Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Mingus Dew]

IMO the reason you fire DJ is not because he is a bad coach, but to hold the players accountable. They love DJ, losing him is losing a core part of their group, and that's what needs to happen. It's a slap in the face to the players - this guy who you love & respect & want to win with is gone, because you guys couldn't step up.

Exactly right.

Honestly if guys like Chabot, Chucky and Batherson have the audacity to request a trade because the team is losing then we should get them out of here ASAP.

(for the record I think there is a 0% chance any of the core make trade demands).

 

[bert]

IMO the reason you fire DJ is not because he is a bad coach, but to hold the players accountable. They love DJ, losing him is losing a core part of their group, and that's what needs to happen. It's a slap in the face to the players - this guy who you love & respect & want to win with is gone, because you guys couldn't step up.

Excellent post.

 

[Sens Vader]

IMO the reason you fire DJ is not because he is a bad coach, but to hold the players accountable. They love DJ, losing him is losing a core part of their group, and that's what needs to happen. It's a slap in the face to the players - this guy who you love & respect & want to win with is gone, because you guys couldn't step up.

Exactly this, have standards as an organization.

 

[Norris4Norris]

There are player coach's like Jon Cooper who also inspire and teach structured defense.

Then there are player coach's who are just likeable all around by the players and the higher ups but who just don't know how to coach very well.

DJ is a nice guy but change is necessary at the coaching position more now than ever. It would stop us from making impulsive roster moves and trading a good player only to find out that the team has not changed it's play.

Change would give the team a jump start and maybe get a win streak going. Personally I think it will show a lot of the good young players, who have known no other NHL coach, a different perspective on team hockey and perhaps let them thrive in their individual skillsets within a structure.

 

[Cosmix]

They need to learn how to win and you don't want them trying to start learning that next Fall after trying to lose this year. That wastes next year not just this one.

I agree the team needs to learn how to win, including the players, coaching staff and GM. I have serious doubts about the coaching staff and GM. There are some VG players on this team that need better coaching than they have received so far. The roster also needs an upgrade and I would rather have a new GM do that than the current one who has had sufficient time to do the job but has not achieved much success.

 

[swiftwin]

Personally I think it will show a lot of the good young players, who have known no other NHL coach, a different perspective on team hockey and perhaps let them thrive in their individual skillsets within a structure.

This is another reason I'm not opposed to change.

Dave Poulin regularly talks about "layering" of coaching. Where players accumulate knowledge and skills from multiple coaches.

But, at the same time, DJ is clearly changing his ways and his style as the team grows. He's said multiple times that this season we wanted to focus on maintaining possession of the puck instead of just playing "rope-a-dope" and holding on until we can get a chance on the counter attack. It's clearly working, as we're regularly getting more o-zone and possession time than I can remember, maybe even going have to the pizza line days. Maybe the players are having trouble adjusting to the new style of play? I don't know.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

You fire DJ because there's no chance he's back next year, so it doesn't matter much either way anymore. I think it's in everyone's best interest to move on, including DJ, if it continues going off the rails and ends up deteriorating into a pit of negativity.

 

[Emerica]

I agree with Dorion somewhat, it's definitely not all on coaching. Zero attention to details, way to sloppy, undisciplined and guys just not executing. Guys are more worried about their counter attack than they are about properly breaking out of their zone first. But i still think we need a new voice that'll go back to basics and straighten them out. Let's start with tape to tape passes and proper breakouts.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Does he have nothing to with the team taking a million penalties too?

 

[jcs0218]

Give Trotz a blank cheque.

 

[Bileur]

Girgensons looks like Lurch.

 

[Senovision]

I have faith in this team turning it around with DJ.
Once they get Zub and Chabot back and the chemistry keeps improving and they get a couple of wins in a row their confidence will improve.
I think they will end up with around 85 points this season. They need another top 4 dman to help solidify the defence. We will hopefully get Norris back later in the season as well.

 

[Flamingo]

IMO the reason you fire DJ is not because he is a bad coach, but to hold the players accountable. They love DJ, losing him is losing a core part of their group, and that's what needs to happen. It's a slap in the face to the players - this guy who you love & respect & want to win with is gone, because you guys couldn't step up.

Like a goalie swap? Eh….

They’re challenging the puck better in the d-zone and back checking more thoroughly. Great to see. Well done, DJ.

 

[Norris4Norris]

This is another reason I'm not opposed to change.

Dave Poulin regularly talks about "layering" of coaching. Where players accumulate knowledge and skills from multiple coaches.

But, at the same time, DJ is clearly changing his ways and his style as the team grows. He's said multiple times that this season we wanted to focus on maintaining possession of the puck instead of just playing "rope-a-dope" and holding on until we can get a chance on the counter attack. It's clearly working, as we're regularly getting more o-zone and possession time than I can remember, maybe even going have to the pizza line days. Maybe the players are having trouble adjusting to the new style of play? I don't know.

Ya Poulin is really smart and was a heck of a player. I like the caliber of our offense and I liked our game tonight with Forsberg and Sanderson shining.

My opinion is that this core has so much talent that it will grow from year to year. If DJ can vastly improve the record he might keep his job, but if it's a lost cause at the end of December there should be a change.

 

[majormajor]

I agree the team needs to learn how to win, including the players, coaching staff and GM. I have serious doubts about the coaching staff and GM. There are some VG players on this team that need better coaching than they have received so far.

I think a new coach could galvanize things, as it often does. But I have to say that some of the mistakes they make need to be called out within the room. You shouldn't need a coach to tell you not to blow the zone without control of the puck, or to yell you to cut down the overpassing. The Bruins players had a moment in 2009 where they agreed to stop going so easy on each other. I think the Sens need that.

The roster also needs an upgrade and I would rather have a new GM do that than the current one who has had sufficient time to do the job but has not achieved much success.

The biggest need is to get Artem Zub extended. The chances of adequately replacing him are very low.

Other than RD I don't see any lineup holes. Just a lot of players that need to play smarter.

 

[Flamingo]

I'm not in favour of firing DJ. This team is taking longer to find its feet than expected, but I think they're headed in the right direction. And we'll probably see wholesale changes under new ownership anyway.

You guys should stop the Panic.



hang the DJ hang the DJ hang the DJ

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I guess this does a bit to explain all those one-goal losses.

 

[Sens Vader]

I thought last night we played one of our worst games, so sloppy with no structure.

but we win so yay

 

[bert]

I thought last night we played one of our worst games, so sloppy with no structure.

but we win so yay

Yeah was debatably the teams worst game of the season. Sanderson and Forsberg playing out of their minds was the reason for the win.

If anything they have got worse lately. I think the players are not listening at this point too much losing. Now is the time for a new coach but considering the impending new ownership id imagine they arent going to make any major moves or decisions. It doesnt make much sense.

 

[Micklebot]

I guess this does a bit to explain all those one-goal losses.

Interestingly he mentions we're worse in the 1st and 3rd than in the 2nd when tied, historically the 2nd period has been our kryptonite, but I find this year it's been pretty good outside of a couple games

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I thought last night we played one of our worst games, so sloppy with no structure.

but we win so yay

I wonder if anything happens if we lose on Saturday, considering we head out for the west coast road trip immediately after.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Winning seems to be the salve for the warts.. Man was it ugly last night.
Debrincat scores with Joseph so its automatically a magic formula devised by the brain trust.
Still lots of over passing offensively vs keeping it simple, getting pucks on net and winning battles for rebounds
Our board play is not great we lose a lot of even number battles.
Managing the puck has plagued them a lot. Hope and a prayer passes have to stop, And know what time of the game and the score when you are trying the behind the back ; between the legs blind pass.
That sequence at the end of the PP with Brannstrom as the only D and no forward taking a D spot was comical. Maybe its something DJ can take note of as something to cover. I have no idea why a F would not look at it as obvious.

Sanderson was absolutely fabulous. Sens are SO lucky he is where he is at .. Is he our best D already? Would not be totally crazy to say yes. It will be nice if they can get a nice spit in ice between him and Chabot and Chabot can find his game.
JBD is holding his own and should stay up. DJ shortened his minutes more than I'd like.

If DJ wants to spread the wealth on the top 3 lines ..I'd like to see Giroux at C over Brassard that way a player like Debrincat will have a decent C to work with.

Zub coming back soon will help the D big time.

 

[LevelingSolo]

So is Julien maybe not even available? Garrioch is saying he's working for the Blues

 

[Silencio]

So is Julien maybe not even available? Garrioch is saying he's working for the Blues

I'm sure the Blues would at least allow him to interview if it was for a head coaching position.

 

[swiftwin]

I guess this does a bit to explain all those one-goal losses.

This is hilarious, considering fans love to complain about turtling when we have a lead.