This post might seem long but I think it's important. I would like some comments on this
Something I have repeated all season, don't make deep judgments on Sens players as they are playing on an heavily DISCOMBOBULATED team
These guys got the WRONG message all their NHL career. You can't UNDO years of DJ Dorion in just a few weeks. They probably had the impression that they would just cruise into stardom and success just based on talent but it's clear that the work ethic and discipline is not there. It's not that they don't try but they don't have the same "boring routine habits" that can help prevent a lot of goals against.
It's not a surprise that the guy playing the best overall game is 36 y/o Claude Giroux, because he played 1018 NHL games before coming into this mess and didn't need any "coaching"
Greig is another guy doing well as he only played 20 games last season (when the team was doing relatively well, Sens were 9-7-4 when he played) and 27 games this season (but only 17 under DJ). He is such a smart 2-way player that he isn't affected as much as others
Mathieu Joseph is another one not struggling (although no points -5 since 2 games coming back from injury), he's a guy who grew up in the best or one of the best organization in the league, with John Cooper. Plus, he's one of the top skaters in the league so that helps a lot.
Kubalik struggles but he's never been much of a complete player anyway, he only played on rebuilding teams too. Dorion probably targeted him in the trade thinking he was getting great value...
Tarasenko doesn't offer much outside of some offensive plays. You'd think that Dorion would have learned after the DeBrincat experiment, yet he brought a player type even less needed.
Zub has shown early success in the organization as he played somewhere else before but with time it faded away
Chychrun had early success but now looks like crap compared to how he looked in Arizona
Hamonic has aged but playing in this mess makes him even more terrible
Korpisalo and Forsberg are just victims of a really poor team defense. They were obviously not going to be the second coming of Hasek. Forsberg ddid in 2021-22, very impressive season
All the other guys are 26 and less and grown up in this Melnyk/Dorion/DJ organization. Need some heavy formatting
I generally see things the same way.
The Menyk/Dorion/Smith regime has screwed this team for years and will have a lasting negative effect for a few more.
Giroux, Greig and Joseph can play a strong 200 foot game and it shows in their play. I think Martin will coach Greig and Joseph how to play without taking needless penalties in the O and N zones. Having Giroux around will help those 2 and other players learn how to play without taking such penalties.
Kubalic has been a disappointment and has not established any chemistry with other players. If he played with a playmaking center he might be more productive as a shooter. Unfortunately we seem to have only 1 playmaking center, Stutzle. Greig may become one but is still a rookie (he did have pretty good offensive stats in junior). I don't see Norris nor Pinto as a strong offensive playmaking center. I see this as one of our team's weaknesses, along with our D.
Tarasenko is basically an offensive player but I have seen him coming back and think he is trying to play well defensively. I have not looked at his stats though. I think he will sign with a team in the USA next season and might be traded before the TDL if our potential trade partner is acceptable to him. I doubt we get much for him.
I expected more from Chychrun than I have seen so far. Some games he looks very solid both defensively and offensively; in others he looks like a rookie. Hopefully he can improve his play. He does play soft for a big strong D.
I agree with your take on Hamonic. He seems to have regressed significantly this season. Hopefully there is a team that is looking for an insurance D man for the playoffs and Hamonic is willing to waive his NMC.
We have not received great goaltending from either Korpisalo nor Forsberg. Yes, the team's defensive play without the puck has contributed to their poor results and stats; however, neither goaltender has a great track record. I anticipated that our goaltending would have improved this season but I was wrong. Forsberg seems to be injury prone and not long for this league. Hopefully Sogaard will become our "saviour" in goal. Such a miracle has happened for other teams before (e.g., Ken Dryden).
I think a coach like Tortorella who insists on players playing a 200 foot game and the "right way" (boring routine habits that prevent a lot of goals against) is what this team needs now. Smith did not seem to be that type of coach as "accountability" did not seem to be applied. Martin will help right the ship but I suspect he only wants to be the interim HC.
That's my 50 cents!