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

[Nevins]

Mathieu Darche as General Manager. Alfie as assistant to the general manager and Patrick Roy as coach.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Mathieu Darche as General Manager. Alfie as assistant to the general manager and Patrick Roy as coach.

Alfie got to choose where he wanted to be. He wants to be close to the ice, players, development staff and coaches

 

[Ice-Tray]

Remember how two weeks ago, you were responding to every “fire Dorion” post with a “not happening, Staios made it clear that Pierre runs the day to day”?

Well what happened today?

Andlauer clearly doesn’t like how things have been going here. It’s been the opposite of “best in class”, and he essentially said that today.

Will DJ be fired tomorrow? No, but If they lose 5 games over the next two weeks? He’ll be on the hot seat. Yesterday was Pierre’s last straw. How many does DJ have left?

The coddling is over. He has to prove himself. I don’t think any of the “new guys” will have much loyalty or patience with the carryovers from the Dorion era.

They don’t want to be part of a circus. They want the stench of Melnyk and Dorion gone.

Remember how I was right and all the dumb shits looking for their immediate pound of flesh from a stranger were wrong? PD living in your heads like a bunch of chumps.


No, what happened was the last straw fell as Andlauer clearly told you along with me and everyone else.

He was very clearly pissed off at losing a draft pick because of Dorion’s negligence. Probably fast forwarded the firing by several month.

You know what also needs to go? The stench of all the endless bitching and whining about EM and PD in here. I’ll keep an eye on you and see if you snap to the new regime or if you keep up your shtick.

 

[HSF]

Remember how I was right and all the dumb shits looking for their immediate pound of flesh from a stranger were wrong? PD living in your heads like a bunch of chumps.


No, what happened was the last straw fell as Andlauer clearly told you along with me and everyone else.

He was very clearly pissed off at losing a draft pick because of Dorion’s negligence. Probably fast forwarded the firing by several month.

You know what also needs to go? The stench of all the endless bitching and whining about EM and PD in here. I’ll keep an eye on you and see if you snap to the new regime or if you keep up your shtick.

Dorion is gone dude. Get over it. Those who said he won't be fired early were wrong

 

[Ice-Tray]

Dorion is gone dude. Get over it. Those who said he won't be fired early were wrong

It’s good that he’s gone, but he wasn’t really fired early now was he? He wasn’t ousted in a fit of cleansing by the new group.

No, cool heads prevailed as usual and he was left to run the team while the owner and POHO acclimatized themselves with the team and city, and fleshed out the office. You could tell that Staios wanted to focus on filling out the org right now, not run the day to day team, but here we are.

He was fired when an NHL ruling came out showing a personal f*** up that cost us a 1st. Not what anyone thought would happen.

As for me? Just responding to a knob post, directed at me cause I’m sometimes petty that way lol. What’s your excuse?

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

So who are you referring to here when you said this when you quoted my quote and were talking to me directly and we already established dialogue?

"Some people must have a thick skull… a week ago, No One here knew of the possibility of the Sens losing a 1st round pick, related to a trade made 18 months ago, until the media revealed the likelyhood it could happen this week … and it did. I was not wrong, so call me out as much as you want, it changes nothing….."

“Some people” could mean anyone, I did not direct it at anyone in particular….. so thank you for correcting your earlier remark stating I called “you”, as I did not…. When you assume something…….

 

[Tragedy]

It’s good that he’s gone, but he wasn’t really fired early now was he? He wasn’t ousted in a fit of cleansing by the new group.

No, cool heads prevailed as usual and he was left to run the team while the owner and POHO acclimatized themselves with the team and city, and fleshed out the office. You could tell that Staios wanted to focus on filling out the org right now, not run the day to day team, but here we are.

He was fired when an NHL ruling came out showing a personal f*** up that cost us a 1st. Not what anyone thought would happen.

As for me? Just responding to a knob post, directed at me cause I’m sometimes petty that way lol. What’s your excuse?

I think most people who are being honest can see the sale process went on too long for this to have been a viable option. Whether anyone believes Andlauer and co. would have kept PD and DJ in place had they got control of the team early in the summer is another story. They may very well have decided to give them the year and evaluate after but everyone (myself included) who thought there would be a house cleaning once Andlauer took over did so with the assumption the purchase was going to be completed far earlier in the summer.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Dorion is gone dude. Get over it. Those who said he won't be fired early were wrong

Those who said both PD and DJS would be fired before this season began, after a new owner took control, were all wrong.


Many posters, including myself, qualified their predictions of PD and DJS, and their future once a new owner took control.

I fell into the camp with those who said neither would be let go at the beginning of the season, and both would given until December and then, based on the teams performance, whether the team was in or out of a playoff spot… that would be the earliest either would be let go.

what came down a week ago, from the NHL, about a possible and then eventual loss of a first rounder changed the game for PD, and it was more than reason enough to let him walk,and I was assuming he was going to be let go in the offseason at the latest, if the team failed to make the playoffs.

The Ottawa Senators' search for a GM will stretch far and wide

Steve Staios has added the duties of interim GM to his plate until he either names himself to the role full-time or finds a replacement.

ottawasun.com

 

[swiftwin]

Can't fire him in the offseason because ownership was changing, can't fire him now because we don't have a permanent GM.

Yep, that's why unless things go really south, we're likely to wait until next summer to get rid of DJ.

If we fire him, it's to make Capuano the interim, which is unlikely to change much. So there's no reason fire DJ right now.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I think most people who are being honest can see the sale process went on too long for this to have been a viable option. Whether anyone believes Andlauer and co. would have kept PD and DJ in place had they got control of the team early in the summer is another story. They may very well have decided to give them the year and evaluate after but everyone (myself included) who thought there would be a house cleaning once Andlauer took over did so with the assumption the purchase was going to be completed far earlier in the summer.

Well I mean this is all conjecture with an appeal to “being honest”. This theory will never be tested, and give the fact that we have an actual outcome it doesn’t really matter.

We can’t really claim that something else would have happened, without evidence, and then use that to back opinions. There was no immediate house clearing, some are fine admitting they were wrong, others create caveats and scenarios where they can actually still feel right. Human nature really.

What did happen was both men consistently told the media that they wanted to take time to evaluate the team at various levels. Staios was pretty clear that he wanted to take his time filling out the front of the house with quality hires and let PD and DJ deal with the team on the ice for now.

I doubt an extra month would have turned the wheeels any faster at the start. Both guys took a measured approach and were very public about it. I don’t doubt that they were going to eventually get all the people in place that they wanted, but they have never been enthusiastic about this season, and haven’t moved very quickly in terms of hiring anyone. It’s been slow and steady, evaluate, get the best people in place.

If we’re being honest, to return the phrase, virtually no incoming owners clear the house, so it was never realistic, and in this specific instance Andlauer was very clear what approach he wanted to take, and now Staios is singing a similar tune. Take it slow, do it once, do it right.

Andlauer made it crystal clear that this gross negligence that cost the team a first round pick was the final straw for PD. Had this not happened he would undoubtably still be here until Staios was ready to tackle filling the GM position. I don’t doubt that PD was not in the running and was never being evaluated for the position, but Staios has to have time to look around the league at guys that could be a fit before voiding the position and starting interviews.

He clearly doesn’t want the job, wasn’t ready to take it on at the moment, and has been hiring people to fill out the front office first, not firing first.

PD being replaced was always going to be a longer process, especially given that this season isn’t terribly important to them.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Bring in Guy Boucher as interim head coach.

He is a systems heavy coach. When he takes over bad defensive teams, his structure idiot-proofs things and they end up way over-performing. It's a story that keeps repeating itself.

The problem with Boucher is that his system is not playable for more than 1 season. It is a drain, and players start fantasizing about pushing him off high buildings in order to see if it can get them out of playing his system. (Unfortunately, last time Boucher was hurled off the CTC, Crawford became the head coach)

Even Alexandre Daigle understands this. He is coaching a bunch of children and he claims he is forcing them to play the trap, and now they are a winning team. Nobody remembers 2-2-1.

 

[Sens Vader]

DJ needs to be fired but I feel like hiring a new GM would be first no? I feel like that would be more likely

I think it’s laughable DJ has lasted this long, but I’d also want a new GM to help pick the coach

At least it took a quick 8 games for Andlear to realize Dorion is a clueless bafoon and canned his ass

 

[Super Cake]

Dj is going to be here forever isn't he?

 

[OD99]

I bet there is some of you who are on bended knee praying for the Sens to go on a losing streak so that you get your wish and get rid of DJ. Good Luck to you!!

That is ridiculous but why don't you tell me why he deserves to stay? Because the players like him?

He had a full roster and so far, against top teams, the Senators haven't shown up. The d zone is still a mess, the PK is awful and the PP is worse than last year.

If we finish bottom 12 this year, would you have him back again?

 

[OD99]

Yep, that's why unless things go really south, we're likely to wait until next summer to get rid of DJ.

If we fire him, it's to make Capuano the interim, which is unlikely to change much. So there's no reason fire DJ right now.

No.

Unless upper management doesn't believe in this team, they will have to make a move early to salvage this season.

Don't know why Cap is the only option either. It is nice that a GM can pick his coach, but not an absolute. Particularly if the coach is doing a good job.

This team will be close to getting blown up again if we finish near the bottom.

 

[Bileur]

Mathieu Darche as General Manager. Alfie as assistant to the general manager and Patrick Roy as coach.

Just going to point out that Darche’s longest consecutive NHL stint as a player (three years) came under Jacques Martin as head coach.

Add JM as assistant to Roy and that’s a pretty ideal scenario.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Can we at least add Jacques Martin as an assistant and get rid one of the clowns thats been there for 5 years?

 

[Micklebot]

Bring in Guy Boucher as interim head coach.

He is a systems heavy coach. When he takes over bad defensive teams, his structure idiot-proofs things and they end up way over-performing. It's a story that keeps repeating itself.

The problem with Boucher is that his system is not playable for more than 1 season. It is a drain, and players start fantasizing about pushing him off high buildings in order to see if it can get them out of playing his system. (Unfortunately, last time Boucher was hurled off the CTC, Crawford became the head coach)

Even Alexandre Daigle understands this. He is coaching a bunch of children and he claims he is forcing them to play the trap, and now they are a winning team. Nobody remembers 2-2-1.

No chance the leafs let him go to be an interim coach. It's one thing to let a guy go out in the offseason and get a promotion, but letting them go mid year to be interim?

 

[Cosmix]

I think DJ remains as head coach as long as the team is in contention and performing like a playoff team. Right now, the team is under .500 and not in contention. I think DJ gets another 10 games or so before he might be removed. It depends on whether the team starts to play better and claws back into the playoff race. I can see Staios making a coaching change and appointing an interim coach for the remainder of the year. After the new GM is appointed, the team would hire a new coaching staff.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

No chance the leafs let him go to be an interim coach. It's one thing to let a guy go out in the offseason and get a promotion, but letting them go mid year to be interim?

He would have a shot at becoming permanent coach, although that would be a bad idea based on his history. The dynamic would be that they don't have their permanent full management team in place, so whoever comes in now is going to be interim because whoever they hire as GM should have a say in whoever coaches this team for the next few years.

If the season was almost over, I think they would stop him. There are 73 games remaining in the season. If the Senators want Boucher to be head coach with an interim tag, and Boucher is open to it, I don't think the Leafs would stop him.

We're talking about a veteran head coach who nobody thought would get another shot getting a chance to secure a long-term head coaching gig. Same deal with someone like Jacques Martin, although the dynamic there would be a bit different with Pittsburgh doing so poorly.

There is no way to know for sure, and your point is valid.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Martian saying the streets are rumbling … DJ gone ?

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I really don't think people understand just how much better we will look with him gone.

 

[LevelingSolo]

Martian saying the streets are rumbling … DJ gone ?

Hope so, but I find it hard to imagine he would be let go right after the "vote of confidence" he got two days ago

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Martian saying the streets are rumbling … DJ gone ?

Who?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Time for a coaching change. DJ seems like a great guy but this group needs a different coach.
Give me Julien, with Jacques Martin as an associate and some young blood with a high level background to complement them.