Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[aragorn]

I think goaltending is what kept Ottawa out of the playoffs this yr, they lost both NHL goaltenders several times during the yr & lost them at the worse time when they needed them for that Western trip which basically ended their season. I think they went through more goalies this yr than anyone else in the NHL & AHL combined.

 

[Tuna99]

I think goaltending is what kept Ottawa out of the playoffs this yr, they lost both NHL goaltenders several times during the yr & lost them at the worse time when they needed them for that Western trip which basically ended their season. I think they went through more goalies this yr than anyone else in the NHL & AHL combined.

DJ did replace the goalie coach with his guy so he only has himself to blame.

The other side of this is if your expectations are so low they aren't even goals to work towards - (like not making the playoffs was the goal of the team - that was a stupid goal) and then you don't even

#1 - Get off to a good start - stated goal of the GM

#2 - be in the playoff race. DJ says they were eliminated with 3 games left but they were eliminated when they lost to Vancouver

#3 - your team looked like shit for large portions of the year. No consistency, horrible defensive play.

I mean at some point someone in this franchise is going to have to stand up for winning and not meeting the lowest bar set in all of pro sports (Miss the playoffs with respect) STUPID

 

[Golden_Jet]

No to Roy, he always wants to be GM and coach, see Colorado.
If getting a GM / coach I’d prefer Trotz.

 

[aragorn]

DJ did replace the goalie coach with his guy so he only has himself to blame.

The other side of this is if your expectations are so low they aren't even goals to work towards - (like not making the playoffs was the goal of the team - that was a stupid goal) and then you don't even

#1 - Get off to a good start - stated goal of the GM

#2 - be in the playoff race. DJ says they were eliminated with 3 games left but they were eliminated when they lost to Vancouver

#3 - your team looked like shit for large portions of the year. No consistency, horrible defensive play.

I mean at some point someone in this franchise is going to have to stand up for winning and not meeting the lowest bar set in all of pro sports (Miss the playoffs with respect) STUPID

Well in the end, even with all of the shit that went wrong including losing both NHL goalies several times they ended up just three games from being in the playoffs. At the beginning of the season it's what most people expected from this team, it takes time for teams to mature & become contenders. New Jersey IMO looks like a team that is learning what it takes to win in the playoffs & are still a little time away from being a mature team who can go on a long playoff run. I assume that it will also take Ottawa a little more time, we are not quite there yet & are still quite young & need some maturing.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Well in the end, even with all of the shit that went wrong including losing both NHL goalies several times they ended up just three games from being in the playoffs. At the beginning of the season it's what most people expected from this team, it takes time for teams to mature & become contenders. New Jersey IMO looks like a team that is learning what it takes to win in the playoffs & are still a little time away from being a mature team who can go on a long playoff run. I assume that it will also take Ottawa a little more time, we are not quite there yet & are still quite young & need some maturing.

that overstates how close they were.
They needed 7 pts to pass Florida
There were 2 teams to leap frog (Sabres and Pens) and both had 5 pt leads on the Sens.

If they all played 10 more games the Sens would have their work cut out and even then its not likely they sit on top of that group.

 

[aragorn]

No to Roy, he always wants to be GM and coach, see Colorado.
If getting a GM / coach I’d prefer Trotz.

I thought I heard the other day that Trotz is going to take over from David Poile in Nashville as their GM. Trotz is now a senior advisor with Nashville to Poile, I assume he is currently learning the GM role. Poile's son is an assistant GM in Nashville. While checking that I was surprised to see that Brett Wilson (from Dragon Den fame & a Canadian entrepeneur) is listed as one of the owners & their are many.

 

[aragorn]

that overstates how close they were.
They needed 7 pts to pass Florida
There were 2 teams to leap frog (Sabres and Pens) and both had 5 pt leads on the Sens.

If they all played 10 more games the Sens would have their work cut out and even then its not likely they sit on top of that group.

Did you think at the beginning of the yr that they were going to make the playoffs this yr? For those that did it was a dissapointing season, for those that did't which was most of the analysts they ended up fairly close or as close as those people thought. I was in the second camp & didn't think they had the right roster to be a playoff contender but with some of the moves during the yr it was looking more promising until they lost both NHL goalies. Just my take.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Did you think at the beginning of the yr that they were going to make the playoffs this yr? For those that did it was a dissapointing season, for those that did't which was most of the analysts they ended up fairly close or as close as those people thought. I was in the second camp & didn't think they had the right roster to be a playoff contender but with some of the moves during the yr it was looking more promising until they lost both NHL goalies. Just my take.

I never thought they were a playoff team.

 

[bert]

DJ did replace the goalie coach with his guy so he only has himself to blame.

The other side of this is if your expectations are so low they aren't even goals to work towards - (like not making the playoffs was the goal of the team - that was a stupid goal) and then you don't even

#1 - Get off to a good start - stated goal of the GM

#2 - be in the playoff race. DJ says they were eliminated with 3 games left but they were eliminated when they lost to Vancouver

#3 - your team looked like shit for large portions of the year. No consistency, horrible defensive play.

I mean at some point someone in this franchise is going to have to stand up for winning and not meeting the lowest bar set in all of pro sports (Miss the playoffs with respect) STUPID

You cant possibly believe this. What an absurd comment.

 

[Tuna99]

Well in the end, even with all of the shit that went wrong including losing both NHL goalies several times they ended up just three games from being in the playoffs. At the beginning of the season it's what most people expected from this team, it takes time for teams to mature & become contenders. New Jersey IMO looks like a team that is learning what it takes to win in the playoffs & are still a little time away from being a mature team who can go on a long playoff run. I assume that it will also take Ottawa a little more time, we are not quite there yet & are still quite young & need some maturing.

The difference between a starting goalie making $60 million in career earnings and a career AHL goalie is a save percentage difference of about .050%. Close But that’s a massive difference - this is how I see DJ Smith, a proffeisoanl coach but not a competent NHL head coach - because if he was he wouldn’t be be saying he did a good job last season missing the playoffs and his team looking like shit for huge parts of the season but most importantly they looked like shit when it mattered the most

 

[bert]

The difference between a starting goalie making $60 million in career earnings and a career AHL goalie is a save percentage difference of about .050%. Close But that’s a massive difference - this is how I see DJ Smith, a proffeisoanl coach but not a competent NHL head coach - because if he was he wouldn’t be be saying he did a good job last season missing the playoffs and his team looking like shit for huge parts of the season but most importantly they looked like shit when it mattered the most

I guess as a coping mechanism you have to blame DJ for for absolutely everything including individual player performance.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

All signs pointing to Coach Q landing in NY, crazy - I wonder if they can keep Kane on a discount

Gallant is an excellent coach, one of my personal favorites, hope we snag him now if Quenneville is off the market

as of today…PD is the GM of the senators and if he was contemplating a change of coach, he would have already pulled the trigger on DJS…. Just as other GMs have done very shortly after their seasons ended.

DJS is currently at the World Championships and when that tournament is completed, there might be an opportunity for PD to make a change, at the coaching position if his mind has changed…. But I don’t expect it.

DJS has met all the goals his GM set for him, for each season he has coached…. As of today, I expect them both to be in their current roles to begin the next season. Of course, new ownership could decide otherwise.

 

[Tuna99]

I guess as a coping mechanism you have to blame DJ for for absolutely everything including individual player performance.

Patrick Roy who is a NHL winner in every sense of the word said the Montreao franchise failed when they went from championship every season as the standard to just making the playoffs as the standard. Being brave in management and coaching is important - hiding behind poir performances and the coach saying everyone expected you to be bad is a losers mentality. It’s cowardly, it’s middle management, it’s unfocused, it lacks leadership.

Somebody in this franchise who doesn’t get their work done with their skates on has to stand up for winning. When the manager and the coach put winning above all else that is when I will be on the side of the coach.

When franchises set goals like “be respectable but not make the playoffs” they have no goals, the priority is to not be blamed for being a bad team.

You can’t tell me the trade for Chychryn wasn’t meant to be a playoff push because that’s what the GM says it was so find me a coach and a GM who can say out loud and be brave “we want to make the playoffs” - the franchise messaging doesn’t make sense.

Mendes poitned that out - and DJ replies with “everyone thiguht we’d be bad anyways” when I want my coach to say “our goal was to win the Cup” and not “we’ll Buffalo finished 6 points ahead of us, it was a good season”

 

[SanderSen]

I don't usually call for a coach to be replaced, as that is the usual hue and cry. Right now though, I think a change of approach is warranted. Enough time has passed.

The reality is I don't see any management and/or coach changes until the ownership is settled. New ownership will want to make a splash and look for more, and a new GM and coach can be expected.

 

[bert]

Patrick Roy who is a NHL winner in every sense of the word said the Montreao franchise failed when they went from championship every season as the standard to just making the playoffs as the standard. Being brave in management and coaching is important - hiding behind poir performances and the coach saying everyone expected you to be bad is a losers mentality. It’s cowardly, it’s middle management, it’s unfocused, it lacks leadership.

Somebody in this franchise who doesn’t get their work done with their skates on has to stand up for winning. When the manager and the coach put winning above all else that is when I will be on the side of the coach.

When franchises set goals like “be respectable but not make the playoffs” they have no goals, the priority is to not be blamed for being a bad team.

You can’t tell me the trade for Chychryn wasn’t meant to be a playoff push because that’s what the GM says it was so find me a coach and a GM who can say out loud and be brave “we want to make the playoffs” - the franchise messaging doesn’t make sense.

Mendes poitned that out - and DJ replies with “everyone thiguht we’d be bad anyways” when I want my coach to say “our goal was to win the Cup” and not “we’ll Buffalo finished 6 points ahead of us, it was a good season”

I can't believe you actually think the goal wasn't to make the playoffs. Absolutely insane. Of course the goal is to win the cup.

Also those aren't the actual quotes. You just made them up. You're reaching at a straw man argument that isn't even real.

 

[Tuna99]

I can't believe you actually think the goal wasn't to make the playoffs. Absolutely insane. Of course the goal is to win the cup.

Also those aren't the actual quotes. You just made them up. You're reaching at a straw man argument that isn't even real.

Find me someone in management and coaching who thinks we had a underperforming team - that’s said it out loud.

This is why they have to go - they are okay with mediocre and they are okay with everyone else being okay with Ottawa being mediocre

 

[Sens Vader]

as of today…PD is the GM of the senators and if he was contemplating a change of coach, he would have already pulled the trigger on DJS…. Just as other GMs have done very shortly after their seasons ended.

DJS is currently at the World Championships and when that tournament is completed, there might be an opportunity for PD to make a change, at the coaching position if his mind has changed…. But I don’t expect it.

DJS has met all the goals his GM set for him, for each season he has coached…. As of today, I expect them both to be in their current roles to begin the next season. Of course, new ownership could decide otherwise.

Yeah if I had to make a prediction. I am assuming both Dorion and DJ are staying for next season.

We will see if that changes when new ownership arrives but timing alone is gonna make it difficult to make new hires

 

[Golden_Jet]

The difference between a starting goalie making $60 million in career earnings and a career AHL goalie is a save percentage difference of about .050%.

What , you just made that up lol.

0.050 difference
So that’s like .905 vs .900 or .895 vs .890 etc
That would be wrong.

 

[aragorn]

I never thought they were a playoff team.

So they actually played to our expectation given the roster. Do you expect them to make the playoffs next yr? I do, but I don't expect them to win the cup next yr. Hopefully, they make it out of the 1st & 2nd rd.

 

[bert]

Find me someone in management and coaching who thinks we had a underperforming team - that’s said it out loud.

This is why they have to go - they are okay with mediocre and they are okay with everyone else being okay with Ottawa being mediocre

Do you actually think they are going to go out and give the media ammunition. Do you think these people got to this level not trying to win. Use some common sense.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I think part of setting reasonable public expectations for the team, is to protect the young core, and the players in general from irrational fan backlash. The young players simply don’t need the added pressure At this point

Most fan anger is directed at the manager and coach, which is exactly where they want it. DJ intimated a few weeks back that he personally steers blame mostly towards him and his staff on purpose to insulate the players.

Next year there will be more onus on the layers to put it together and make the playoffs, and from the sounds of it, they know this.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I think part of setting reasonable public expectations for the team, is to protect the young core, and the players in general from irrational fan backlash. The young players simply don’t need the added pressure At this point

Most fan anger is directed at the manager and coach, which is exactly where they want it. DJ intimated a few weeks back that he personally steers blame mostly towards him and his staff on purpose to insulate the players.

Next year there will be more onus on the layers to put it together and make the playoffs, and from the sounds of it, they know this.

Well the players are what they are. The team was constructed by the GM and the GM chose DJ to captain that ship.

Blaming a whole a collection of players isn't going to change results. The only coaches in the league right now who are longer tenured than DJ have all recently won Cups and Rod Brind'Amour, who coaches a perennial contender. Short shelf lives are the norm.

 

[Cosmix]

I think goaltending is what kept Ottawa out of the playoffs this yr, they lost both NHL goaltenders several times during the yr & lost them at the worse time when they needed them for that Western trip which basically ended their season. I think they went through more goalies this yr than anyone else in the NHL & AHL combined.

That was one factor.
Losing Norris, Formenton, & Brown were others.
Not improving the D core was another.
Dorion is another.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

So they actually played to our expectation given the roster. Do you expect them to make the playoffs next yr? I do, but I don't expect them to win the cup next yr. Hopefully, they make it out of the 1st & 2nd rd.

I don't think any team expects to win the Cup. You get in the Playoffs and expect to compete when you're there.
This team should be in a Playoff position next season, anything else will be looked at as a failure.

 

[aragorn]

I don't think any team expects to win the Cup. You get in the Playoffs and expect to compete when you're there.
This team should be in a Playoff position next season, anything else will be looked at as a failure.

I bet Boston expected to win the cup given their season, their fans certainly did & we know the Leaf fans do every yr. lol Agree, they need to make the playoffs next yr, but you never know in sports given their are 31 other teams also trying to make the playoffs & we have seen injuries derail good teams too. I think they have a much better team to start next season than they did at the start of last season & should be much better out of the gate.