Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[ksens]

DJ Smith is a guy who walks and talks like someone who’s just happy to be coaching in the league. And good on him for getting to this point. But he’s not an NHL coach. And he’ll never coach another NHL team after this one.

Once again, we’ve dug ourselves a hole that we won’t be able to get out of, after 10 games. And the only guy who seems to have a problem with it is Claude Giroux, who’s been here for 4 months. But he knows what it takes to win at the NHL level. No one else in this organization does. DJ certainly doesn’t.

Does he get fired in the next few weeks? I doubt it.

But the reality is, a new ownership group is not keeping him or Dorion around. No way no how. So it’s just a matter of time. Too bad that yet another season will be wasted.

I’m sure the usual posters will dispute this, just like they argued for months that the team wouldn’t be sold… but we’ll get a fresh management group alongside new ownership. It’s inevitable.

The team should be sold by the end of January.

The best Dorion is going to be able to do is something like fire DJ and promote Capuano. There is little chance that the board is going to sign off on a long term and expensive coach signing when they're only going to be looking after the team for two more months and they know new owners are going to want to bring in their own people and have a say.

And you're absolutely right, Dorion and DJ will be unemployed by February at the latest. I really hope the season isn't well and over by that point, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

We should start a pool :

-How many times the analytics drink from the cup on bank street from Argyle to Wellington?

My guess is less then 3

I don’t understand the question at all

 

[OD99]

Can you elaborate on what makes the team look dysfunctional this season?

Not that I want to play your game but I will oblige for now.

Generally, how they play hockey in the defensive zone.

How they stare at one another of off in the distance when someone who is wide open scores on them.

How often they can have full control with no or limited pressure and make the absolute wrong decision with the puck.

Fancy stats have their place but if you watch our D zone and believe everything is fine we just see things very differently. I don't need any stats to tell me the Senators own zone is a mess.

 

[Relapsing]

The team should be sold by the end of January.

The best Dorion is going to be able to do is something like fire DJ and promote Capuano. There is little chance that the board is going to sign off on a long term and expensive coach signing when they're only going to be looking after the team for two more months and they know new owners are going to want to bring in their own people and have a say.

And you're absolutely right, Dorion and DJ will be unemployed by February at the latest. I really hope the season isn't well and over by that point, but I'm not holding my breath.

This has been my take as well.

The board will not sign off on a new coaching contract that will only put the new owners in a position of having to pay someone they'll turn around and fire.

And the only way to get the coach we need - an established winning coach - is to sign them to a lucrative multi year contract.

The timing just isn't there right now to do what needs to be done

 

[Tuna99]

This has been my take as well.

The board will not sign off on a new coaching contract that will only put the new owners in a position of having to pay someone they'll turn around and fire.

And the only way to get the coach we need - an established winning coach - is to sign them to a lucrative multi year contract.

The timing just isn't there right now to do what needs to be done

Divorce is to expensive

 

[Loach]

DJ Smith is a guy who walks and talks like someone who’s just happy to be coaching in the league. And good on him for getting to this point. But he’s not an NHL coach. And he’ll never coach another NHL team after this one.

Once again, we’ve dug ourselves a hole that we won’t be able to get out of, after 10 games. And the only guy who seems to have a problem with it is Claude Giroux, who’s been here for 4 months. But he knows what it takes to win at the NHL level. No one else in this organization does. DJ certainly doesn’t.

Does he get fired in the next few weeks? I doubt it.

But the reality is, a new ownership group is not keeping him or Dorion around. No way no how. So it’s just a matter of time. Too bad that yet another season will be wasted.

I’m sure the usual posters will dispute this, just like they argued for months that the team wouldn’t be sold… but we’ll get a fresh management group alongside new ownership. It’s inevitable.

Ian said, on locked on sens i think, that the next big meeting for lebretton is in 10 months. That the new ownership need to have the proposal ready for than, so the sale could happen relatively fast. If that's what's going on, maybe the new ownership green lights a new coach of thier choice before the sale is done. Than wgen the deal is done, the front office changes happen?

 

[Big Muddy]

I think he'll definitely be replaced if the wins dont come and we're in a similar spot around the 20 game mark. Stats or not, the guy needs wins and the easiest change you can make to try to swing momentum is swapping coaches.

That said, I think its still a bit early for it to be expected as if its outlandish it hasnt been done yet, even if there's an argument for doing it sooner than later.

Yes, there's very few things an organization can do short term to turn things around, but firing the coach is one thing that can be done. It usually gives a team a short term boost, but then things revert back if the other issues haven't been fixed.

 

[Alex1234]

I don’t understand the question at all

Sarcasm around the analytics apologist

Unfortunatly for us wins get you Cups

On another note

26th in the NHL PP wise with the players we have…

 

[Bileur]

I'd be f***ing shocked if we were still bottom 5 after 25-30 games while still having top 10 analytics. I just can't see that happening.

Our standing will go up, or our analytics will drop. Can't have both.

Even just DeBrincat shooting his career average might make a difference. That would be 5 more goals, and in these one goal affairs… who knows.

Definitely the stats look ok, but ultimately points matter as well and you have to find a way to bank them now.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Even just DeBrincat shooting his career average might make a difference. That would be 5 more goals, and in these one goal affairs… who knows.

Definitely the stats look ok, but ultimately points matter as well and you have to find a way to bank them now.

Debrincat shooting% to its norm and Chabot playing to his norm probably improves our record to over 500

Still its fair to question the PP production and not making adjustments to key spots at key moments when players are struggling

 

[BankStreetParade]

Debrincat shooting% to its norm and Chabot playing to his norm probably improves our record to over 500

Still its fair to question the PP production and not making adjustments to key spots at key moments when players are struggling

Stutzle's been the worst player on the PP, without question, and I have yet to see anyone bring his name up as sharing in the blame.

 

[Tuna99]

Debrincat shooting% to its norm and Chabot playing to his norm probably improves our record to over 500

Still its fair to question the PP production and not making adjustments to key spots at key moments when players are struggling

Finishing perfect setups from Patrick Kane and finishing setups from a bunch off non-winners is a completely different situation.

Debrincat hasn’t been picking corners or shooting like he’s getting robbed. He just puts it on net.

Not an impressive player.

 

[Union2017]

We need to get 3 W in the next 3 games. Time to step up or shut up. And, yes I know it will be tough vs Jersey, but they dropped the game vs Philly, so no more excuses.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Stutzle's been the worst player on the PP, without question, and I have yet to see anyone bring his name up as sharing in the blame.

Stützle and Chabot have both been terrible on the powerplay. They should be replaced by Giroux and Sanderson/Brannstron on the "#1" unit.

 

[Loach]

Who said that the only guys who have coached one team longer than DJ in the NHL right now all have stanley cups? I can't find the post. Help please.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Sarcasm around the analytics apologist

Unfortunatly for us wins get you Cups

On another note

26th in the NHL PP wise with the players we have…

"Just 11 games" masks the hole this team has already dug for itself.

Right now, a wildcard spot is pacing to require 103 pts. Now, we can expect that to decline a bit, but even if it goes down to 96-98pts, it means the Sens have to play ~.633% hockey the rest of the way to have a shot. That's 45 wins in 71 games. A daunting task.

If this team finishes with under 90 pts (an we need ~41 wins in 71 games to get there), it would mean that no "meaningful" hockey was being played at the end of the year.

 

[Alex1234]

We need to get 3 W in the next 3 games. Time to step up or shut up. And, yes I know it will be tough vs Jersey, but they dropped the game vs Philly, so no more excuses.

Problem is that's what they are pretty good at

 

[DaveMatthew]

Who said that the only guys who have coached one team longer than DJ in the NHL right now all have stanley cups? I can't find the post. Help please.

Only coaches to have a longer tenure with their team than DJ are:

Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh
Craig Berube in St.Louis
Jared Bednar in Colorado
Rod Brind'Amour in Carolina

Dallas Eakins and Todd McLellan were hired in the same summer as well, and are still with their teams.

 

[Sensinitis]

I'm guessing Zub will be back tomorrow.

After that, I feel like DJ has a maximum 4 or 5 games to get his crap together. We're 4-7 and have been wildly inconsistent so far. No excuses.

 

[Dan Patrick]

 

[otown]

Is there anyone out there who can run an effective powerplay? That alone would make a huge difference. We have the shooters! With every loss DJ is one step closer to the end of the line but as mentioned before the timing and potential turnover to new ownership may be his lifeline for now.

 

[Loach]

Only coaches to have a longer tenure with their team than DJ are:

Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh
Craig Berube in St.Louis
Jared Bednar in Colorado
Rod Brind'Amour in Carolina

Dallas Eakins and Todd McLellan were hired in the same summer as well, and are still with their teams.

Cool. I saw it posted here a few days ago, I think, and those coaches where used as a reason why DJ should be fired. Steve Warne on his podcast said the exact same thing today. Sens Nation eps 197. He added that DJs staff is the only obe that hasnt had a personel change...but I thought he changed the goalie coach.

 

[bert]

DJ Smith is a guy who walks and talks like someone who’s just happy to be coaching in the league. And good on him for getting to this point. But he’s not an NHL coach. And he’ll never coach another NHL team after this one.

Once again, we’ve dug ourselves a hole that we won’t be able to get out of, after 10 games. And the only guy who seems to have a problem with it is Claude Giroux, who’s been here for 4 months. But he knows what it takes to win at the NHL level. No one else in this organization does. DJ certainly doesn’t.

Does he get fired in the next few weeks? I doubt it.

But the reality is, a new ownership group is not keeping him or Dorion around. No way no how. So it’s just a matter of time. Too bad that yet another season will be wasted.

I’m sure the usual posters will dispute this, just like they argued for months that the team wouldn’t be sold… but we’ll get a fresh management group alongside new ownership. It’s inevitable.

You have made quite a few assumptions here that are your opinion I cant get behind RE the bolded. I have to ask how would you know better what it takes to win in this league than DJ? He isnt the type of guy thats going to throw his players under the bus to the media. I guarantee whats going on behind closed doors is very different than what he is saying to TSN1200. If you think throwing your players under the bus to the media is what it takes to win well you're lost on that one. To say he will never coach again is something you absolutely have no clue about either.

While I think the d coaching and management has been really bad, inexcusable. Throwing Zaitsev back out there over and over again and not having the balls to bench chabot to me are the undoing of this season so far. How much of that is DJ and how much is Capuano? Ultimately it falls on DJ but he doesnt distribute the D mens icetime. The teams record is undoubtedly worse than theyve played but you have to find a way to win games. The philly game is clearly the worst game yet in my opinion. They have to beat that team at home.

The team should be sold by the end of January.

The best Dorion is going to be able to do is something like fire DJ and promote Capuano. There is little chance that the board is going to sign off on a long term and expensive coach signing when they're only going to be looking after the team for two more months and they know new owners are going to want to bring in their own people and have a say.

And you're absolutely right, Dorion and DJ will be unemployed by February at the latest. I really hope the season isn't well and over by that point, but I'm not holding my breath.

Capuano is the problem he is the D coach. That would be a worst case scenario.

I personally dont think Dorion should get to choose another coach.

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

Brace yourselves for another losing season, team. Unless this is another Boucher situation, in which case he'll be gone by tomorrow.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

He said the same thing right before he fired Boucher. Every NHL coach is fired right after an endorsement from the GM.