Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Micklebot]

If the right coach is available, I'm all in for change. But change for the sake of change doesn't really do anything for me. Also, I wonder what his record would be this year with a healthy Norris and a signed Formenton. You reckon 3-4 wins better, at the least? They had 32 EVG last year between them. Would have made a massive difference for us this year. Massive.

Lots of solid options are available

Julien seems like the obvious choice, Boudreau is an option, not sure how people feel about Quenneville, but controversy aside he's out there, then there's Vigneault.

Some guys might get fired in the offseason too, can't imagine Laviolette feeling comfortable if they miss, do the pens move on from Sullivan if they miss, if Lightning get bumped in the first round, does Cooper survive?

Then there are up and comers, I'd rather go with experience but Brunette could be a solid option.

As for the hypothetical record with Norris and Formenton, sure, they probably do enough to win us two or three more games, health imo is a huge factor for any bubble team, we were not the worst of, but we definately were more impacted than most teams. I just think we can go further with a new coach, the players can learn new lessons and build off the foundation DJ established, a coaching change should be thout of as addition to the skill set passed or taught to players, not a replacement of one set of skills with another. You don't unlearn the good that the previous coach instilled, you bridge the gaps.

 

[Norris4Norris]

Lots of solid options are available

Julien seems like the obvious choice, Boudreau is an option, not sure how people feel about Quenneville, but controversy aside he's out there, then there's Vigneault.

Some guys might get fired in the offseason too, can't imagine Laviolette feeling comfortable if they miss, do the pens move on from Sullivan if they miss, if Lightning get bumped in the first round, does Cooper survive?

Then there are up and comers, I'd rather go with experience but Brunette could be a solid option.

As for the hypothetical record with Norris and Formenton, sure, they probably do enough to win us two or three more games, health imo is a huge factor for any bubble team, we were not the worst of, but we definately were more impacted than most teams. I just think we can go further with a new coach, the players can learn new lessons and build off the foundation DJ established, a coaching change should be thout of as addition to the skill set passed or taught to players, not a replacement of one set of skills with another. You don't unlearn the good that the previous coach instilled, you bridge the gaps.

Yep. A new coach means a new teacher.

We all have had some level of education and many different teachers. Having different teachers allows a student to learn different ways of looking at similar problems and even introduce solutions that other teachers wouldn't have been privy to.

I listen to Dave Poulin a lot. He always says how grateful he was to each of his coaches as they taught him a whole new way of approaching the game. Each coach added onto base of information and made Poulin a better player.

DJ Smith is a nice guy. But he is a mediocre coach. His record speaks for itself. Now he (and all of his staff) probably helped a lot of players learn new things. But now it is time that they learn from someone else or the players will not evolve.

Definitely not Boudreau though. He has appeared on Overdrive (Toronto radio) for years and kisses Toronto's arse every time. He is clearly biased towards the Maple Leafs.

I like Sullivan or Julien for the head coaching job. The more coaches these players can learn from the better their individual games will become. The team will get better as the players learn more. It is that simple.

 

[Tuna99]

Whoever the new coach I think the assignment is pretty simple - get Chabot and Chychryn playing to a true top 4 Dman level and this team will make the Playoffs.

chabot and Chychryn have the highest unreached ceiling of all our players and if these guys Play to their true potential Ottawa is a Cup threat.at this point they one shift great, one shift really bad - level out their Play and Ottawa is a 100 point team

 

[slamigo]

I have to admit that there is a change to how Ottawa is breaking out of its own zone. So, give him credit, DJ is starting to develop a better system and my eyeball test shows that there has been some improvement.

 

[Norris4Norris]

Whoever the new coach I think the assignment is pretty simple - get Chabot and Chychryn playing to a true top 4 Dman level and this team will make the Playoffs.

chabot and Chychryn have the highest unreached ceiling of all our players and if these guys Play to their true potential Ottawa is a Cup threat.at this point they one shift great, one shift really bad - level out their Play and Ottawa is a 100 point team

I agree that Chabot and Chychrun have a new level to reach where their games will be more impactful (just my opinion).

But personally, to me, Sanderson has the highest unreached ceiling simply because he plays like a veteran as a rookie. How will he play when he becomes a veteran? Probably even better than he is playing now.

 

[BoardsofCanada]

As excited as I am about the future of the forwards and D, we aren't going anywhere in the post season with B level goaltending.

 

[Tragedy]

I have to admit that there is a change to how Ottawa is breaking out of its own zone. So, give him credit, DJ is starting to develop a better system and my eyeball test shows that there has been some improvement.

I mean I guess throwing it off the glass and hoping for a lucky bounce only 85% of the time instead of 90% is an improvement

 

[BankStreetParade]

Lots of solid options are available

Julien seems like the obvious choice, Boudreau is an option, not sure how people feel about Quenneville, but controversy aside he's out there, then there's Vigneault.

Some guys might get fired in the offseason too, can't imagine Laviolette feeling comfortable if they miss, do the pens move on from Sullivan if they miss, if Lightning get bumped in the first round, does Cooper survive?

Then there are up and comers, I'd rather go with experience but Brunette could be a solid option.

As for the hypothetical record with Norris and Formenton, sure, they probably do enough to win us two or three more games, health imo is a huge factor for any bubble team, we were not the worst of, but we definately were more impacted than most teams. I just think we can go further with a new coach, the players can learn new lessons and build off the foundation DJ established, a coaching change should be thout of as addition to the skill set passed or taught to players, not a replacement of one set of skills with another. You don't unlearn the good that the previous coach instilled, you bridge the gaps.

What about Julien though makes him an obvious choice? His only playoff appearance since 2013-14 was with Montreal in 2016-17 when he was hired to take over a team, with 25 games left, that was first in the division and 8th in the league at the time. He had a great run with Boston starting in 2007 but he looks like he's been ineffective in recent years? I don't know.

Boudreau is another question mark for me, to be honest. A lot of playoff disappointment, especially coaching teams that finished first in their division many times. I want someone who doesn't come with that kind of baggage. This team will make the playoffs next year unless they sustain more crippling injuries. It's a matter of finding someone who will extract the most out of them come playoff time and Boudreau's resume is real thin on that front.

Quenneville is a yes for me but, I mean, who even knows what's going on there. Does he have some sort of soft ban from the NHL? Is he not interested in coaching? Etc. A lot of question marks but would obviously be tremendous to get a HoF coach like him behind the bench.

Vigneault is another good option. No idea what he's up to or why he hasn't landed somewhere else in the meantime. Definitely a strong name to consider.

Laviolette's kind of interesting but I doubt Washington is letting him go, given how many injuries they had this year. Sullivan, who knows? Another question mark on whether he'd be let go. His results recently haven't been great but they also extended him through 2026-27 back in September, so I can't imagine they're ready to move on just yet. Cooper, there's no chance in hell he's let go. 6 conference finals in 8 years, including 3 straight Cup Finals appearances and back to back wins.

I guess when you boil it down, your options for clear cut upgrades are Quenneville and Vigneault. One guy is a complete question mark on whether the NHL is even interested in letting him get behind a bench again and the other guy is in the wind right now. I guess we'll see who else shakes free from their current gig when the season is done but it might be that they turn to an up and comer to take over and I think we should have reserved expectations if that's the case.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I think this is the general consensus by most rational fans.

Lol, people who agree with me are rational, classic Bert. This forum has a serious disconnect from the real world of the NHL, which is natural, it’s just not very self aware.

Personally, I think the guy has had one season of a competitive roster and we have done pretty well, especially since n special teams which have been excellent.

I’d like to see what a second season of a competitive lineup looks like.

Guess I’m just ‘irrational‘.

 

[Cosmix]

Yeah but that was us for the last three years as well. So if we’re throwing away the tanking years, then for the Sens you need to start this season if you want to argue DJ’s numbers.

I’m not against a coaching change eventually either, I just think a lot of what’s thrown around in here as facts is pure trash. Like give Eakins a pass for being in a rebuild, but using DJ’s rebuild years against him.

Under DJ the PP and PK have improved but the ES play in our own end has not.

If ES play in the D zone had improved too, I think we might have made the playoffs. Instead we continue to see Fs blowing the zone and not covering a man in the D zone. That is on coaching.

The roster is the result of Dorion; there are weaknesses in the current roster and Dorion has not addressed them sufficiently to make this a team that can get into and go far in the playoffs. Plus due to some of his past moves, I have little confidence in Dorion as GM.

 

[LevelingSolo]

Julien to me would be a solid option , though there is a user on here that mentioned he is his neighbour and that Julien is not looking to coach at this point in time

Forget who that was but if not Claude someone like AV maybe

 

[Cosmix]

Whoever the new coach I think the assignment is pretty simple - get Chabot and Chychryn playing to a true top 4 Dman level and this team will make the Playoffs.

chabot and Chychryn have the highest unreached ceiling of all our players and if these guys Play to their true potential Ottawa is a Cup threat.at this point they one shift great, one shift really bad - level out their Play and Ottawa is a 100 point team

That is only one part of the problem.
Play of the Fs in our D zone is another. Improving the bottom 6 of the roster is another.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I have to admit that there is a change to how Ottawa is breaking out of its own zone. So, give him credit, DJ is starting to develop a better system and my eyeball test shows that there has been some improvement.

Don't know what you're watching, brother.

Eyeball test tells me they still quite discombobulated.

 

[Micklebot]

What about Julien though makes him an obvious choice? His only playoff appearance since 2013-14 was with Montreal in 2016-17 when he was hired to take over a team, with 25 games left, that was first in the division and 8th in the league at the time. He had a great run with Boston starting in 2007 but he looks like he's been ineffective in recent years? I don't know.

He's always gotten more out his team than the sum of the parts, coaches a strong defensive system, and just seems like the best fit to me,

I don't think he's been ineffective these years, when he took over from Therrien their record improve to finish the year, but that roster was not good at all during his tenure and he still them playing competitive hockey.

Boudreau is another question mark for me, to be honest. A lot of playoff disappointment, especially coaching teams that finished first in their division many times. I want someone who doesn't come with that kind of baggage. This team will make the playoffs next year unless they sustain more crippling injuries. It's a matter of finding someone who will extract the most out of them come playoff time and Boudreau's resume is real thin on that front.

Well, I think we need to make the playoffs to disappoint when we get there and Boudreau has one of the best reg season records. Playoff success is also pretty reliant on matchups, roster health and goaltending, I find coaches often get too much blame and too much credit for playoffs.

Quenneville is a yes for me but, I mean, who even knows what's going on there. Does he have some sort of soft ban from the NHL? Is he not interested in coaching? Etc. A lot of question marks but would obviously be tremendous to get a HoF coach like him behind the bench.

Idk why Quenneville would be banned but Cheveldayov would left untouched, he was in the same meeting as Quenneville and knew about it too, but I can see teams being hesitant due to the pr.

Vigneault is another good option. No idea what he's up to or why he hasn't landed somewhere else in the meantime. Definitely a strong name to consider.

Agreed, though I've never been a huge fan, he's certainly a strong option

Laviolette's kind of interesting but I doubt Washington is letting him go, given how many injuries they had this year. Sullivan, who knows? Another question mark on whether he'd be let go. His results recently haven't been great but they also extended him through 2026-27 back in September, so I can't imagine they're ready to move on just yet. Cooper, there's no chance in hell he's let go. 6 conference finals in 8 years, including 3 straight Cup Finals appearances and back to back wins.

Who knows, GMs sometimes make kneejerk decisions to save their own skin, my point is more about the potential of other guys becoming available

I guess when you boil it down, your options for clear cut upgrades are Quenneville and Vigneault. One guy is a complete question mark on whether the NHL is even interested in letting him get behind a bench again and the other guy is in the wind right now. I guess we'll see who else shakes free from their current gig when the season is done but it might be that they turn to an up and comer to take over and I think we should have reserved expectations if that's the case.

I think all the guys are clear cut upgrades over DJ, but to each their own. Any way you look at it though there are guys out their depending one management's vision for the team.

 

[Bileur]

What about Julien though makes him an obvious choice? His only playoff appearance since 2013-14 was with Montreal in 2016-17 when he was hired to take over a team, with 25 games left, that was first in the division and 8th in the league at the time. He had a great run with Boston starting in 2007 but he looks like he's been ineffective in recent years? I don't know.

Boudreau is another question mark for me, to be honest. A lot of playoff disappointment, especially coaching teams that finished first in their division many times. I want someone who doesn't come with that kind of baggage. This team will make the playoffs next year unless they sustain more crippling injuries. It's a matter of finding someone who will extract the most out of them come playoff time and Boudreau's resume is real thin on that front.

Quenneville is a yes for me but, I mean, who even knows what's going on there. Does he have some sort of soft ban from the NHL? Is he not interested in coaching? Etc. A lot of question marks but would obviously be tremendous to get a HoF coach like him behind the bench.

Vigneault is another good option. No idea what he's up to or why he hasn't landed somewhere else in the meantime. Definitely a strong name to consider.

Laviolette's kind of interesting but I doubt Washington is letting him go, given how many injuries they had this year. Sullivan, who knows? Another question mark on whether he'd be let go. His results recently haven't been great but they also extended him through 2026-27 back in September, so I can't imagine they're ready to move on just yet. Cooper, there's no chance in hell he's let go. 6 conference finals in 8 years, including 3 straight Cup Finals appearances and back to back wins.

I guess when you boil it down, your options for clear cut upgrades are Quenneville and Vigneault. One guy is a complete question mark on whether the NHL is even interested in letting him get behind a bench again and the other guy is in the wind right now. I guess we'll see who else shakes free from their current gig when the season is done but it might be that they turn to an up and comer to take over and I think we should have reserved expectations if that's the case.

Julien is definitely proven in building defensive systems but he’s also had a reputation for not giving many opportunities to younger players, I’m not sure how true that is, he seems to have developed guys. Interview process would go a long way to determine how good of a fit he’d be. The fact he’s seen tons of the Sens live would be a huge boost.

I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing what the guy who developped Bergeron, Marchand, Lucic, Danault, could do with Stutzle, Norris, Pinto, Greig and Tkachuk.

Quenneville I’d want to asked pointed questions to in the interview process but as a coach he’s hard to beat.

They’re probably the most intriguing to me.

 

[Micklebot]

Julien is definitely proven in building defensive systems but he’s also had a reputation for not giving many opportunities to younger players, I’m not sure how true that is, he seems to have developed guys. Interview process would go a long way to determine how good of a fit he’d be. The fact he’s seen tons of the Sens live would be a huge boost.

I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing what the guy who developped Bergeron, Marchand, Lucic, Danault, could do with Stutzle, Norris, Pinto, Greig and Tkachuk.

Quenneville I’d want to asked pointed questions to in the interview process but as a coach he’s hard to beat.

They’re probably the most intriguing to me.

If you can get past the PR aspect with Quenneville he's imo the best option out there. I'm willing to give second chances but only to those that have owned their mistakes. How do we determine if Quenneville has owned his mistake and changed for the better as a result, idk.

 

[Bileur]

If you can get past the PR aspect with Quenneville he's imo the best option out there. I'm willing to give second chances but only to those that have owned their mistakes. How do we determine if Quenneville has owned his mistake and changed for the better as a result, idk.

Agreed on Q. You’d have to do thorough reference checks but even then no guarantees.

You’d have to think Ottawa is in an extremely attractive position for a potential coach. Two young #1 C’s, one of which looks like a superstar, two guys who look at least like 3Cs in Greig and Pinto. Several options to be your horse as a 1D. A young powerforward/captain. Potential new owners flush with cash wanting to show new commitment.

Seems like a dream opportunity.

 

[LevelingSolo]

If you can get past the PR aspect with Quenneville he's imo the best option out there. I'm willing to give second chances but only to those that have owned their mistakes. How do we determine if Quenneville has owned his mistake and changed for the better as a result, idk.

Supposedly he's been going though some sort of program with Sheldon Kennedy. Wether or not that's enough to warrant his return who knows

 

[Ice-Tray]

Under DJ the PP and PK have improved but the ES play in our own end has not.

If ES play in the D zone had improved too, I think we might have made the playoffs. Instead we continue to see Fs blowing the zone and not covering a man in the D zone. That is on coaching.

The roster is the result of Dorion; there are weaknesses in the current roster and Dorion has not addressed them sufficiently to make this a team that can get into and go far in the playoffs. Plus due to some of his past moves, I have little confidence in Dorion as GM.

Sure, but not everything can become awesome all at once in my opinion. I think the PP and PK have been great which is a huge step, and the 5 on 5 play has started to pick up as well. Change is occurring across the board and the team is getting better, much better.

The guys need consistency which comes from experience. Change will happen eventually, but I think a lot of what’s going on in this board is change for the sake of change. Fans want a clean sweep without considering the consequences.

I’d like to see a year two of DJ with a talented young roster, and he’s already under contract and has been meeting his development and team success goals so what’s the rush to change, and really, the legitimate reason?

 

[Micklebot]

Supposedly he's been going though some sort of program with Sheldon Kennedy. Wether or not that's enough to warrant his return who knows

Probably a bigger issue is whether players on the team are willing to give him a second chance, I'm sure some or even most might, but if there are a couple guys on your team who don't, what do you do. It's probably not worth the headache if I'm being honest.

 

[slamigo]

Don't know what you're watching, brother.

Eyeball test tells me they still quite discombobulated.

I didn't say it was fixed. Lol

But I did notice the way they support along the wall and also send one forward out of the zone for stretch passes seems new and it worked a few times. It forces the other team to commit less to containment and worry about Ottawa's speed. Also, passing has been better.

BUT, once the other team has possession and starts their cycle, yeah, it's not good. Not good at all. Lol.

 

[Sens Vader]

My biggest concern is there are not many good coaches available

Maybe some will get fired in the summer though

Coach Q is the best on the market, but I don’t think he’s allowed back in the league

 

[Crosside]

Sutter will not come back to Calgary

 

[MrGuyPerson]

If you can get past the PR aspect with Quenneville he's imo the best option out there. I'm willing to give second chances but only to those that have owned their mistakes. How do we determine if Quenneville has owned his mistake and changed for the better as a result, idk.

I think there is a real chance Laviolette becomes available after this season. Him and Giroux made some magic in Philly together. Then the flyers slowly rolled down hill after they pushed Lavi out and Girouxs production slipped

If the caps fire Lavi, which feels likely with a playoff miss, I would go after him. He is a great coach. Talent seems to develop pretty well during his coaching and him and Giroux do have a successful past. I think he is a coach that takes this team to the next level

 

[Tuna99]

You can’t make the playoffs without a winning road record. How devastating he Chicago/Vancouver/Calgary/Edm
Road loses were

Ottawa goes 2-1-1 in those games and they are in the playoffs spot and have a winning road record

November gets lots of talk as it should, that brutal road trip ended the dream.