Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

People are finally coming around on DJ

'Meaningful games' have arrived for Senators — and D.J. Smith is a big reason why

After the ‘Summer of Pierre’ the Senators had another rough start to the season. But lately? They’re playing meaningful games and winning, something D.J. Smith has a lot to do with. The coach is working his tail off, and it shows.

www.sportsnet.ca

I'm still waiting for the "Sorry DJ!" chant.

He's got a ways to go yet if what Ruff's team did is the comparable.

 

[JD1]

Don't you just hate it when data nukes a good narrative

 

[bashbros32]

He's got a ways to go yet if what Ruff's team did is the comparable.

Right? team BARELY achieves above .500 for the first time in his career and we're expected to be happy and think all is right in the world and he's super deserving of praise and adoration?

At LEAST hit the teams goals and expectations on the year... meaningful games in march-april or bust... just the way it's been since the beginning... Last I checked January isn't March.

The team has pulled it around since December, and sure his special teams have a lot to do with it, however there are still a number of baffling decisions, and the team still ranks like bottom 6 or so in 5v5 scoring.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Right? team BARELY achieves above .500 for the first time in his career and we're expected to be happy and think all is right in the world and he's super deserving of praise and adoration?

At LEAST hit the teams goals and expectations on the year... meaningful games in march-april or bust... just the way it's been since the beginning... Last I checked January isn't March.

The team has pulled it around since December, and sure his special teams have a lot to do with it, however there are still a number of baffling decisions, and the team still ranks like bottom 6 or so in 5v5 scoring.

They are looking much better, that can't be denied, but I would like to see them sitting in a playoff spot before we get any silliness like a "sorry DJ" chant.

 

[bashbros32]

They are looking much better, that can't be denied, but I would like to see them sitting in a playoff spot before we get any silliness like a "sorry DJ" chant.

exactly, the Devils went on a historic win streak and were legitimately in 1st in the east (league?) at the time they busted out those chants...

we are at .500... and 8 points out of a playoff spot. No apologies are required for a guy who is having the greatest coaching season of his career and is at .500.

Thats's STILL pathetic.

 

[swiftwin]

He's got a ways to go yet if what Ruff's team did is the comparable.

Ruff's team is looking pretty ruff lately.

Right? team BARELY achieves above .500 for the first time in his career and we're expected to be happy and think all is right in the world and he's super deserving of praise and adoration?

At LEAST hit the teams goals and expectations on the year... meaningful games in march-april or bust... just the way it's been since the beginning... Last I checked January isn't March.

The team has pulled it around since December, and sure his special teams have a lot to do with it, however there are still a number of baffling decisions, and the team still ranks like bottom 6 or so in 5v5 scoring.

Has anyone said that? All I'm saying is that he was not deserving of all the hate an vitriol he got earlier this season.

 

[Golden_Jet]

exactly, the Devils went on a historic win streak and were legitimately in 1st in the east (league?) at the time they busted out those chants...

we are at .500... and 8 points out of a playoff spot. No apologies are required for a guy who is having the greatest coaching season of his career and is at .500.

Thats's STILL pathetic.

Ruff not looking so good last 15-20 games.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

exactly, the Devils went on a historic win streak and were legitimately in 1st in the east (league?) at the time they busted out those chants...

we are at .500... and 8 points out of a playoff spot. No apologies are required for a guy who is having the greatest coaching season of his career and is at .500.

Thats's STILL pathetic.

I do think it's fair to say they're playing better and he gets some of the credit, but I find the idea of an "apology" a bit silly in itself (it's cutthroat pro sports, c'mon), but doubly so when the team is still where it is despite the improvement.

Ruff's team is looking pretty ruff lately.

It sure is, but they're still in a good spot if they can get it back on the rails. I'm sure the fire Lindy chants will come out again if they collapse out of the playoffs. Maybe they'll put a fun spin on it to the tune of "sorry, we lied, we're actually not sorry, gtfo".

 

[Micklebot]

Ruff not looking so good last 15-20 games.

Really just the last 13 games they've been on a skid for, I haven't been watching those games but it seems to me the underlying numbers are still healthy, the goaltending seems to have gone south, not sure what you expect Ruff to do about a .879 sv%

 

[Golden_Jet]

Really just the last 13 games they've been on a skid for, I haven't been watching those games but it seems to me the underlying numbers are still healthy, the goaltending seems to have gone south, not sure what you expect Ruff to do about a .879 sv%

 

[Micklebot]

I'm not sure how this disputes anything I said?

Their last 13 games are 3-8-2 with a .876 sv%, before that they were 21-4-1 with a .917 sv% and two of the the losses coming in the first two games.

Goaltending seems to have gone south, maybe a minor injury to vanecek, he's only played 8 of the games but is sub 900 sv% in those games.

 

[Cosmix]

exactly, the Devils went on a historic win streak and were legitimately in 1st in the east (league?) at the time they busted out those chants...

we are at .500... and 8 points out of a playoff spot. No apologies are required for a guy who is having the greatest coaching season of his career and is at .500.

Thats's STILL pathetic.

But he is not the major reason for the poor performance over his coaching tenure here. He has not had a great roster to work with and that falls on Melnyk for the low budget and Dorion for some bad trades and roster decisions.

Look at the level of preparation the coaching staff does:

Perhaps it is more for the coaching staff, captain and assistants.

 

[aragorn]

Nice to see some of the Sens metrics are slowly trending in the right direction.

 

[Cosmix]

That's why DeBrincat was brought in the help with the offensive production, he has done that with his playmaking skills & recently looks like his goal scoring could be turning up. If he starts to get it going & Norris comes back & maybe they call up Sokolov another point producer they could start making some noise. Their special teams are on fire.

The additions of Norris and Formenton would definitely add to the offence. Perhaps raise the GF/GP from currently about 3.03 to about 3.20. It might also help reduce shots against and the GA/GP from about 3.05 to about 2.90. That would certainly help increase the points won per game.

 

[Ice-Tray]

He's got a ways to go yet if what Ruff's team did is the comparable.

Lol you mean big highs and lows?

Right? team BARELY achieves above .500 for the first time in his career and we're expected to be happy and think all is right in the world and he's super deserving of praise and adoration?

At LEAST hit the teams goals and expectations on the year... meaningful games in march-april or bust... just the way it's been since the beginning... Last I checked January isn't March.

The team has pulled it around since December, and sure his special teams have a lot to do with it, however there are still a number of baffling decisions, and the team still ranks like bottom 6 or so in 5v5 scoring.

Lol, context….

I do think it's fair to say they're playing better and he gets some of the credit, but I find the idea of an "apology" a bit silly in itself (it's cutthroat pro sports, c'mon), but doubly so when the team is still where it is despite the improvement.

It sure is, but they're still in a good spot if they can get it back on the rails. I'm sure the fire Lindy chants will come out again if they collapse out of the playoffs. Maybe they'll put a fun spin on it to the tune of "sorry, we lied, we're actually not sorry, gtfo".

Apologies and admitting being wrong is not the HFSens way.

It’s all hot takes and then vanish when the wind changes.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Really just the last 13 games they've been on a skid for, I haven't been watching those games but it seems to me the underlying numbers are still healthy, the goaltending seems to have gone south, not sure what you expect Ruff to do about a .879 sv%

Ironic (not for you) given that when we went on a skid and the stats said otherwise it was the stats that were wrong to many and the coach needed firing.

Looks like adjustments over time are happening to various teams both up and down… shocking.

 

[LevelingSolo]

Gonna be a lot of sad users when he's part of the Ownership purge in the off season

 

[Ice-Tray]

Gonna be a lot of sad users when he's part of the Ownership purge in the off season

You mean to say a lot of sad players by the sounds of things. I don’t get the vibe that anyone will be too upset in here.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Gonna be a lot of sad users when he's part of the Ownership purge in the off season

Well, that is the nature of an ownership change. If it ever happens.

 

[swiftwin]

Gonna be a lot of sad users when he's part of the Ownership purge in the off season

Like who?

 

[LevelingSolo]

Like who?

Well I thought you'd never ask

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Gonna be a lot of sad users when he's part of the Ownership purge in the off season

not if they make the playoffs... and win the cup.

 

[Samsquanch]

Like who?

Lol right? Even DJs biggest supporters here know and understand that unless this team finishes strong and basically are in a playoff spot, his fate is completely up in the air for the new owners.

If DJ and Dorion both get fired I'll definitely feel bad for them on many levels, and wont be dancing on their graves like so many others here will be. But you can also understand that the new ownership wants to start fresh on a new page with their own people. It's just business.

The only sad part about this all is those two will never get the proper credit from a lot fans for building and developing a core group of young star players that we are lucky to have.

When you see all the big misses with drafting and development around the league with top picks, it's a shame so many won't realize that we actually had the right guys at the right time to see us through the rebuild. And some lucky new GM is most likely going to inherit this monster of a team.

 

[JD1]

Nice to see some of the Sens metrics are slowly trending in the right direction.

The underlying metrics have been in the right direction all year. It's the W/L metric that's on the move now, slowly catching up

 

[JD1]

Lol right? Even DJs biggest supporters here know and understand that unless this team finishes strong and basically are in a playoff spot, his fate is completely up in the air for the new owners.

If DJ and Dorion both get fired I'll definitely feel bad for them on many levels, and wont be dancing on their graves like so many others here will be. But you can also understand that the new ownership wants to start fresh on a new page with their own people. It's just business.

The only sad part about this all is those two will never get the proper credit from a lot fans for building and developing a core group of young star players that we are lucky to have.

When you see all the big misses with drafting and development around the league with top picks, it's a shame so many won't realize that we actually had the right guys at the right time to see us through the rebuild. And some lucky new GM is most likely going to inherit this monster of a team.

I certainly agree that new ownership very well might want a fresh start with new people. The logical assumption is that they'd engage hockey knowledgeable people and consult with the league prior to making decisions.

So what are they likely to find when they do that?
1. Increased engagement with the local business community that is driving revenue increases
2. Increased fan attendance that is driving revenue increases
3. A solid young core signed to at market contracts
4. Comparatively few bad money contracts, no albatross contracts
5. A players coach loved by his players
6. A top 10 team on both special teams
7. A slim hockey ops department but some respected people in key positions
8. A consensus amongst hockey people that the team is sitting on a solid foundation

As I said, I certainly understand if new ownership brings in new people, but I do think that a review of the current situation results in a different assessment of the organization than that held by some in HF Sens land.