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

[Loach]

Delete

 

[Wondercarrot]

I like DJ but he’s got more rope than I saw on all 5 seasons of Yellowstone.

I say this while loving these players…
I thought this season was about accountability:

Yet there is Batherson playing the same way as last year, loose along the boards, not protecting the puck.
Chabot making bizarre defensive swoops at players leaving massive gaps.
Stutzle is playing lazy defensively, taking visible sucks.

I haven’t seen any of them invited to take a seat and consider there play for a period. Haven’t seen any noticeable reduction in icetime etc.

Very very frustrating.

 

[SensFactor]

1 more game

 

[Senscore]

In the 30 years since this team rejoined the NHL only Jacques Martin has been given more rope than DJ Smith, and he helped get us within a game of the Cup Finals.


Maybe we should bring back Cory Clouston. I'm not sure 198 games was really enough to get a feel for what he was trying to accomplish. How about Craig Hartsburg? Just 48 games didn't even have time to unpack his bags.

So many missed opportunities.

 

[TonySoprano11]

I heard there was a "Fire DJ" chant going on last night during the game in the 100s section. Anyone else hear that?

If so, I think this is the first time the fan base writ large has been vocal about firing him.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

I heard there was a "Fire DJ" chant going on last night during the game in the 100s section. Anyone else hear that?

If so, I think this is the first time the fan base writ large has been vocal about firing him.

It happened last season as well and it was very audible through the television

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

He needs to go. Plain and simple.

Results oriented business where the results have been poor to abysmal.

I don't know how anyone can unoquivicoally look at the team with its roster of talent and think they can't be above middle of the pack.

Players should not be absolved of any blame but you need a coach to hold them accountable and to lay said blame. DJ isn't doing that.

Get him out, reverse the years of bad habits.

 

[Senscore]

It happened last season as well and it was very audible through the television

Now we have someone listening though.

I don't think this lasts much longer. Staios should probably be up to speed by now. Probably wouldn't be difficult to take over as GM for a while and when that happens DJ goes too.

 

[Fandlauer]

2 more games if they are losses. If we are 3 - 5 going into a 4 day break he is toast.

 

[TonySoprano11]

Victory has a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

2 more games if they are losses. If we are 3 - 5 going into a 4 day break he is toast.

Will take these losses if it meant that he's gone. Short term pain for long term relief.

 

[Beech]

2 more games if they are losses. If we are 3 - 5 going into a 4 day break he is toast.

Will take these losses if it meant that he's gone. Short term pain for long term relief.

in 2022-2023 no team with a 3-5 record was a playoff team.

virtually all teams that were not 0.500 by game 8 amounted to anything more than a lottery team

the next 2 games are must win... I mean MUST WIN

 

[coladin]

I like DJ but he’s got more rope than I saw on all 5 seasons of Yellowstone.

I say this while loving these players…
I thought this season was about accountability:

Yet there is Batherson playing the same way as last year, loose along the boards, not protecting the puck.
Chabot making bizarre defensive swoops at players leaving massive gaps.
Stutzle is playing lazy defensively, taking visible sucks.

I haven’t seen any of them invited to take a seat and consider there play for a period. Haven’t seen any noticeable reduction in icetime etc.

Very very frustrating.

On top of these valid points, there is the fact that I can't help he is going to "chabot" Sanderson, and burn this kid out. Make him look worse by overplaying him.

Honestly, though, you need one shot to tie the game. Chychrun should have been out there at 5-4. If not his shot there...when?

I think it is Chychrun's turn to run PP1.

And DJ always makes the easy accountability moves. Guess who he "coached" last night? That's right, Kubalik. He has to bring more accountability to get their attention, and we are starting to see that a leopard cannot change his spots.

And yet, the coaching metrics are good. We are easily outshooting teams, the last two games , and we have nothing to show for it.

 

[KingAlfie11]

virtually all teams that were not 0.500 by game 8 amounted to anything more than a lottery team

Really? So by your account Edmonton who are 1-4-1 won't be 0.500 by game 8 won't make the playoffs? And Carolina after 7 games are 3-4 right now, I think you're reaching a little here bud, 8 games doesn't mean much in an 82 games schedule.

 

[Beech]

Really? So by your account Edmonton who are 1-4-1 won't be 0.500 by game 8 won't make the playoffs? And Carolina after 7 games are 3-4 right now, I think you're reaching a little here bud, 8 games doesn't mean much in an 82 games schedule.

what I can tell you is: last season showed a trend that was unreal
1) by game 8, most bottom feeders ended up as lottery teams
2) by game 20, most playoff teams where at 22 P and higher
3) the bulk of all playoff teams, were in the playoffs by game 20
4) the bulk of all playoff teams were in the top 22 by games 8 and 20

I will take some time and check 2021/2022, to see if last year was an anomaly. But, if it was not? then a team's season can end by game 8

NHL stats/standing.. you can dial up a year and scroll through a tab top get a date.. It is difficult to have a snap shot as teams are usually 1-3 games apart in games played. so, you have to scroll back and forth. But, it is unreal.

weak teams..get a weak early schedule... so a weak team that loses early, is dead.. the schedule only gets harder.

Edmonton and Carolina may and probably will be the exception. As top teams from last year, they have a hard schedule to start. it gets easier and they may pickup a bucket of points as time progresses.

for the Sens.. the NEXT 2 Games are MUST WINS.

 

[OD99]

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

combination as per the other thread. Maybe we keep our discussion to this thread as I am not really into the whole burn it down side. I just want accountability if we don't turn positive metrics into W's

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.

I see the trend as well but we are doing it at dangerous times as well when players should recognize support in the Dzone should be 1st priority.

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.

Agreed. I would like to see a much higher percentage of tape-to-tape passes though. I admit the little puck flip kills me, as it generally leads to more turnovers.

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

If we sustain it, great. The larger sample over last few years isn't as friendly. Plus we beat up on some teams that aren't very good at keeping the puck out of their net.

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.

Agree with this post - I see the improvements and I see the breakdowns.

 

[Bileur]

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

"Not found" Deleted?

 

[Ouroboros]

That was probably the MDZ tweet. He's so delightfully catty.

 

[Bileur]

"Not found" Deleted?

It was MDZ responding something along the lines of “par for the course” to Mike McKenna saying the Forsberg pull situation was an “unforgivable miscommunication”

 

[Burrowsaurus]

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

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

I’m not seeing any deeper analysis as to why he’s so good either?

But we need to have the answers to why he should be fired.

2 more games if they are losses. If we are 3 - 5 going into a 4 day break he is toast.

Yeah my feeling as well 2 game below 500 is the death sentence

 

[KingAlfie11]

Edmonton and Carolina may and probably will be the exception. As top teams from last year, they have a hard schedule to start. it gets easier and they may pickup a bucket of points as time progresses.

Okay interesting let's see here

Edmonton so far this season they have lost against Vancouver(2x), Philadelphia, Winnipeg and Minnesota not a very hard schedule here.

Carolina lost against Anaheim, Seattle, Colorado and Tampa Bay so okay that was a tougher schedule but still aren't they suppose to be a cup contender? And let's not forget their 3 wins were against Ottawa, San Jose and Los Angeles, so you it wasn't really a difficult schedule either they should be better then 3-4?

I think we have to wait 20-25 games

 

[Bileur]

Interesting to hear Jacques Martin say on the team that he loves the defensive core and thinks they have the personnel to do well defensively.

 

[Philadelphia Collins]

Pretty sick of DJ playing Chabot 25+ mins a night on the first powerplay unit when we clearly have better options in Sanderson and Chychrun. Honestly might consider trading him because once he’s off the top unit his point totals are gonna drop hard

This is like the third year in a row where the team is clearly underperforming at the start of the season and you still hear people throwing out “gotta give DJ at least 20 games!” Then by mid-November we’re 6 games under .500 and the playoff chances are already looking slim

 

[Gil Gunderson]

DJ obviously shouldn't get a long leash, but it's incredible how little Dorion has adjusted the coaching staff as a whole. Not many significant changes there over the years.