis Payne has ECHL HC experience & NHL assistant & associate coaching experience. Bob Jones has Junior Hockey HC experience & NHL experience. How is it that all these guys who have a ton of experience can't seem to fix what fans see as coaching problems?

Their PP (7th in the NHL) & PK (7th in the NHL) are two of the best special teams in the NHL & having Giroux (8th in faceoffs) in the lineup has improved their faceoff wins. The team has out shot a number of teams this yr & we have 5 guys over 50 pts which is rare so the offence is much improved. They can't coach injuries from not happening & there is nothing they can do when they lose their leading goal scorer or both their NHl goalies & they can only play the players given to them by the GM. I'm not sure what DJ isn't doing that all the other team coaches are doing? Jon Cooper had to sit 3 of his best players recently to try & drive a point home. I'm not sure how much is on the coach & how much is on the young players making young player mistakes or whether fans are overly critical.

 

[Bileur]

I mean are you at practice? Ive seen Chabot score on breakaways in the NHL never seen either of the other guys.

Not that it makes a difference to the shootout argument, but how could you forget this?



Key goal in the 5-1 comeback.

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

Not that it makes a difference to the shootout argument, but how could you forget this?



Key goal in the 5-1 comeback.

Right?

Zub flashes offensive skills from time to time. Very not flukey goals.

Didn’t he last score in a shoot out once? Maybe I’m mixing him uo.

 

[Boud]

DJ does not coach on his own he has a staff of coaches that all contribute to their systems & how this team plays. The days of one coach responsible for everything is long gone. Jack Capuano has NHL HC experience & is responsible for the defence I believe. Donovan, Winchester & Redden all have NHL player experience. Davis Payne has ECHL HC experience & NHL assistant & associate coaching experience. Bob Jones has Junior Hockey HC experience & NHL experience. How is it that all these guys who have a ton of experience can't seem to fix what fans see as coaching problems?

Their PP (7th in the NHL) & PK (7th in the NHL) are two of the best special teams in the NHL & having Giroux (8th in faceoffs) in the lineup has improved their faceoff wins. The team has out shot a number of teams this yr & we have 5 guys over 50 pts which is rare so the offence is much improved. They can't coach injuries from not happening & there is nothing they can do when they lose their leading goal scorer or both their NHl goalies & they can only play the players given to them by the GM. I'm not sure what DJ isn't doing that all the other team coaches are doing? Jon Cooper had to sit 3 of his best players recently to try & drive a point home. I'm not sure how much is on the coach & how much is on the young players making young player mistakes or whether fans are overly critical.

I don't disagree with you here. Thing is this team was projected by most to either squeeze into the playoffs or just miss them. I think that prediction was pretty spot on considering that 3 teams in our division (Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay and possibly Florida) we're pretty much locks to make it. Right out of the gate we knew that we would have to fight with Buffalo, Florida and Detroit for a wildcard spot on top of the metro teams.

Now, take that prediction and remove Norris and Formenton for the year, take out Zub, Talbot, Forsberg, Motte and Joseph for a portion of the year. Looking at it now, I would've never predicted that we would've made the playoffs with these pieces missing. Just Norris out for the year is a significant loss that the team could've never replaced in any way.

I think we are pretty much where I would've anticipated knowing that these pieces were missing. Take a bubble team and remove key pieces, you have a team that fought to make the playoffs but couldn't make it, which is what this team is.

That said, I don't think Smith is the guy to take this team to the next level. I think a change behind the bench could be a welcomed change for next season.

 

[aragorn]

I don't disagree with you here. Thing is this team was projected by most to either squeeze into the playoffs or just miss them. I think that prediction was pretty spot on considering that 3 teams in our division (Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay and possibly Florida) we're pretty much locks to make it. Right out of the gate we knew that we would have to fight with Buffalo, Florida and Detroit for a wildcard spot on top of the metro teams.

Now, take that prediction and remove Norris and Formenton for the year, take out Zub, Talbot, Forsberg, Motte and Joseph for a portion of the year. Looking at it now, I would've never predicted that we would've made the playoffs with these pieces missing. Just Norris out for the year is a significant loss that the team could've never replaced in any way.

I think we are pretty much where I would've anticipated knowing that these pieces were missing. Take a bubble team and remove key pieces, you have a team that fought to make the playoffs but couldn't make it, which is what this team is.

That said, I don't think Smith is the guy to take this team to the next level. I think a change behind the bench could be a welcomed change for next season.

Good post, we'll see on DJ I think given all the circumstances you & I have outlined could give him another yr, however they have to make the playoffs next season. Hopefully, a new coach or GM or both doesn't set them back a yr either, but you never know we have had a number of coaches that people loved when they hired them that didn't last very long. DJ seems to be hated on here now so we'll see how much longer he can hang on.

You know what else is interesting, this org fires Belleville coach Troy Mann who most on this board liked a lot & since that firing the B-Sens have played themselves into a playoff spot. As fans we don't always know what is going on, why certain decisions are made & are angered by it, but after a while it turns out to be the right decision. We also know things can go south in a hurry, every team makes bad trades, every team makes the wrong draft picks, every team team has injuries which sideline their playoff hopes & every team at some point have a good run & things go their way. C'est la vie.

 

[Micklebot]

I don't disagree with you here. Thing is this team was projected by most to either squeeze into the playoffs or just miss them. I think that prediction was pretty spot on considering that 3 teams in our division (Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay and possibly Florida) we're pretty much locks to make it. Right out of the gate we knew that we would have to fight with Buffalo, Florida and Detroit for a wildcard spot on top of the metro teams.

Now, take that prediction and remove Norris and Formenton for the year, take out Zub, Talbot, Forsberg, Motte and Joseph for a portion of the year. Looking at it now, I would've never predicted that we would've made the playoffs with these pieces missing. Just Norris out for the year is a significant loss that the team could've never replaced in any way.

I think we are pretty much where I would've anticipated knowing that these pieces were missing. Take a bubble team and remove key pieces, you have a team that fought to make the playoffs but couldn't make it, which is what this team is.

That said, I don't think Smith is the guy to take this team to the next level. I think a change behind the bench could be a welcomed change for next season.

I think you're being generous with what most people predicted but otherwise agree.

Outside of a few exuberant Sens fans, I don't recall seeing many if any playoff predictions, but perhaps I'm misremembering.

I like DJ more than some, but it's time for a change, even if the players still love him, I think a new voice would do some good.

I expect Julien, Vigneault, Boudreau, Brunette, and possibly Quenneville to get consideration.

Longshots might be a guy like Leaman, Groulx or Gronberg.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

He sucks, probably bottom 5 in salary and he's still overpaid.

 

[Cosmix]

Unfortunately the progression/addition of Stu, Giroux, Sanderson, Chychrun has been somewhat offset by the regression of Batherson, Chabot and Zub.

Hopefully the latter guys are just experiencing a down year, because if all of this team's cylinders are firing at once they'll be scary.

Don't forget the deletions which have an effect too (C. Brown, Formenton, Duclair).

 

[Golden_Jet]

your mother or mine would probably be an upgrade.

More hyperbole.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Maybe Mike Sullivan?

Vigneault, Julien, and Boudreau would obviously be top contenders for the job. Not sure about Babcock (probably not) and I don’t think a new ownership group wants anything to do with Quenneville. Is Jacques Martin still interested in being a head coach?

Quenneville has been working with the league and also it’s respect group, sounds like ready to return, but will be dependent on new group for sure.

New update on Joel Quenneville’s return to the NHL

Do you think he can come back?

www.hockeyfeed.com

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Not sure how to defend that effort. Pittsburgh isn’t Boston, there’s no reason for us to play like we’re hanging on for dear life for a whole 60 minutes.

 

[GCK]

Imagine if Darryl Sutter was our coach. We would be guaranteed to be a playoff team.

 

[Sensfanatic]

An entire season of poor structure, chaotic in-zone play, bizarre fixation on a 1-3-1 that concedes half the ice to opposing teams, and the coach is still here.
The legacy of mediocrity continues.

 

[JD1]

I pretty much agree with the posts here by @aragorn and @Boud

Given what's transpired on the injury front we're probably ahead of most fan expectations

I'm 50/50 on a new coach.

But I do think if a new ownership group is in place early enough that they might want to make a splash.

Quenneville is the guy I'd target. If the NHL will allow him back in the game, he might well have to take a lesser post to get back in

 

[Tuna99]

I pretty much agree with the posts here by @aragorn and @Boud

Given what's transpired on the injury front we're probably ahead of most fan expectations

I'm 50/50 on a new coach.

But I do think if a new ownership group is in place early enough that they might want to make a splash.

Quenneville is the guy I'd target. If the NHL will allow him back in the game, he might well have to take a lesser post to get back in

I know the Sens won last night but they got dominated. If this is what fans expected - to be in the bottom 10 of the NHL all season and then when you somehow get within striking distance of a playoff spot getting absolutely dominated by lesser teams - I can’t even believe people think this is good coaching.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Seeing quotes like "this is what happens when we get actual goaltending" makes me think people are incredibly stupid. We were outshot 49-21 and got absolutely thumped, needing an historic goalie performance, and that's a good example of DJ?

 

[OgieO]

The current game is so focused on zone exits and zone entries. Our zone entry is dump and chase 75% of the time and our zone exits is sending the wingers out to the opposite blue line looking for a high risk, low % stretch pass to a guy not moving. Ineffective, outdated and leads to shit shows like last night where despite winning we got our asses kicked.

He's either got to go or we need assistants that can coach those elements much much better.

 

[BankStreetParade]

Seeing quotes like "this is what happens when we get actual goaltending" makes me think people are incredibly stupid. We were outshot 49-21 and got absolutely thumped, needing an historic goalie performance, and that's a good example of DJ?

So when we were outshooting Toronto 30-10 but losing 2-1 that was...???

 

[Micklebot]

Seeing quotes like "this is what happens when we get actual goaltending" makes me think people are incredibly stupid. We were outshot 49-21 and got absolutely thumped, needing an historic goalie performance, and that's a good example of DJ?

We were outplayed pretty thoroughly last night, but we've definitely been hindered by goaltending for the last while.

Credit where its due, the Pens we're all over us, their forcheck was really agressive and it had us on our heels all night,

 

[Golden_Jet]

An entire season of poor structure, chaotic in-zone play, bizarre fixation on a 1-3-1 that concedes half the ice to opposing teams, and the coach is still here.
The legacy of mediocrity continues.

What zone do you think they play a 1-3-1 in, all 3, one zone, 2 zones?
Because it’s not in the ozone a 1-3-1. Seems like you don’t understand structure.

 

[GCK]

I know the Sens won last night but they got dominated. If this is what fans expected - to be in the bottom 10 of the NHL all season and then when you somehow get within striking distance of a playoff spot getting absolutely dominated by lesser teams - I can’t even believe people think this is good coaching.

I see the future. As Tkachuk hands the Cup off to Giroux after the Sens sweep the final in 4 games, Tuna99, posts that after 7 years of no playoffs the fans deserved more than 4 games in the final and the org should be embarrassed.