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

[Dionysus]

Definitely some issues with DJ. But, it really comes down to the players on the ice. They have not been consistent. Very rare to see a game where they play hard the whole way through. It's always spurts of great play and long stretches of being on their heels.

It think there is some merit to trying a new coaching staff, and seeing how these players react. Ultimately though, this is on the players. Coaches are an easy scapegoat. If this squad can't play over .500 with DJ, a new coach isn't going to make them Stanley Cup contenders. It's wishful thinking.

 

[Icelevel]

Definitely some issues with DJ. But, it really comes down to the players on the ice. They have not been consistent. Very rare to see a game where they play hard the whole way through. It's always spurts of great play and long stretches of being on their heels.

It think there is some merit to trying a new coaching staff, and seeing how these players react. Ultimately though, this is on the players. Coaches are an easy scapegoat. If this squad can't play over .500 with DJ, a new coach isn't going to make them Stanley Cup contenders. It's wishful thinking.

In this case after this long I think it is clearly on the coaches.
Time for a change. It’s obvious. DJ might have been fine for a while but it’s over now. All three need to go. (Maybe Davis Payne could stay idk)

 

[Korpse]

Nah. Take that with a few grains of salt.

They've been casually looking at both coaching and GM change since late summer. Lets not kid ourselves here.

I’m sure they have. Can’t see them bringing in a coach without the interim tag though when they are just starting the search for a GM though. probably would like to wait till a GM is in place before starting the coaching search.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Definitely some issues with DJ. But, it really comes down to the players on the ice. They have not been consistent. Very rare to see a game where they play hard the whole way through. It's always spurts of great play and long stretches of being on their heels.

It think there is some merit to trying a new coaching staff, and seeing how these players react. Ultimately though, this is on the players. Coaches are an easy scapegoat. If this squad can't play over .500 with DJ, a new coach isn't going to make them Stanley Cup contenders. It's wishful thinking.

A lot of these players have never played for a different pro hockey coach, and now we see them playing with absolutely no structure and nobody is held accoutable for anything, we just hear about how easy the coach is to talk to. It’s more than just a scalegoat.

 

[Super Cake]

While i hated the fact the NHL took away our 1st, a part of me kind of wants them to just take our 2024 first just so it could maybe add more pressure to management to just f***ing bite the bullet already and fire Smith.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I imagine Edmonton will make a coaching change soon.

 

[Swisssen]

Hey the players like him!

We are at the bottom of the conference but DJ is a very good guy!
Same shit every season. Can`t belive he is still our choach.

 

[Tuna99]

Embattled Ottawa Senators coach D.J. Smith vows to fight on | TSN

The embattled D.J. Smith said on Monday that he would be lying if he said he wasn't feeling the pressure, but vowed to fight on as Ottawa Senators head coach.

www.tsn.ca

DJ vows to fight on! Good for him.

I didn't know he was fighting at all. I thought he was spending most of his time losing.

I guarantee you vs the Leafs they will put the puck behind the Ottawa net, Ottawa will lose all its assignments and the puck will come into the slot uncontested and Toronto will score with 5 Senators standing still.

Fight on all you want D.J., if you can’t coach a team to protect the slot after 5 years you don’t know how to coach properly

I imagine Edmonton will make a coaching change soon.

Team hasn’t had goaltending for years and they all seemed confused as to why they lose.

Get a goalie and McDavid will do the rest securing all your job security until he retires.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Negative rope.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

The system isn't garbage, his ability to get the players to commit to the system is garbage and that's why he and his assistants need to go. He is out of answers. I think the next coach will struggle with this as well, so eventually we will need to shake up the core (not Stu or Sandy).

Can I add that the Captain, at times, is a little selfish and goes on yapping rants with the opposing players, while on the bench….. this is not a good example for the other players, if the captain goes off the game plan and prioritises a personal issue with a player on the other team that obviously putting him off the game….. he needs to stop taking the bait.

 

[Tuna99]

Can I add that the Captain, at times, is a little selfish and goes on yapping rants with the opposing players, while on the bench….. this is not a good example for the other players, if the captain goes off the game plan and prioritises a personal issue with a player on the other team that obviously putting him off the game….. he needs to stop taking the bait.

Just having flash back of Scott Stevens telling the yappy Philly bench after he knocked out Eric Lindros that they would all be next and he was waiting for them.

If you're the man, you gotta let others know you are th man so they can then admit to themselves in their own voice that you are the man and everyone knows who the man is. Important

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Just having flash back of Scott Stevens telling the yappy Philly bench after he knocked out Eric Lindros that they would all be next and he was waiting for them.

If you're the man, you gotta let others know you are th man so they can then admit to themselves in their own voice that you are the man and everyone knows who the man is. Important

The Senators Captain is not quite at the level of respect that Stevens had back then…. Right now he should lead by example, and withstand to temptation/bait opposing players dangle in front of him, knowing how easy it is to put him off his game….. and when the captain deviates from the game plans, others will follow.

 

[Flamingo]

Here's a neat lesson on a coach's coaching/systems vs the players' execution, using Edmonton as an example. Good and bad execution of 1-1-3.

 

[BondraTime]

That's the thing about systems that bugs me on here.

Every team has a system. Does every system have the same results? Of course not.

The only similarity that is common in every single system in hockey, is that they are very, very easy to f*** up. The teams who are not f***ing up, look to have a great system. The teams where players are not playing the system the way they are supposed to, make them look non-existent. We have been playing that way for the better part of 7 years.

A system is only worthwhile when it's being done properly. When you have 3/4-5 players on the ice operating the system, zoning schemes, tempo and gameplan, the one who doesn't breaks the entire system.

We could be playing a Box+1, and 4/5 of the guys are making the correct plays flawlessly. But then 1 guy is playing a strong-side overload, and then the system is completely broken because we have one of the players completely out of position. All it takes is 1 guy taking a wrong position or making a wrong coverage read and it opens the team up to mental lapse, or what may look like a mental lapse, when it's just an incorrect job playing the system

Do I think our system is among the best in the league? Nope

Do I think that the system, or lack there of is you ask many on media and message boards, is the reason for how poorly they are playing? Not in the least.

We are not playing our own system, and in doing that, makes it seem as though there is none.

The team needs a new voice, but they also need to bare down on it's game.

How many times as a winger do you get the puck rimmed around on the side of the boards in the D zone. You know you can either chip it off the boards or swing it towards the center of the ice because you know you have your center swinging through to pick up the puck. That's practiced from the time you are 8 though to the time in the NHL. That's just a system, a very simple swing drill. When your center doesn't swing through, and the winger chips it back to the other teams D and or throws it to the middle of the ice to nobody, is that a system problem? Is the winger an idiot carelessly throwing the puck away?

The amount of times I see the winger and or system get blamed for that type of situation rather than the Center is mindboggling. Those are the mistakes I'm seeing, constantly, with this team.

 

[Flamingo]

That's the thing about systems that bugs me on here.

Every team has a system. Does every system have the same results? Of course not.

The only similarity that is common in every single system in hockey, is that they are very, very easy to f*** up. The teams who are not f***ing up, look to have a great system. The teams where players are not playing the system the way they are supposed to, make them look non-existent. We have been playing that way for the better part of 7 years.

A system is only worthwhile when it's being done properly. When you have 3/4-5 players on the ice operating the system, zoning schemes, tempo and gameplan, the one who doesn't breaks the entire system.

We could be playing a Box+1, and 4/5 of the guys are making the correct plays flawlessly. But then 1 guy is playing a strong-side overload, and then the system is completely broken because we have one of the players completely out of position. All it takes is 1 guy taking a wrong position or making a wrong coverage read and it opens the team up to mental lapse, or what may look like a mental lapse, when it's just an incorrect job playing the system

Do I think our system is among the best in the league? Nope

Do I think that the system, or lack there of is you ask many on media and message boards, is the reason for how poorly they are playing? Not in the least.

We are not playing our own system, and in doing that, makes it seem as though there is none.

The team needs a new voice, but they also need to bare down on it's game.

How many times as a winger do you get the puck rimmed around on the side of the boards in the D zone. You know you can either chip it off the boards or swing it towards the center of the ice because you know you have your center swinging through to pick up the puck. That's practiced from the time you are 8 though to the time in the NHL. That's just a system, a very simple swing drill. When your center doesn't swing through, and the winger chips it back to the other teams D and or throws it to the middle of the ice to nobody, is that a system problem? Is the winger an idiot carelessly throwing the puck away?

The amount of times I see the winger and or system get blamed for that type of situation rather than the Center is mindboggling. Those are the mistakes I'm seeing, constantly, with this team.

And juggling lines can make the execution problems harder to isolate and correct. Two centres might hit the blue line at different times, with different paces. One might read a strong-side pinch differently than the other. Expectations need to be set in practice and small corrections issued in-game.

 

[Tuna99]

The Senators Captain is not quite at the level of respect that Stevens had back then…. Right now he should lead by example, and withstand to temptation/bait opposing players dangle in front of him, knowing how easy it is to put him off his game….. and when the captain deviates from the game plans, others will follow.

Huh? Steven’s got to be the most feared man in the NHL from a long history of hurting people and being a mean S.O.B.

Being the man isn’t something the league agrees on in a vote - it comes from opposition players being afraid of you because they’ve seen you destroy their toughest players and never back down.

It’s a real job being a legit dominant physical force in NHL - you have to take people out from time to time. And that involves emotions and being on the edge - Brady was both last game and that’s okay for the fans - it comes with the territory

 

[DaveMatthew]

Huh? Steven’s got to be the most feared man in the NHL from a long history of hurting people and being a mean S.O.B.

Being the man isn’t something the league agrees on in a vote - it comes from opposition players being afraid of you because they’ve seen you destroy their toughest players and never back down.

It’s a real job being a legit dominant physical force in NHL - you have to take people out from time to time. And that involves emotions and being on the edge - Brady was both last game and that’s okay for the fans - it comes with the territory

Tkachuk needs to play, and act, with more maturity.

Both he and Stützle get visibly rattled almost every game now. Yapping at the refs too often. Barking at teammates. Losing their composure. Both are supposed to be level-headed leaders. They're acting like Michael Bunting out there.

A good captain calms the waters when things are going poorly. Tkachuk is doing the opposite.

 

[Tuna99]

Tkachuk needs to play, and act, with more maturity.

Both he and Stützle get visibly rattled almost every game now. Yapping at the refs too often. Barking at teammates. Losing their composure. Both are supposed to be level-headed leaders. They're acting like Michael Bunting out there.

A good captain calms the waters when things are going poorly. Tkachuk is doing the opposite.

that to me is more a culture thing across the team, D.J. Is a yappy coach and his team is the same way. You’re right team lacks emotional control and Team does lack maturity, and so does the coach.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

That's the thing about systems that bugs me on here.

Every team has a system. Does every system have the same results? Of course not.

The only similarity that is common in every single system in hockey, is that they are very, very easy to f*** up. The teams who are not f***ing up, look to have a great system. The teams where players are not playing the system the way they are supposed to, make them look non-existent. We have been playing that way for the better part of 7 years.

A system is only worthwhile when it's being done properly. When you have 3/4-5 players on the ice operating the system, zoning schemes, tempo and gameplan, the one who doesn't breaks the entire system.

We could be playing a Box+1, and 4/5 of the guys are making the correct plays flawlessly. But then 1 guy is playing a strong-side overload, and then the system is completely broken because we have one of the players completely out of position. All it takes is 1 guy taking a wrong position or making a wrong coverage read and it opens the team up to mental lapse, or what may look like a mental lapse, when it's just an incorrect job playing the system

Do I think our system is among the best in the league? Nope

Do I think that the system, or lack there of is you ask many on media and message boards, is the reason for how poorly they are playing? Not in the least.

We are not playing our own system, and in doing that, makes it seem as though there is none.

The team needs a new voice, but they also need to bare down on it's game.

How many times as a winger do you get the puck rimmed around on the side of the boards in the D zone. You know you can either chip it off the boards or swing it towards the center of the ice because you know you have your center swinging through to pick up the puck. That's practiced from the time you are 8 though to the time in the NHL. That's just a system, a very simple swing drill. When your center doesn't swing through, and the winger chips it back to the other teams D and or throws it to the middle of the ice to nobody, is that a system problem? Is the winger an idiot carelessly throwing the puck away?

The amount of times I see the winger and or system get blamed for that type of situation rather than the Center is mindboggling. Those are the mistakes I'm seeing, constantly, with this team.

There is no (little) adherence to basic principles. I am not concerned with their systems , it 's basic attention to detail and execution. The problem for me is that there are so many examples of poor decisions, poor execution and prioritizing defensive hockey ; The shoot ins are part of it , particularly if thats your goto strategy; board play, supporting puck battles for possession, right side of the puck, fly bys, zone exits, defending the slot , puck watching, cheating for offense;

Some of these make it look like there is no system but most are basic execution ... Obviously I am seeing and wanting different things out of the players than DJ seems to ... If the messaging is there , its really not getting through in a lot of areas.

They can attack and they can swarm and play fast when trying to generate in the ozone and that seems to resonate with everyone seeing their potential but they need to be able to tighten it up.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

That's the thing about systems that bugs me on here.

Every team has a system. Does every system have the same results? Of course not.

The only similarity that is common in every single system in hockey, is that they are very, very easy to f*** up. The teams who are not f***ing up, look to have a great system. The teams where players are not playing the system the way they are supposed to, make them look non-existent. We have been playing that way for the better part of 7 years.

A system is only worthwhile when it's being done properly. When you have 3/4-5 players on the ice operating the system, zoning schemes, tempo and gameplan, the one who doesn't breaks the entire system.

We could be playing a Box+1, and 4/5 of the guys are making the correct plays flawlessly. But then 1 guy is playing a strong-side overload, and then the system is completely broken because we have one of the players completely out of position. All it takes is 1 guy taking a wrong position or making a wrong coverage read and it opens the team up to mental lapse, or what may look like a mental lapse, when it's just an incorrect job playing the system

Do I think our system is among the best in the league? Nope

Do I think that the system, or lack there of is you ask many on media and message boards, is the reason for how poorly they are playing? Not in the least.

We are not playing our own system, and in doing that, makes it seem as though there is none.

The team needs a new voice, but they also need to bare down on it's game.

How many times as a winger do you get the puck rimmed around on the side of the boards in the D zone. You know you can either chip it off the boards or swing it towards the center of the ice because you know you have your center swinging through to pick up the puck. That's practiced from the time you are 8 though to the time in the NHL. That's just a system, a very simple swing drill. When your center doesn't swing through, and the winger chips it back to the other teams D and or throws it to the middle of the ice to nobody, is that a system problem? Is the winger an idiot carelessly throwing the puck away?

The amount of times I see the winger and or system get blamed for that type of situation rather than the Center is mindboggling. Those are the mistakes I'm seeing, constantly, with this team.

But our game seems to rely on the winger flying (or never even coming back to) our zone way too often. Then the puck either:

A) Gets predictably rimmed to the other side where the high forward for the attacking team can easily anticipate where to choke off the outlets for that winger.

B) Thrown down the ice in a hail mary to the forward who is at the opposing blue line. He chips/tips it in, rarely having any support coming for the forecheck.

Or

C) Gets rimmed to the side where the winger has vacated, resulting in either an immediate turn over at our blue line or the C covering for the missing winger who then has no outlet in the centre of the ice.

We need to make that fly play a far less common option coming out of our zone. It's not fooling anyone at this point and teams are shutting it down.

Our defensive zone coverage is not great but that is a tough thing to master with a young team. I don't think we're THAT bad at getting the puck back.

I find our break out and transitions are horribly predictable. To me that's unacceptable.

 

[Mingus Dew]

But our game seems to rely on the winger flying (or never even coming back to) our zone way too often. Then the puck either:

A) Gets predictably rimmed to the other side where the high forward for the attacking team can easily anticipate where to choke off the outlets for that winger.

B) Thrown down the ice in a hail mary to the forward who is at the opposing blue line. He chips/tips it in, rarely having any support coming for the forecheck.

Or

C) Gets rimmed to the side where the winger has vacated, resulting in either an immediate turn over at our blue line or the C covering for the missing winger who then has not outlet in the centre of the ice.

We need to make that fly play a far less common option coming out of our zone. It's not fooling anyone at this point and teams are shutting it down.

Our defensive zone coverage is not great but that is a tough thing to master with a young team. I don't think we're THAT bad at getting the puck back.

I find our break out and transitions are horribly predictable. To me that's unacceptable.

Winger is supposed to blow the zone upon possession to occupy a defender and open up the center of the ice for the breakout.

The problem is that our guys blow the zone on 50/50 pucks rather than only when we have have 100% possession.

Again, not a systems issue but an execution and judgement issue.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Winger is supposed to blow the zone upon possession to occupy a defender and open up the center of the ice for the breakout.

The problem is that our guys blow the zone on 50/50 pucks rather than only when we have have 100% possession.

Again, not a systems issue but an execution and judgement issue.

I don't disagree but even on clear possessions we use that option way too often.

Look at how well coached teams move up the ice as a unit.

Then watch us. Night and day if the other team has any inclination to defend.

 

[Mingus Dew]

I don't disagree but even on clear possessions we use that option way too often.

Look at how well coached teams move up the ice as a unit.

Then watch us. Night and day if the other team has any inclination to defend.

Yeah I'm not saying it's my favorite way to break the puck out or anything. But a really good example of how the players just refuse to play the gameplan the right way.

 

[swiftwin]

Tkachuk needs to play, and act, with more maturity.

Both he and Stützle get visibly rattled almost every game now. Yapping at the refs too often. Barking at teammates. Losing their composure. Both are supposed to be level-headed leaders. They're acting like Michael Bunting out there.

A good captain calms the waters when things are going poorly. Tkachuk is doing the opposite.

Stutzle has improved a ton in the last couple weeks in terms of yapping at the refs. He clearly got told to cut it out. He doesn't even look at the refs when he gets tripped anymore.

 

[Oduyanow]

yeah... that is not too bright.

Agreed, but at the same time, neither is what DJ did to Simmer. None of us here would appreciate someone snitching to our boss. In Simmer's mind perhaps he thinks it was part of the reason he was let go by TSN1200 so he's very touchy about it. (Not saying he's right, but still).