aragorn
Do The Right Thing
- Aug 8, 2004
- 29,285
- 9,993
Proposal: Fire DJ Smith
- Thread starter KevinRedkey
- Start date
- Status
More experienced players can’t hurt, but I’d say it’s far more related to attention to detail from the coaches.
Sens were 11th youngest going into the season, every team younger than them going into the season had fewer too many men penalties except Arizona who were tied and had a less experienced coach.
Detroit for instance only had 4 while Ottawa had 15.
The Sens under DJ have the highest too many men penalty rate of any team since he took over. He’s trailing Jon Cooper by 1 for raw too many men calls, but has coached 71 fewer games than Cooper.
Last edited:
aragorn
Do The Right Thing
- Aug 8, 2004
- 29,285
- 9,993
Maybe DJ was on to something when he says we play a lot like Tampa’s system, haha.
Well I can agree that Bathersons total points wasn't that bad but alot of those points was on pp and he struggled defensively for most of the season. Hope he can be healthy and elevate his 5on5 production and two way game next season!
Micklebot
Moderator
- Apr 27, 2010
- 57,013
- 34,775
Batherson's production last year was mostly ES, so there's reason to believe he can bounce back with a healthy season, especially reunited with Norris.
He's not going to be a defensive stud anytime, but I do think he'll be passable
Micklebot
Moderator
- Apr 27, 2010
- 57,013
- 34,775
BondraTime
Registered User
The team, and options he was given were not very good.
No coach is going to succeed with what he was given.
I think his time is due, and do think he made some glaringly obvious mistakes, but the record he has isn’t a big surprise, to me at least.
He’s a players coach, and the players love him, and likely for good reason. A guy who will go to bat for anyone of his players.
I love DJ Smith the person, he was my favourite player growing up as a (HM Jeff Farkus and Bobby House). I’d love to see him succeed.
No coach is going to succeed with what he was given.
I think his time is due, and do think he made some glaringly obvious mistakes, but the record he has isn’t a big surprise, to me at least.
He’s a players coach, and the players love him, and likely for good reason. A guy who will go to bat for anyone of his players.
I love DJ Smith the person, he was my favourite player growing up as a (HM Jeff Farkus and Bobby House). I’d love to see him succeed.
swiftwin
★SUMMER.OF.STEVE★
- Jul 26, 2005
- 24,230
- 13,937
Thank you.
I've been saying this all season.
Glad someone with some NHL experience is saying the same thing I am.
Sens Vader
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2016
- 7,496
- 5,334
Coaching isn’t about knowing the structure, it’s about implementing it
Saying “we have the same system as Tampa” as a mean to stop the coaching criticism is laughable
If you just needed to know the system there would be zero reason for practices and video sessions
Teach it, drill it, install it so it’s instinctual
DJ can’t coach it. Having a system is easy.
Saying “we have the same system as Tampa” as a mean to stop the coaching criticism is laughable
If you just needed to know the system there would be zero reason for practices and video sessions
Teach it, drill it, install it so it’s instinctual
DJ can’t coach it. Having a system is easy.
In all fairness the players have to learn it and implement it. if young players are like young people, and most people in general, it takes some time to learn something, learn to do it well, and then learn to do it instinctually.
I suspect that whomever replaces DJ will enjoy a better and more experienced team each year regardless, since young star players tend to get better year after year, and gain consistency with experience.
This is going to be a solid team, and I love that they built it from the get go to play in the playoffs. Cooper had a great interview he other day where he talked about how TB players learned to do what they need to do to make it to the playoffs, and then that’s where hey really shine, that’s where their real season begins. It’s an interesting distinction between being the best regular season team, and just making sure you get to the dance so you can be the best team there.
It really is two different seasons that require two different types of play.
Sens Vader
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2016
- 7,496
- 5,334
Yup absolutely, it’s on the players too for sure.
I just think we play with poor structure, and after 4 years of a coaching it’s fair to criticize his ability to drill it into the team. It’s not the system itself, it’s how it’s coached.
The individual player development part has been excellent. DJ deserves full marks for that, and that was really his main role.
Saying the system itself is trash or we don’t have one I think is silly
Sens in Process
Registered User
- Oct 1, 2012
- 706
- 802
I don't think its implementation issue.
We had massive turnover entering the season, integrating new players (i.e. The Cat, Giroux, Motte, etc.) and rookies (Pinto, Kelly, Kastelic, and Sanderson), while dealing with guys like Hamonic being miscast(although he filled in admirably) in the lineup.
The Norris injury elevated two rookies into the 2nd and 3rd line center positions.
It is hard to implement system, while facing such an uphill battle.
We had massive turnover entering the season, integrating new players (i.e. The Cat, Giroux, Motte, etc.) and rookies (Pinto, Kelly, Kastelic, and Sanderson), while dealing with guys like Hamonic being miscast(although he filled in admirably) in the lineup.
The Norris injury elevated two rookies into the 2nd and 3rd line center positions.
It is hard to implement system, while facing such an uphill battle.
Butchy Dakkar
Dark Butch Yak didn't seem right.
- Oct 3, 2020
- 2,053
- 2,038
I bet line shuffling, movement in and out of roster, and too many left handed D are factors
AchtzehnBaby
Global Matador
Butchy Dakkar
Dark Butch Yak didn't seem right.
- Oct 3, 2020
- 2,053
- 2,038
BUT I think there is merit in a theory floated that ADC might be waiting to see if DJ is swapped out before considering a long term deal. I’m not sure DJ’s style compliments ADC’s skillset. From my amateur armchair.
AchtzehnBaby
Global Matador
I mean, if Nick Nurse can get fired, how the hell can DJ not get fired? Come on Pierre...
YouGotAStuGoing
Registered User
Not sure the two situations line up all that much. Nurse had definitely lost the room by the end of the season, whereas Smith definitely still has guys fighting for him.
The bigger question is, is the message Smith is sending the one that will lead us to playoff success? Success hasn't been the barometer here for a few years, so the jury's still out. Personally I'm not convinced.
aragorn
Do The Right Thing
- Aug 8, 2004
- 29,285
- 9,993
As long as human beings are playing the game of hockey there are going to be mistakes made by every one of them & sometimes those mistakes can be costly. Coaches instill structure & systems, but the NHL is a copycat league & most teams have similar structures & play very similar strategies. And It's the players that play the game not the coach & players make mistakes all the time.
It's the players who make the fewest mistakes that usually prevail & vet players are usually the guys that make the fewest mistakes which is why most coaches trust them over younger players. And it can take longer for some players especially the elite ones who have been doing whatever they wanted on the ice until they got to the NHL. You can teach the systems but how your players play the system under tremendous pressure & speed is another matter entirely. And sometimes younger players take longer to stop making glaring mistakes, I think Timmy is slowly learning that even after posting a record yr in pts. He knows he has to take fewer risks & manage the puck better.
It's the players who make the fewest mistakes that usually prevail & vet players are usually the guys that make the fewest mistakes which is why most coaches trust them over younger players. And it can take longer for some players especially the elite ones who have been doing whatever they wanted on the ice until they got to the NHL. You can teach the systems but how your players play the system under tremendous pressure & speed is another matter entirely. And sometimes younger players take longer to stop making glaring mistakes, I think Timmy is slowly learning that even after posting a record yr in pts. He knows he has to take fewer risks & manage the puck better.
- Status
