Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Tnuoc Alucard]

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.

Pretty sure Norris will return to the lineup, at some point in the not to distant future, and will probably take a handful of game to get up to mid season speed, and get everyone else in the lineup slotted where they belong.

Pretty sure Formenton is ineligible to play in the NHL this season…. Having not being signed before the deadline.

 

[Micklebot]

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.

It's interesting because to me, a key component to Dorion's fate should be what happens with DeBrincat since he bet big on acquiring the scoring winger, and how he manages a very tight cap situation this offseason, both of those require the new ownership give him tell Jul before deciding.

For DJ, I've never been a huge fan but this is the first season where I think it's possible to get a grip on him as a coach, prior to this year he's not had the roster to really do much. November really threw a wrench into things, injuries to key positions made an already challenging situation that much harder. We needed to quickly find chemistry with a lot of new guys, and we're still lacking a top 4 Dman (Hamonic is ok, but ideally a 3rd pair guy)

If new ownership is patient they may choose to see what Dorion can do, his offseason was actually pretty good, can he figure out that last Dman, re-sign the RFA, and keep us under the cap?

Can DJ get this team playing to it's potential? I'm seeing some positive progress in our end, and combined special teams are as good as I can remember. If we can tilt the ice in our favour 5v5 this team will have a realistic shot at playoffs.

I think there are better GMs and better coaches, but there are also worse ones. Change for the sake of change only makes sense when the status quo will damage the future, is that the case here, idk.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Brady was very complimentary on “Comin in Hot” the other day.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Lol you mean big highs and lows?

Lol, I meant the tear they went on that lead to the apology chant.

Apologies and admitting being wrong is not the HFSens way.

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

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, only myself. I've only ever really weighed in on what I predict will happen with DJ more than an opinion. Personally, I just see it as a position that's shuffled often and don't care about the loyalty factor, I just want what's best for the team, whatever that is. If he didn't have the previous Melnyk requirement of "he needs to come cheap" as the front and center hiring credential, then I think more fans wouldn't be so quick to slam the guy and assume he'll be replaced.

 

[Tuna99]

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.

It’s less about Dorion not doing a good job and just offloading the baggage he comes with. He’s the direct tie and did the bidding for Melnyck, spoke down to the fans about Melnyck’s treatment and took some stupid hard lines in terms of Randy Rick Lee and the trades of Stone and EK. And he gets tears in his eyes and seems a bit immature.

If you just paid $1 billion for a franchise I don’t think you want a GM who’s cried a few times and had the media maturity of a 14 year old - I think you’d want something dynamic with experience

 

[Ice-Tray]

Lol, I meant the tear they went on that lead to the apology chant.

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, only myself. I've only ever really weighed in on what I predict will happen with DJ more than an opinion. Personally, I just see it as a position that's shuffled often and don't care about the loyalty factor, I just want what's best for the team, whatever that is. If he didn't have the previous Melnyk requirement of "he needs to come cheap" as the front and center hiring credential, then I think more fans wouldn't be so quick to slam the guy and assume he'll be replaced.

I’m don’t disagree, but then if you want to find a new legend coach you have to give some new guys a try.

The previous Melnyk noise is just fan created stuff, it really doesn’t matter in terms of DJs job, nor is it an excuses for behaviour.

Fans not being so quick to slam is just the way some fans like to fan no matter what the available reason/excuses is, and that’s not going to change in my opinion.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Fire the goalie coach

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Fire the goalie coach

or Have a quick meeting with the goalies Bierky , DJ and Dorion and send them both to Belleville.

 

[JungleBeat]

Not srs.

 

[bert]

Not srs.

One thing we've learned is this team is not great at playing guilty. A true skill that doesn't get developed along the way like it used to. Teams that play well guilty are often very tight. All part of the maturation process. Team bonding is great but they gotta figure out a way to play well after.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Not srs.

Chugger

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I’m don’t disagree, but then if you want to find a new legend coach you have to give some new guys a try.

The previous Melnyk noise is just fan created stuff, it really doesn’t matter in terms of DJs job, nor is it an excuses for behaviour.

Fans not being so quick to slam is just the way some fans like to fan no matter what the available reason/excuses is, and that’s not going to change in my opinion.

Well it wasn't really "noise" and you know that, it was the way things were under Melnyk and I think a lot of folk are likely aware those strict budget restrictions shouldn't be there for the next time which makes the thought more appealing. I don't see much wrong with it personally. It's a message board about pro hockey and the team has a .500 record, of course the coach is gonna get slammed, just like the GM, and the players will too. Its a cutthroat business.

 

[OD99]

One thing we've learned is this team is not great at playing guilty. A true skill that doesn't get developed along the way like it used to. Teams that play well guilty are often very tight. All part of the maturation process. Team bonding is great but they gotta figure out a way to play well after.

Not sure I follow.

You say because the boys went out for a night out on Wed night they played poorly on Saturday?

Didn't we have 6 goals against on 16 shots or something silly like that? Goalies were not good, team in general wasn't nearly as bad as the score.

 

[bert]

Not sure I follow.

You say because the boys went out for a night out on Wed night they played poorly on Saturday?

Didn't we have 6 goals against on 16 shots or something silly like that? Goalies were not good, team in general wasn't nearly as bad as the score.

Well they had alot of time off... I dunno. They were not sharp. The team overall was very irresponsible with the puck and in coverage. The high danger scoring chances they gave away were terrible. 8 goals plus 4 posts. Worst game they have played in a long time. Goalies werent good, hardly anyone was good.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Well it wasn't really "noise" and you know that, it was the way things were under Melnyk and I think a lot of folk are likely aware those strict budget restrictions shouldn't be there for the next time which makes the thought more appealing. I don't see much wrong with it personally. It's a message board about pro hockey and the team has a .500 record, of course the coach is gonna get slammed, just like the GM, and the players will too. Its a cutthroat business.

Noise as in it doesn’t much matter at this point, or then really, because the guy has been hired and is coaching. It really doesn’t matter why he’s here or what drove PD to hire him years ago.

Lots of teams hire new blood as coaches because every one is trying to find a new star. Teams with bigger budgets are also going younger because the players are different, respond differently, and have different needs.

I believe the term was “quick to slam” which sort of implies a lack of patience in reactions, but anyways, yes, hockey forum everyone has the right, etc… I don’t disagree as it goes for all of us.

As far as DJ is concerned I don’t mind a change, not because hurrr durrr systems, but because the guys might need to be made to feel uncomfortable, and made to feel like there are consequences to people’s livelihoods when they play like dogshit over extended periods.

A new coach who hasn’t shepparsed the kids into the league, may take a harder and more professional stance with the confused D play by Brady, the shite defending from Chabot, and the whatever the hell has gotten into Batherson, to mention a few guys.

I can’t stand lackluster play.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

One thing we've learned is this team is not great at playing guilty. A true skill that doesn't get developed along the way like it used to. Teams that play well guilty are often very tight. All part of the maturation process. Team bonding is great but they gotta figure out a way to play well after.

Maybe I'm just old, but I think part of the maturation process is knowing when not to party and how much to party, knowing you have a job to do the next day.

Not saying the kids can't have fun, but they need to know when to tone it down. There's an entire summer for that stuff.

 

[Alex1234]

Don't worry
New management will fire those clowns as soon as they can

 

[SweSensFan]

It’s less about Dorion not doing a good job and just offloading the baggage he comes with. He’s the direct tie and did the bidding for Melnyck, spoke down to the fans about Melnyck’s treatment and took some stupid hard lines in terms of Randy Rick Lee and the trades of Stone and EK. And he gets tears in his eyes and seems a bit immature.

If you just paid $1 billion for a franchise I don’t think you want a GM who’s cried a few times and had the media maturity of a 14 year old - I think you’d want something dynamic with experience

You have a point. In a way I kinda think both Dorion and DJ have alot of upsides but more in some kind of assisting role. None of them have fully what it takes to be gm and coach in my personal non professional view..

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Our current bottom 6 production vs our 6 production.

5v5 total points

Top 6 production:
97 points

Bottom 6:
17 points

82% drop off in production.

5v5 goals

Top 6:
42 goals

Bottom 6:
11 goals

73% drop off in goals.

I did not include Motte and Joseph as I wanted to use our current healthy lineup.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Our current bottom 6 production vs our 6 production.

5v5 total points

Top 6 production:
97 points

Bottom 6:
17 points

82% drop off in production.

5v5 goals

Top 6:
42 goals

Bottom 6:
11 goals

73% drop off in goals.

I did not include Motte and Joseph as I wanted to use our current healthy lineup.

Seems to align with how they are being paid then.

 

[aragorn]

Let's give the Seattle Kraken some credit here, they scored 19 goals in their last 4 games & only 8 goals against. They also beat three teams before the Sens that are all much better teams than the Sens.

 

[Micklebot]

Our current bottom 6 production vs our 6 production.

5v5 total points

Top 6 production:
97 points

Bottom 6:
17 points

82% drop off in production.

5v5 goals

Top 6:
42 goals

Bottom 6:
11 goals

73% drop off in goals.

I did not include Motte and Joseph as I wanted to use our current healthy lineup.

Well, you've basically taken the best 3 bottom six players out then, Pinto is playing in the top 6 because of the Norris injury, then both 3rd line wingers are out hurt.

At the very least, to make the comparison fair it should be per game instead of raw points since Luccini has only played, what, 7 games? I think Gambrell has about 20? Meanwhile our top 6 (as it is, so Pinto instead of Norris) has missed a grand total of 4 games combined.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Well, you've basically taken the best 3 bottom six players out then, Pinto is playing in the top 6 because of the Norris injury, then both 3rd line wingers are out hurt.

At the very least, to make the comparison fair it should be per game instead of raw points since Luccini has only played, what, 7 games? I think Gambrell has about 20? Meanwhile our top 6 (as it is, so Pinto instead of Norris) has missed a grand total of 4 games combined.

My point is that with the injuries to our best bottom 6 players, we haven't done a good enough job at actually replacing the production lost with them. All we did is fill the bottom 6 with more AHL/ PTO 13 forward guys instead of calling up more players who have been productive in the AHL like Luchini or making waiver pick ups like Tolvanen to bolster that bottom 6, or making soft deals to add some scoring depth to those lines.

We have a bunch of guys that wouldn't play in most teams in the league or at best the 13th forward playing on our 3rd line. Its sad when an AHLer gets called up like Luchini stands out from the rest of the garbage that easily. Just shows how bad it really is.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

My point is that with the injuries to our best bottom 6 players, we haven't done a good enough job at actually replacing the production lost with them. All we did is fill the bottom 6 with more AHL/ PTO 13 forward guys instead of calling up more players who have been productive in the AHL like Luchini or making waiver pick ups like Tolvanen to bolster that bottom 6, or making soft deals to add some scoring depth to those lines.

We have a bunch of guys that wouldn't play in most teams in the league or at best the 13th forward playing on our 3rd line. Its sad when an AHLer gets called up like Luchini stands out from the rest of the garbage that easily. Just shows how bad it really is.

With shorter term injuries you fill the spots with callups .. thats pretty normal.
Our depth took a big hit losing Formenton, Brown and Paul .. if thats more to the point
Motte and Joseph would play behind all of them

 

[Micklebot]

My point is that with the injuries to our best bottom 6 players, we haven't done a good enough job at actually replacing the production lost with them. All we did is fill the bottom 6 with more AHL/ PTO 13 forward guys instead of calling up more players who have been productive in the AHL like Luchini or making waiver pick ups like Tolvanen to bolster that bottom 6, or making soft deals to add some scoring depth to those lines.

We have a bunch of guys that wouldn't play in most teams in the league or at best the 13th forward playing on our 3rd line. Its sad when an AHLer gets called up like Luchini stands out from the rest of the garbage that easily. Just shows how bad it really is.

Tolvanen has less pts than our PTO signing. Chartier has been similarly productive to Luccini in the AHL, Sokolov is the only other realistic option that's been more productive than those two since Greig has been injured so much.

Add more fringe NHL players isn't going to change our fortunes, we aren't replacing Luccini with Tolvanen away from being in the playoffs right now. I say this as someone who advocated for picking him up when available, but frankly it wouldn't have made a huge impact. The team has run into injuries, it's normal that secondary scoring suffers, but it's temporary until we get some bodies back.