How much rope does DJ Smith have? [UPDATE: None]

[Ice-Tray]

But can DJ take the next step!?

He’ll have to take at least a few steps if he wants to get to work, so there’s that…

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

He’ll have to take at least a few steps if he wants to get to work, so there’s that…

Okay... doubling down here:

Can DJ take the next step AND chew gum at the same time?..

 

[JD1]

Interesting quote from DJ that we were 17th in time spent in our zone and they want to improve that.

Okay... doubling down here:

Can DJ take the next step AND chew gum at the same time?..

Walking and chewing gum has always been tricky...it's an injury waiting to happen

 

[Ice-Tray]

Interesting quote from DJ that we were 17th in time spent in our zone and they want to improve that.


Walking and chewing gum has always been tricky...it's an injury waiting to happen

Add in talking and you better have life insurance….

 

[Crosside]

GARRIOCH: Senators head coach D.J. Smith has a 'good feeling' about the coming season

The Ottawa Suns Bruce Garrioch gets an exclusive chat with Senators head coach D.J. Smith with training camp looming.

ottawasun.com

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

GARRIOCH: Senators head coach D.J. Smith has a 'good feeling' about the coming season

The Ottawa Suns Bruce Garrioch gets an exclusive chat with Senators head coach D.J. Smith with training camp looming.

ottawasun.com

Exclusive

noun

1. an item or story published or broadcast by only one source.

 

[Cosmix]

I'm not sure I understand the question. What I'm saying is that a definition is needed to define what constitutes the start of the rebuild. In my mind, it's when a team trades away its best/star/franchise type player. Any other definition becomes complicated and more open to user-definable interpretations. So, in the Senators rebuild, it was when Karlsson was traded to San Jose. That's how we started acquiring our core pieces in the rebuild like Stutzle & Norris.

I don’t agree with that strict definition as it is based on trading a single player and does not include a sell-off of the team’s better players.

I think it would be improved by adding trading away its better players (top 6 Forwards and top 3 Defencemen) for future picks, prospects and lesser players.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

I don’t agree with that strict definition as it is based on trading a single player and does not include a sell-off of the team’s better players.

I think it would be improved by adding trading away its better players (top 6 Forwards and top 3 Defencemen) for future picks, prospects and lesser players.

I think the operative word is "start". It's the start of the rebuild that I was referring to which acknowledges that a rebuild can take some time and involve moving other good players off the team. Anyhow, its going to be controversial subject and people will have many different definitions making the subject prone to any kind of precision or agreement based largely on the lack of a standard definition.

I guess the other thing to consider is whether Stutzle and Norris were considered part of the rebuild which would be kind of difficult to do if the Karlsson trade wasn't the starting point of the rebuild.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I think the operative word is "start". It's the start of the rebuild that I was referring to which acknowledges that a rebuild can take some time and involve moving other good players off the team. Anyhow, its going to be controversial subject and people will have many different definitions making the subject prone to any kind of precision or agreement based largely on the lack of a standard definition.

I guess the other thing to consider is whether Stutzle and Norris were considered part of the rebuild which would be kind of difficult to do if the Karlsson trade wasn't the starting point of the rebuild.

A rebuild is longer than the start date, so yea Norris and Stu are part of the rebuild.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

A rebuild is longer than the start date, so yea Norris and Stu are part of the rebuild.

If the rebuild started after the Karlsson trade, then Norris & Stutzle were acquired even before the rebuild had apparently or "officially" (according to your definition) even started. Illogical. Not important enough to get involved in a long discussion though.

 

[Back in Black]

How much rope does DJ Smith have???​

 

[Masterplan]

IMO, he's got 8 games. If he's not got the Sens in a playoff spot on Nov. 1 you need to let him go.I don't care if the team is playing well or showing improvement, this is the year we can't come out slow and catch up later. Win now or else.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

If we have another terrible start I think Dorion gets canned by Christmas and the new GM makes a call on DJ.

so how many times has a team performed so poorly, that the GM is let go, but not the coach first?

PD has given DJS an improved lineup over last year… PD has done his job and this will include however the Pinto signing is figured out…. DJS now has to show he is an actual NHL head coach, and not just another assistant that has been given a shot, and can’t cut the mustard.

If the team falters in the first 20 to 25 games, PD should let him go.

 

[Micklebot]

so how many times has a team performed so poorly, that the GM is let go, but not the coach first?

PD has given DJS an improved lineup over last year… PD has done his job and this will include however the Pinto signing is figured out…. DJS now has to show he is an actual NHL head coach, and not just another assistant that has been given a shot, and can’t cut the mustard.

If the team falters in the first 20 to 25 games, PD should let him go.

Dorion has had 2 coaches already (three if you count Crawford).

 

[aragorn]

I think they have one of the best teams they have had in quite some time & expect that they will get off to a great start this yr. Hopefully, they don't get the kind of injuries they had last yr especially with the goalies & of course they need to make some changes & get Pinto signed asap. I expect they will challenge in the Atlantic division with Montreal, Detroit & Tampa fighting it out in the bottom & Boston is expected to start to decline. It all depends on the first 25 games what happens with DJ & Dorion, hard to fire people if the team is doing well.

 

[GCK]

so how many times has a team performed so poorly, that the GM is let go, but not the coach first?

PD has given DJS an improved lineup over last year… PD has done his job and this will include however the Pinto signing is figured out…. DJS now has to show he is an actual NHL head coach, and not just another assistant that has been given a shot, and can’t cut the mustard.

If the team falters in the first 20 to 25 games, PD should let him go.

I can’t imagine a scenario where Dorion gets to replace DJ during this season.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

I can’t imagine a scenario where Dorion gets to replace DJ during this season.

currently PD is the GM, and would be the one who would recommend the Coach be let go…IF the Senators get off to a horrible start this season. In the past he would make the recommendation to whom ever he reported to, and if they agreed, the change would be made.

So who else would make the call to make a coaching change, if it was warranted?

Dorion has had 2 coaches already (three if you count Crawford).

Yes

 

[DJB]

Just as an fyi ….. Claude Julien is in the building tonight .

Not saying he’s met with management…but not saying he hasn’t either

(Also no idea if this was mentioned pre game on radio or TV, just flipped on the game)

Also I’ve wanted DJ gone since Giroux arrived but have to admit we actually seem to be defending and causing turnovers for once here .

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Just as an fyi ….. Claude Julien is in the building tonight .

Not saying he’s met with management…but not saying he hasn’t either

(Also no idea if this was mentioned pre game on radio or TV, just flipped on the game)

Also I’ve wanted DJ gone since Giroux arrived but have to admit we actually seem to be defending and causing turnovers for once here .

DJ ain't going anywhere

Fixed the D and the PP

What does he need to do?

 

[aragorn]

Why are people still talking about a coaching change, the team is off to a good start & are playing really well. The special teams have been terrific & even the 5 on 5 has been good for the most part & we are finally getting good goaltending. This team looks like a playoff team & just passed another big test against Tampa Bay a pretty good team with a lot of very good players still on their roster. If we are blaming the coach for the losses we need to man up & give him some credit for the wins too.

 

[NyQuil]

Why are people still talking about a coaching change, the team is off to a good start & are playing really well.

A good start is not a 2-1 record.

We actually had a 4-2 record after six games last season.

It turned into 6-13.

 

[Ice-Tray]

A good start is not a 2-1 record.

We actually had a 4-2 record after six games last season.

It turned into 6-13.

A good start has to start somewhere dude….

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Why are people still talking about a coaching change, the team is off to a good start & are playing really well. The special teams have been terrific & even the 5 on 5 has been good for the most part & we are finally getting good goaltending. This team looks like a playoff team & just passed another big test against Tampa Bay a pretty good team with a lot of very good players still on their roster. If we are blaming the coach for the losses we need to man up & give him some credit for the wins too.

Coaching is the first victim if they fail to play to their level. So far they've looked great and coaching deserves some praise, but assessing a team takes about 15-20 games.
By mid-November we should know how this team will fare.

 

[boxbox]

No matter what happens with DJ this season, I'll always look back at the decision to hire him to be a successful one. Sure DJ has his warts but this guy built a culture filled with a positive attitude and a strong-work ethic within an organization that was quite literally down for the count (team drama, ownership issues, management issues, etc).

DJ played a role in allowing the Sens to build a team full of Americans (amongst other natonalities) in a league where the majority of Americans/Players want to play in the low-tax American states.

No matter what stage of the rebuild we were, there was always one consistent narrative coming from people around the league. The Sens are a hard team to play against. What more could you ask for from a team with little-to-no-talent.

If the Sens start off slow here, DJ will be fired, but as a whole, I really appreciate the work DJ has done and I have zero doubts he'll be given another Head Coaching job in the future. Which, if you look at past-Sens head coaches, that very rarely if ever happens!

Thanks DJ!

I still don't understand why some many people here want to see him gone. His tenure as head coach begun pretty much at the height of the rebuild, "coaching" a group of young players is more along the lines of teaching than actual coaching. Last season I consider was the first time he was provided, as an NHL coach, with a competitive roster/team; missed the playoffs by 6 points despite the goalie circus and losing Norris for the season. Its only been 3 games and a not big enough sample to make definitive assessments, with that being said, in those 3 games so far one the ice we've seen a much improved version of the team compared to last years version.

 

[boxbox]

Why are people still talking about a coaching change, the team is off to a good start & are playing really well. The special teams have been terrific & even the 5 on 5 has been good for the most part & we are finally getting good goaltending. This team looks like a playoff team & just passed another big test against Tampa Bay a pretty good team with a lot of very good players still on their roster. If we are blaming the coach for the losses we need to man up & give him some credit for the wins too.

Spot on. Sens could win back to back Stanley Cups and some people here would claim the team underachieved as it failed to get the next one ...with it making it 3 in a row for the "Natural Cup Hat Trick"