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

[Senscore]

I've been saying this for a long time. The unlearning these guys are going to have to do when a new coach arrives is going to take a long time. He's f***ing over our future stars that are in critical development years.

Andlauer and Staios really want to line up this fresh GM-coach setup but they're letting this fantasy obscure what's happening right in front of them.

Perfect is the enemy of good.


Change the damn coach. And if you find you have to change it again then so be it.

 

[WORLDSTARHIPHOP]

Deja vu

Still remember people defending him when I asked him to be fired the start of last season. Here we are again.

Where would we be now if we got someone competent last season?

 

[RyCam]

Fire DJ and put Jacques behind the bench as an interim solution.

Dorion, being one of the worst GMs in the last decade, put together a squad with some massive holes and weaknesses but that's where a savvy coach comes in and implements a system for the team they have, not the team that they wish they had.

I would argue that the 96-97 Sens weren't much better than this current squad, if at all, but JM adjusted and implemented a system that would allow them to achieve success. DJ is doing the opposite.

 

[LevelingSolo]

This man will outlast even Brandon Staley

Is it reasonable to believe that he’s caused permanent damage? I really think his losing stench is here to stay.

100%

Even in other sports, it took Sean Payton 6 games to get rid of Nathaniel Hacketts stink off the Broncos

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Deja vu

Still remember people defending him when I asked him to be fired the start of last season. Here we are again.

Where would we be now if we got someone competent last season?

I know of at least 2 posters on here who were the ones that probably defended him.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Is it reasonable to believe that he’s caused permanent damage? I really think his losing stench is here to stay.

Maybe the players are the losers?

They have Martin and Alfredsson coaching them now too.

Players are still losers.

 

[lang006]

I've been saying this for a long time. The unlearning these guys are going to have to do when a new coach arrives is going to take a long time. He's f***ing over our future stars that are in critical development years.

This exactly. The team plays with so many glaringly poor habits during games that these habits become the norm. I expect when the eventual new coaching staff arrives they are likely going to experience immediate and significant shock at a lot of the stuff they see right off. During practices is where bad habits can creep in too if things aren’t being corrected or taught properly in the first place. We’ll hear a future quote or two about it no doubt if a veteran coach eventually arrives and begins teaching.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Just more of the same tripe from DJ.

 

[SensHulk]

Maybe the players are the losers?

They have Martin and Alfredsson coaching them now too.

Players are still losers.

The players definitely have a loser mentality…quite sad to see considering everything they’ve gone through. Giroux unfortunately wasn’t alone enough to right this ship.

It showed a lot of immaturity when Brady blamed the fans, it’s not surprising he can’t find a way to put his team on his back and do the little things to be successful

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Maybe the players are the losers?

They have Martin and Alfredsson coaching them now too.

Players are still losers.

Martin communicates with DJ and Alfie is there at practice. You know it’s not the same thing.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

I can't f***ing believe there are still callers on the postgame show saying none of this is DJ's fault. Like, have you never watched any other team play? Teams have done more with less talent plenty of times.

No need to repeat what's being said here but yeah, through bad coaching, good players do start to play the wrong way. That's just how it is. To not see it at this point, well, I have to question the person's judgement.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Martin communicates with DJ and Alfie is there at practice. You know it’s not the same thing.

They aren't getting paid 100s of k to do nothing. They are trying to get the players to play better.

Players aren't putting in the work.

 

[ottawagm]

The players have quit on themselves.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Just more of the same tripe from DJ.

More of the same from that clown Gord Wilson too.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

They aren't getting paid 100s of k to do nothing. They are trying to get the players to play better.

Players aren't putting in the work.

Everyone “puts in the work” in the NHL. They work hard but have no idea what to do when the puck is in their zone.

Is this just what the players are? Maybe, but it’s stupid to just accept that as fact and do nothing when they’ve had the same losing coach for 5 years.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

They aren't getting paid 100s of k to do nothing. They are trying to get the players to play better.

Players aren't putting in the work.

There is playing hard and playing smart. No matter how hard you work if you play stupid you're going to get f***ed.

I don't think DJ is a very smart coach at all. It's quite obvious when you do not see in game adjustments being made. He goes with a game plan and sticks to that throughout the entire game without adjusting.

 

[Race Dawg]

Just f***ing fire this guy already. I know a lot of these players are fringe players as best, but wake up - this ain't working anymore. Fans are fed up!

 

[Ice-Tray]

I mean, there really is only one thing to be changed.

Can’t wait forever, regardless of the GM situation.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I doubt this roster will suddenly turn things around with a new coach. Good players, bad team; a better coach would help but the roster will remain soft as butter and prone to widespread braincramps.

I think Andlauer may be worried about what happens if they can DJ and the team still sucks since it is so likely.

 

[saskriders]

I doubt this roster will suddenly turn things around with a new coach. Good players, bad team.

I think Andlauer may be worried about what happens if they can DJ and the team still sucks since it is so likely.

I mean hire promote someone to interim coach and at least hope the losing culture turns around. If not then hire a new coach in the offseason. I don't think it can hurt much more at this point.

 

[WORLDSTARHIPHOP]

The players have quit on themselves.

Efforts been there. But if you kept trying hard night in and out but lose and don't know how to improve and play better, you'd probably quit sometime too. Just human nature.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

I can't f***ing believe there are still callers on the postgame show saying none of this is DJ's fault. Like, have you never watched any other team play? Teams have done more with less talent plenty of times.

No need to repeat what's being said here but yeah, through bad coaching, good players do start to play the wrong way. That's just how it is. To not see it at this point, well, I have to question the person's judgement.

It's insane. Who are our young core players?

Stützle
Tkachuk
Sanderson
Chychrun
Batherson
Norris
Chabot

All of these players seem to be regressing. every single one. We KNOW that they can all play at an elite, or very good, level. Yet they are all struggling. Either this is the world's biggest athletic coincidence or they are being set up to fail by this coaching staff.

Every week that passes ingrains more bad habits into the future of the team. It has to stop.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Maybe the players are the losers?

They have Martin and Alfredsson coaching them now too.

Players are still losers.

This coach would find a way to turn prime Pronger, Niedermayer, and Stevens into Wiercioch, Joe Corvo, and Jeff Finger within two years.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

It's insane. Who are our young core players?

Stützle
Tkachuk
Sanderson
Chychrun
Batherson
Norris
Chabot

All of these players seem to be regressing. every single one. We KNOW that they can all play at an elite, or very good, level. Yet they are all struggling. Either this is the world's biggest athletic coincidence or they are being set up to fail by this coaching staff.

Every week that passes ingrains more bad habits into the future of the team. It has to stop.

Yeah I'm not sure why there's still people thinking it's somehow not on the coaching staff when so many legitimately great players are all playing like shit.

 

[Bileur]

I doubt this roster will suddenly turn things around with a new coach. Good players, bad team; a better coach would help but the roster will remain soft as butter and prone to widespread braincramps.

I think Andlauer may be worried about what happens if they can DJ and the team still sucks since it is so likely.

It certainly can’t be worse than another year in the basement with all core players regressing.