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

[Korpse]

Team defense = non-existent

Guess whose job it is to get a team to play together?

The team does play without the puck, so they have to defend. What about the way they defend, don’t you like. How can they improve it.

 

[Korpse]

Didn't we hold off a few teams to very low shots recently?

24 shots is the second highest amount of shots they have given up in a game. Personally enjoy how aggressive they have been at forcing plays at the red line. An adjustment from last year where they lined up 3 at the blueline. Relying more on the D skating to create presssure, using their skating more to close space rather than waiting for the attack to come to them.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

The team does play without the puck, so they have to defend. What about the way they defend, don’t you like. How can they improve it.

This is getting pathetic. I'm not the coach, nor should I be one, but I have two eyes and plenty of decades of watching good and bad hockey. This is bad hockey, especially on defense.

Stop trying to take heat away from a lame duck.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Stats look good

 

[Korpse]

This is getting pathetic. I'm not the coach, nor should I be one, but I have two eyes and plenty of decades of watching good and bad hockey. This is bad hockey, especially on defense.

Stop trying to take heat away from a lame duck.

You don’t have an answer, just a reaction to the score line.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Beaut

 

[Gil Gunderson]

What what are the actual arguments for keeping DJ Smith? Him being tight with the boys isn’t good enough.

Is he going to end up on a rival team and build a dynasty?

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

What what are the actual arguments for keeping DJ Smith? Him being tight with the boys isn’t good enough.

Is he going to end up on a rival team and build a dynasty?

 

[Icelevel]

Welcome back to the bottom of the Atlantic. Gonna need some much bigger floaties for dj.

 

[Daffy]

DJ is such a f***ing incompetent clown. Loved hearing the fire DJ chants at the game tonight.

 

[OD99]

He needs to go.

Regardless of the good feelings and whatnot.

The team needs a shake-up and it's not like we can do much worse.

 

[JungleBeat]

He needs to go, doesn’t matter if the team turns it around. A new voice in needed.

 

[WORLDSTARHIPHOP]

You don’t have an answer, just a reaction to the score line.

Why the f*** does he need to have an answer to such a dumbass question? Is the team suppose to get advice from HFBoards?

wHat sHoulD DJ dO tHen? pathetic. We don't need to tell you how to turn a pile of shit into gold when we tell you it smells like shit.

 

[Korpse]

Why the f*** does he need to have an answer to such a dumbass question? Is the team suppose to get advice from HFBoards?

wHat sHoulD DJ dO tHen? pathetic. We don't need to tell you how to turn a pile of shit into gold when we tell you it smells like shit.

I'm not asking what should DJ do, simply looking for an actual criticism rather than vague remarks. If I say I don't like a player, I'm going to have reason's for it, not just say they suck repeatedly and get frustrated when challenged.

 

[WORLDSTARHIPHOP]

I'm not asking what should DJ do, simply looking for an actual criticism rather than vague remarks. If I say I don't like a player, I'm going to have reason's for it, not just say they suck repeatedly and get frustrated when challenged.

the criticisms hasn’t changed in 3 years, do we really need to list them out at this point?

 

[Korpse]

the criticisms hasn’t changed in 3 years, do we really need to list them out at this point?

They haven't which is precisely why I'm looking for a deeper analysis, always the same vague comments. This team isn't playing anything like they did two seasons ago, hell there are some significant changes just from last season.

 

[WORLDSTARHIPHOP]

They haven't which is precisely why I'm looking for a deeper analysis, always the same vague comments.

so what type of analysis are you looking for?

 

[Korpse]

so what type of analysis are you looking for?

Something. Saying no structure or no system is nothing. Especially for a team that from shot based metrics are doing very well at limiting attempts and doing a good job of preventing those attempts getting to the net. Part of that is being aggressive in the NZ, another part is spending a lot of time in the OZ. I think the amount of time in the OZ is getting them into trouble at times because of giveaways at the top of the zone but as a unit I’m find they have tracked better after those giveaways. They have less trouble when that 2nd wave of the counter attack comes. That’s something I saw improvement in last year though.

The PK is one thing I haven’t been too impressed with to start the season. While they are good at isolating the puck carrier and denying entires, off a lost face off they are being drawn out of position and teams are executing set plays far too easily.

 

[OD99]

I'm not asking what should DJ do, simply looking for an actual criticism rather than vague remarks. If I say I don't like a player, I'm going to have reason's for it, not just say they suck repeatedly and get frustrated when challenged.

The criticism is the team doesn't win enough.

Or, another one could be; the team loses too often.

That is usually all it takes to replace a coach.

You can't swap out a team and by any measure this is a more talented and deeper squad than the one that started last year. The problem is the same issues plague us:

1. We turn the puck over in our zone while the F'S are breaking for the neutral zone.
2. We don't break out consistently, with control.
3. We don't score enough 5-on-5
4. Etc...add your favourite.

It's over for DJ. He either doesn't have the answer or is incapable of teaching it. Either way, this team requires a fresh coach.

 

[TonySoprano11]

He never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

 

[Korpse]

1. We turn the puck over in our zone while the F'S are breaking for the neutral zone.
2. We don't break out consistently, with control.
3. We don't score enough 5-on-5
4. Etc...add your favourite.

Are these criticisms from past seasons, this season or a combination?

1. Legitimate gripe at times. It’s a league wide trend with the wingers pushing the opposing D into the NZ. It can work with skilled centers on the swing and attacking the NZ with speed. Got away from that tonight and lot of hoping to get the puck to the forwards, thought there was a lot of lazy play from a number of forwards.

2. They can be hit or miss on the breakout but for the most part I do feel like they have been moving the puck up the ice quickly. It’s been an improvement on my eyes. The skill on the back end goes along way in that regard.

3. Currently scoring at the highest rate in the league 5v5.

I get it’s a result based business, and I’m not even advocating for keeping DJ, I couldn’t care less. I just like the way they’ve played this season even if it is a small sample. I see real improvements. Coming off back to back poor results, they obviously need to get back on track. I’m optimistic a couple roads games will get them focused on doing the things they do well but they’ve shown a tendency to spiral when things don’t go their way and that does fall in large part in the coaching staff.

 

[Crosside]

They haven't which is precisely why I'm looking for a deeper analysis, always the same vague comments. This team isn't playing anything like they did two seasons ago, ahell there are some significant changes just from last season.

In the preseason and start of the year. All the players came back in the defensive zone and allow your d to make little pass to brake out the zone

Now players stay at the red line and go for the big bomb and we play too fancy

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

For those who are holding their breath until DJS is let go, you should be happy with the two losses that were winnable games…. As this will hasten the end of the rope for him, and most people, even DJS, knows this is going to happen…. And better sooner than later.

If there was a time to ”call out the team” it was probably last night.

 

[Tundraman]

Like many here on occasion I've played the "fire DJ" game over the past few years even though it was obvious the team wasn't very good and DJ was a rookie hopefully learning on the job.

What is different now is that there is no difference!. The Sens have better/good/more mature individual players so there are no excuses. It doesn't seem to matter who the players are this coaching staff cannot seem to teach team defense. Nearly every shift the team breaks down somewhere. Goalies, D and forwards each take a turn. Lets hope all 3 groups are in the same room when they are reviewing film because they need to learn team cohesive play. If that's already being done. then they are not listening!

This looks like another typical Sens DJ and his coaching staff start so time for a complete change before it's too late and the season is lost in just a few more weeks.

 

[Tuna99]

Like many here on occasion I've played the "fire DJ" game over the past few years even though it was obvious the team wasn't very good and DJ was a rookie hopefully learning on the job.

What is different now is that there is no difference!. The Sens have better/good/more mature individual players so there are no excuses. It doesn't seem to matter who the players are this coaching staff cannot seem to teach team defense. Nearly every shift the team breaks down somewhere. Goalies, D and forwards each take a turn. Lets hope all 3 groups are in the same room when they are reviewing film because they need to learn team cohesive play. If that's already being done. then they are not listening!

This looks like another typical Sens DJ and his coaching staff start so time for a complete change before it's too late and the season is lost in just a few more weeks.

Team is inconsistent - never a lack of effort it's a lack of dicipline, lack of maturity, lack of regroup, lack of focus. the will and effort is there, just way to misguided and without a 20man focus.