Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[GCK]

The players and coach seem out of answers to the problem. Something has to give soon.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

I know it’s the super popular running point of blame in here, and that’s fine.

Personally I see most of the goals against us being individual giveaways and botched passes that have nothing to do with system play.

It’s ok, there’s room for more than one opinion in this vast virtual space

If the Sens went winless for the rest of the season, I'd imagine you'd find satisfaction in the shade of red they're painting the red line this year.

 

[DrEasy]

I've already voted "yes" on firing him, but honestly I can't see what in the latest loss in Vancouver is moving the needle further on this. I thought the team played really well and deserved the win.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I've already voted "yes" on firing him, but honestly I can't see what in the latest loss in Vancouver is moving the needle further on this. I thought the team played really well and deserved the win.

Unfortunately two DJ Smith things happened that I see no resolution for. A late period goal and the team having no idea what to do with the extra attacker in the final minute. This stuff is costing us valuable points and I don’t see an improvement.

He can’t adapt on the fly and it will be too late when things get better.

 

[Icelevel]

I didn’t see the game but apparently Holden was a “healthy scratch” and zaitsev again cost them a goal fumbling the puck with giroux(?)

 

[Ice-Tray]

If the Sens went winless for the rest of the season, I'd imagine you'd find satisfaction in the shade of red they're painting the red line this year.

Well the user name definitely fits

 

[TonySoprano11]

I don't know how he survives this loss.

Regardless of how "close" the game was, we lost a home game to one of the few teams that came in with a worse record than us. If we can't beat these types of teams at home who can we beat?

There is too much talent on this team for it to be this bad. This is entirely a structural / game plan problem. If this season has any hope of being salvaged to be "playing meaningful games in March" a change has to be made right now.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Are we ever going to get an explanation as to why JBD was taken off of Chabot’s pairing? Anyone?

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

This is also a roster problem. our depth fs and d just are not good enough. not that they are losing us game but they are not good enough to make a difference. I look around the league and i see so much fast skilled playmaking two way play up and down the lineup.

Kelly, Watson, Brassard, Hamonic, Zaitsev, Gambrell isn't the depth of an NHL team trying to make a serious push.

 

[Tuna99]

Dorion is loyal to losing - if he knows how to do one thing it’s build bad hockey teams

 

[bert]

It's certainly time now. Starting Zaitsev over Holden or at all this year is groundhog day for 4 straight seasons. 4 straight years of starting the wrong D men when they had better options in camp has sunk this team before the season has started.

How do you take out Holden for Zaitsev when you've won 4 in a row? When you're 0-6 with one player how does he get the call over anyone else?

Why was Zaitsev on the ice with less than a minute to go in the first period? Why did they feel it necessary to play him and Hamonic, two righties at even strength at the end of the 2nd forcing Hamonic to his wrong side...... Holden plays left.... and right both better than Zaitsev plays any position.

How does a coach make the same mistake 4 seasons in a row? He clearly can't adapt. Or be self aware enough of his mistakes.

Absolutely no reason to follow the team again. Have to start cheering for loses for better draft position again. What a waste of time as a fan. Can't believe I have season tickets to watch this meaningless season... We're only in November. Yuck.

It's not just the coach but the GM has to go too. Unprecedented levels of losing and a losing culture. The former owner surely tied his hands but we still get the same result. 4-8 record 30th in the NHL about to play 7 of 9 on the road.

Time to end the Melnyk era for good. Dorion and D.J gotta go.

 

[Loach]

Doesn’t look like coaching is the problem to me. I mean what in the world were Chabot and Branstrom doing there lol??

The thing is, sometimes a coaching change is the only shake up that can legitimately happen. I hope the guys can cut the brutal plays out because I like DJ as the coach here.

It also would be nice if the goalie could save the day on one of those doozies…

Ah well, on to the next one. So much off ice stuff going on to be stoked about that it takes the edge off the losses for me.

That and the endless fawning over this upcoming draft class…

Wait a minute. It used to be "Who cares if the team is a tire fire off the ice and ownership/management is a disgrace. I'm just happy to watch kids play hockey." Now it's "Who cares if the coach sucks, the players are lost and we can't win a game. I'm just happy that so much fun stuff is happening with ownership."
?????
You can't be from this planet.

 

[bert]

Just wait out new ownership.

Dorion will be sent packing immediately, and then the new GM will be given reign to hire a coach.

Not much point in hiring a new coach, only to have a new GM come in and want to bring in another.

It can actually create more issues later on. Look no further than Vancouver.

They should fired Dorion right now honestly.

 

[Micklebot]

Are we ever going to get an explanation as to why JBD was taken off of Chabot’s pairing? Anyone?

He wasn't? Unless you're referring to PP and the very end of the game when Chabot stayed out pretty much the whole time while the rest of the guys would swap out.

They occasionally tried to get some extra offence by double shifting Chabot with Brannstrom and Sanderson from time to time but JBD got his regular shift with Chabot right to the end. He just isn't on the PP so with two late PP we didn't see a lot of him in the dying minutes.

 

[Micklebot]

At some point even if you don't blame the coach for our troubles you got to fire him just as a mercy pull. Players are going to lose faith in his message if they keep losing regardless of how much the deserve a better fate.

We aren't going to hire a vet coach at this point, if DJ gets fired it's Mann or Capuano taking the reigns. Once new ownership comes in my guess is it's a clean slate, new GM, new coach and hopefully new results.

 

[TeamRenzo]

It's certainly time now. Starting Zaitsev over Holden or at all this year is groundhog day for 4 straight seasons. 4 straight years of starting the wrong D men when they had better options in camp has sunk this team before the season has started.

How do you take out Holden for Zaitsev when you've won 4 in a row? When you're 0-6 with one player how does he get the call over anyone else?

Why was Zaitsev on the ice with less than a minute to go in the first period? Why did they feel it necessary to play him and Hamonic, two righties at even strength at the end of the 2nd forcing Hamonic to his wrong side...... Holden plays left.... and right both better than Zaitsev plays any position.

How does a coach make the same mistake 4 seasons in a row? He clearly can't adapt. Or be self aware enough of his mistakes.

Absolutely no reason to follow the team again. Have to start cheering for loses for better draft position again. What a waste of time as a fan. Can't believe I have season tickets to watch this meaningless season... We're only in November. Yuck.

It's not just the coach but the GM has to go too. Unprecedented levels of losing and a losing culture. The former owner surely tied his hands but we still get the same result. 4-8 record 30th in the NHL about to play 7 of 9 on the road.

Time to end the Melnyk era for good. Dorion and D.J gotta go.

Well said!

I hate to call for someone's job but after last night I see no other option, both have to go. There is no point in dragging it out, release them today and hopefully, we can turn the season around, probably not but we can't sit idle.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Looking ahead, two road games in New Jersey & Philadelphia….. not seeing too many points there….. then three at home …NYI, Buffalo & New Jersey…..maybe 2 points based on how the team has played in the last couple of weeks….. and then its the dreaded west coast trip, flying out after the New Jersey game, and playing every second day …… returning home after the US Thanksgiving weekend….. usually are point where teams have played enough games, to make a good assessment of how the rest of the season looks…… and decions like a coaching change, have been made in the past………………

 

[sensens]

The unfounded loyalty to DJ Smith has to end. Despite their high-scoring roster design, they're now 1-7-0 when their opponents score more than 2 goals. They're also 1-8-0 in games where they don't score at least 5 goals. Smith was an acceptable coach during the rebuild to help shelter the young talent and instill a strong work ethic, but it's clear as day that he's being out-coached on a nightly basis. The time has come for accountability, before they lose all control of the 2022/23 season.

 

[Alex1234]

Doesn’t look like coaching is the problem to me. I mean what in the world were Chabot and Branstrom doing there lol??

The thing is, sometimes a coaching change is the only shake up that can legitimately happen. I hope the guys can cut the brutal plays out because I like DJ as the coach here.

It also would be nice if the goalie could save the day on one of those doozies…

Ah well, on to the next one. So much off ice stuff going on to be stoked about that it takes the edge off the losses for me.

That and the endless fawning over this upcoming draft class…

I thought you were giving him until game 20?

 

[DaveMatthew]

At some point even if you don't blame the coach for our troubles you got to fire him just as a mercy pull. Players are going to lose faith in his message if they keep losing regardless of how much the deserve a better fate.

We aren't going to hire a vet coach at this point, if DJ gets fired it's Mann or Capuano taking the reigns. Once new ownership comes in my guess is it's a clean slate, new GM, new coach and hopefully new results.

Claude Julien lives in Ottawa and is waiting for a call.

He may very well be willing to take a Bruce Boudreau like contract to get back into the league (Last year, Bruce signed for the remainder of 21/22 with a club option for 22/23).

The roster has good players, he could theoretically think he can turn it around this season (not a playoff spot, but maybe a respectable 90-94 pt finish) and then win over new ownership/GM who will likely want an experienced hand at the wheel after spending $1B on the franchise.

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

Claude Julien lives in Ottawa and is waiting for a call.

He may very well be willing to take a Bruce Boudreau like contract to get back into the league (Last year, Bruce signed for the remainder of 21/22 with a club option for 22/23).

The roster has good players, he could theoretically think he can turn it around this season and then win over new ownership/GM who will likely want an experienced hand at the wheel after spending $1B on the franchise.

Now whenever anyone mentions CJ I think of that video with him acting completely disrespectful to PK when PK was trying to understand his directions. He would be the opposite of DJ in terms of being a "players coach" but I acknowledge cherry picked moments can make anyone look bad.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Now whenever anyone mentions CJ I think of that video with him acting completely disrespectful to PK when PK was trying to understand his directions. He would be the opposite of DJ in terms of being a "players coach" but I acknowledge cherry picked moments can make anyone look bad.

This group shouldn't get another players coach. They need a coach that instills a culture of work, attention to details and winning. Not another good buddy who keeps the mood light.

 

[BondraTime]

Now whenever anyone mentions CJ I think of that video with him acting completely disrespectful to PK when PK was trying to understand his directions. He would be the opposite of DJ in terms of being a "players coach" but I acknowledge cherry picked moments can make anyone look bad.

That wasn't Julien, that was Therrien

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

That wasn't Julian, that was Therrien

lol - well that's good news! Maybe?

You're right of course, now that I think about it.

 

[bert]

Claude Julien lives in Ottawa and is waiting for a call.

He may very well be willing to take a Bruce Boudreau like contract to get back into the league (Last year, Bruce signed for the remainder of 21/22 with a club option for 22/23).

The roster has good players, he could theoretically think he can turn it around this season (not a playoff spot, but maybe a respectable 90-94 pt finish) and then win over new ownership/GM who will likely want an experienced hand at the wheel after spending $1B on the franchise.

You really want a scenario like in Vancouver? I don't. They gotta fire the GM too. Whoever the new GM is they're gonna wanna pick the coach.

While the sale of the team is a necessary and good thing the timing is terrible in regards to where this team is currently at and the necessary changes.

Unrelated side note. How about the coaching staff only using Sanderson on the PK now. Another massive blunder.