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

[Oscar The Grouch]

I'm guessing senior management probably set a review of coaching/GM for ten games into the season. Just one of those milestones that works. We are almost there...

 

[SENSnational]

It's unfortunate because the team was playing with a lot of pace in the last 2 games but couldn't buy a goal and faced solid goaltending. Today again, they threw a ton of shots on goal but Sorokin closed the door. Compared to other games we also had solid goaltending today...

You can see that the team is getting incredibly frustrated and the body language is showing that. They look defeated even though it's still very early in the season.

That said, I do think this should be the end for Smith as of now. The forwards are running around. There is no cohesion on the ice. Stutzle looks like a rookie again and is flailing around all game. The top line has been a let down so far and Stutzle has been, I dare say, very bad. Batherson has looked out of place as well. Kubalik looks like he deserves to be scratched. The Greig line is the only one who has been doing fairly well throughout the 7 games. The effort that the forwards put on the defensive side of things has been appalling at times. Norris has not been good 5on5 either.

This team needs a re-set and they cannot afford to wait. This is a difficult division, a few more losses and the hill will be difficult to climb just like it has been for the previous X number of years. Difference is this team has the personel to win and they should be battling harder, especially defensively. They need to fire DJ now in my opinion. The expectations are high and they need somebody who will come in and give a fresh message with more structure. I think it's abundantly clear that DJ will not be here long term. Cut the losses and give a fresh slate to the team, someone who will hold players accountable. You can't really debate that the structure is just not there and it needed to be. This has been long enough without structure and it won't magically fix itself. Someone needs to come in a teach these players how to play a system that will compliment the skilset of this roster.

A lot of investments have been made on these players and changing the coach is the only option right now. If a coaching change doesn't change things then we have a massive problem.

The betting sites seem to have the Senators as a "just barely in the playoffs" team, nothing more, nothing less. When we're 10 games in and at .550, then that's basically as predicted.
All the fan outrage on DJ could just as well be outrage at how individual players are performing, and to me, that would be better placed. Chabot, Stutlze, Batherson have not been good consistently and that's on them. I hate when people blame everything on the coach. What's he supposed to do, sit Stutzle?
If there is another great coach out there and he's willing to move to Ottawa and take on this team, would it change those odds a ton? Not sure it would.

 

[SENSnational]

I'm guessing senior management probably set a review of coaching/GM for ten games into the season. Just one of those milestones that works. We are almost there...

That's exactly what I would do. If we're at .550 after 10 games, then that's pretty much in line with where most rational analysts and betting sites place us.
I think many fans will still be outraged and blaming DJ if we're "only" at .550 after 10 games, because they hate DJ because "he hasn't won in 5 seasons", but that was a rebuild. As long as we don't dip below 500 for long, realistically I'm OK with how it's going.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

They weren't expected to do anything up until last season. If anyone thought otherwise and figured they would be winning 5 years ago when they were sitting at the bottom of the standings, that's an insane idea. That being said, everyone knows if he doesn't turn the page asap, he's done. Lot of players on this team need to step up thier game, too many passengers just floating around.

Two years ago we needed to look alright. No one expect the playoffs. But we need to take a step. We didn’t. We looked ATROCIOUS.

Last year we needed another step. And we looked ATROCIOUS for the first half of the season. And then looked somehow even worse right after the trade deadline when we had got ourselves back in the mix lol.

This year. Well it’s not over. But we’re sliding into the same direction.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

That's exactly what I would do. If we're at .550 after 10 games, then that's pretty much in line with where most rational analysts and betting sites place us.
I think many fans will still be outraged and blaming DJ if we're "only" at .550 after 10 games, because they hate DJ because "he hasn't won in 5 seasons", but that was a rebuild. As long as we don't dip below 500 for long, realistically I'm OK with how it's going.

A winning record after 10 games would be absolutely unbelievable for us.

 

[SENSnational]

We've had an easy schedule with bad teams. The only game where we outplayed the other team and should have won was Detroit. We've been outplayed 5v5 by every other team we lost to.

Carolinas a good team, that one's acceptable.

Sabres are a team we should be competing against, it was tight and could've went either way. xG was 2.89 for us and 2.13 for them, although this is heavily skewed towards our last 4 minutes. They outplayed us handidly the rest of the game bar the first 5ish minutes.

Islanders are a team we should be beating, outplayed the entire game 5v5. xG 2.41 vs 1.86. They had 11 high danger chances to our 7. We shouldn't be having these games period if we were suppose to show any improvement. The only reason the win-o-meter was high because we got bailed out by 8 powerplays. That's 16 entire minutes of PP time if they didn't overlap. Some of them were 4v3. We went 1-8 and lost the game.

Despite having 8 PPs, we've gave up more chances against the Islanders than ANY other team they have faced this season. The defense is a giant question right now, along with our PP.

PK and PP are both on coaching. The first one lost Detroit's game for us, the 2nd lost tonight's game.

Last year our special teams were excellent, and it was the same coaches. That's doesn't sound like a PP/PK coaching problem, that's on the players.
For sure the Defense coach needs to go though, as that's been consistently bad.
No one should be surprised that the Sens are around a .500 team. Yes it sucks if we ever dip below that, and no that's not acceptable, but we need at least 10 games for the percentage to mean much.

 

[Mingus Dew]

The betting sites seem to have the Senators as a "just barely in the playoffs" team, nothing more, nothing less. When we're 10 games in and at .550, then that's basically as predicted.
All the fan outrage on DJ could just as well be outrage at how individual players are performing, and to me, that would be better placed. Chabot, Stutlze, Batherson have not been good consistently and that's on them. I hate when people blame everything on the coach. What's he supposed to do, sit Stutzle?
If there is another great coach out there and he's willing to move to Ottawa and take on this team, would it change those odds a ton? Not sure it would.

Stutzle should sit a game, yes. He is hurting the team at this point and he thinks his shit doesn't stink. He needs a wakeup call.

Chabot should get a healthy as well but unfortunately we don't have the defensive depth to do that.

 

[SPF6ty9]

DJ seems like a good dude and you don’t want to see anyone lose their job, but he’s got to go. I think he’s a good junior coach but the game is so different in the NHL.

100% would have a beer with DJ

100% would not want him coaching my NHL team

Fate should be sealed at this point regardless of any future outcomes. Just sucks to have the awkwardness of dead man walking Dorion at GM while we need a new coach.

 

[SENSnational]

Stutzle should sit a game, yes. He is hurting the team at this point and he thinks his shit doesn't stink. He needs a wakeup call.

Chabot should get a healthy as well but unfortunately we don't have the defensive depth to do that.

I think some fan's heads would explode if they sat Stutzle for one shift even.
Do it!

 

[Mingus Dew]

100% would have a beer with DJ

100% would not want him coaching my NHL team

Fate should be sealed at this point regardless of any future outcomes. Just sucks to have the awkwardness of dead man walking Dorion at GM while we need a new coach.

DJ is the guy I call when it's chest day and I want to hit a PR. I think he's a good hype man.

But he doesn't have what it takes to get the most out of this team. I don't think it's "systems" as much as it's a lack of accountability and, honestly, respect.

I think some fan's heads would explode if they sat Stutzle for one shift even.
Do it!

He's trying to deke three defenders all the time, making no look passes that get intercepted, staring at the refs after every hit and giving up on the play.

He thinks he's a superstar and the game should be easy for him. And he's quietly getting his points so at the end of the day he's getting reinforced.

A night in the press box would do him well.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Stutzle should sit a game, yes. He is hurting the team at this point and he thinks his shit doesn't stink. He needs a wakeup call.

Chabot should get a healthy as well but unfortunately we don't have the defensive depth to do that.

I think Stützle is as hard on himself as anyone. Being super hard on yourself just tends to make you perform worse.

I have a lot of respect for DJ, I think he will have a good NHL coaching career, but I dont think he can do anything at this point to really change the dynamics here. I genuinely think the only thing that can turn things around is a few lucky bounces leading to a few wins in 50/50 games, and a surge of confidence that results from that. And that's never something you can count on.

 

[SENSnational]

DJ is the guy I call when it's chest day and I want to hit a PR. I think he's a good hype man.

But he doesn't have what it takes to get the most out of this team. I don't think it's "systems" as much as it's a lack of accountability and, honestly, respect.



He's trying to deke three defenders all the time, making no look passes that get intercepted, staring at the refs after every hit and giving up on the play.

He thinks he's a superstar and the game should be easy for him. And he's quietly getting his points so at the end of the day he's getting reinforced.

A night in the press box would do him well.

I have been OK with DJ as I feel he hasn't had a roster until this year (and last year until all the injuries too), so he has been judged way too harsh and hasn't had a fair chance.
But these players only seem to play well when their emotions are running high and DJ doesn't seem to bring that out of them enough. I hope he can adapt a bit to manufacture that emotion they seem to need, but not sure if he can.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I have been OK with DJ as I feel he hasn't had a roster until this year (and last year until all the injuries too), so he has been judged way too harsh and hasn't had a fair chance.
But these players only seem to play well when their emotions are running high and DJ doesn't seem to bring that out of them enough. I hope he can adapt a bit to manufacture that emotion they seem to need, but not sure if he can.

Its a difficult thing to do after 4/5/6 years with the same players.

I think he has left a lot of good habits for a new coach to build on, but I also think he has allowed bad habits that only a new coach can reform

 

[HF Reader]

I'm guessing senior management probably set a review of coaching/GM for ten games into the season. Just one of those milestones that works. We are almost there...

I'm guessing Andlauer avoids knee-jerk reactions and will take his time to thoroughly evaluate who he wants at various positions in the organization. I believe Andlaur will take as much time as necessary to do it correctly.

I expect these evaluations began weeks ago, likely starting prior to finalizing the sale.

You might be right with your ten game guess. Perhaps he decided to give it some time to see the team live and first hand. Surely he and Staios are convinced that this team has significant on-ice problems (team is poorly constructed?).

So far I am impressed with Andlaur's moves with Alf'son, POHO, Leeder and, yes, even Slewidge. I believe he is a patient man and knows he has to get the GM decision correct and only wants to make this decision once.

 

[SENSnational]

Its a difficult thing to do after 4/5/6 years with the same players.

I think he has left a lot of good habits for a new coach to build on, but I also think he has allowed bad habits that only a new coach can reform

You are probably right and I do think the team needs a bit of a shakeup. I'm just afraid as sometimes the shke-up can also F other things up, like the locker room chemistry.
I'd propose that DJ fires a couple of his assistant coaches (like maybe the Defensive coach) then that might be enough to get the team's attention again. Or something crazy like trading Chabby for another Zub-type player at this point (which I never dreamed of saying) would shake the team up to say "you guys have to be better" and could free cap space for Pinto and other things.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

I honestly don't think many posters actually witnessed how good those teams were.

A coach with the best structure and players that were willing to play it.

Our top guys and leaders were amazing 2 way players that showed pride in playing good defense, compared to the players we have today that can't wait to cheat and exit the dzone as early as possible.

Alfie
Hossa
Bonk
Arvedson
White
Havlat
Fisher

Then you got a Dcore of
Chara
Redden
Philips
Rachunek
Meszaros
Pothier

 

[5ive4Fighting]

Gotta be stressful to be a Senator right now. Expectations up, results down, missing two NHL D and a 3C in weird circumstances, and possibly in the process of indirectly executing a coach they seem to like.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

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.

Pretty sure it’s the Head Coach who picks his assistants…. and the GM either agrees with his Head Coach or not. Also some GMs make suggestions to their Head Coach whenever there is a vacancy on the Coaching staff, and come to an understanding before the GM actually inquires about someone they both agree on, to offer the, an opportunity.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

I'm still frustrated that some of the better performers of the preseason like Smejkal and Jarventie weren't on the starting roster and those spots went to absolute scrubs like Chartier instead.

"tHe BeSt PlAyErS pLaY"

Because games in the pre season are as intensely played as the games in the regular season, plus you’re always facing your opponents best possible line up as well.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Two games (in Sweden) over a 12 day span…. Looks like an excellent opportunity to cut ties with DJS, and allow the new/interm coach time to reset the team and get them up to speed with a new system.

 

[redbrick98]

Two games (in Sweden) over a 12 day span…. Looks like an excellent opportunity to cut ties with DJS, and allow the new/interm coach time to reset the team and get them up to speed with a new system.

View attachment 758820

It'll be after next game

Sens don't play till Thursday after tomorrow

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Interesting comment. I don't know what a team that's given up is supposed to look like, but I definitely do not see a hungry team out there. I see a team that looks very easy to play against with not enough pushback.

 

[Beech]

I stick by what I said. If he loses this weekend he is toast

chabots hand is broken

zub out

brann out

Chyc, Sand, Ham, JBD, Klevin and probably thomson on D

he is not toast, we are

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

So the players just suck, then?

That’s even worse. It’s a lot harder to change the players on the team.

Fans are clinging to the hope that this team could be good with a different coach. But that may not be true. They may just be bad.