Toggle sidebar

Kings hiring former Senators coach D.J. Smith as assistant

Lt Dan

Lt Dan

F*** your ice cream!
Sponsor
Sep 13, 2018
10,907
22,438
Location Location
youtu.be
www.sportsnet.ca

Kings hiring former Senators coach D.J. Smith as assistant

The Los Angeles Kings are set to hire former Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith as an assistant coach on interim coach Jim Hiller's staff.
www.sportsnet.ca www.sportsnet.ca

​


1707169893843.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: DoktorJeep, ibleedkings and Johnny Utah
lexlavender said:
Mayor actually called this one last week. This gives me a modicum of hope, in that at least DJ is a Hiller guy and not a LUC/KINGS guy. Hiller is being given the rope, for better or worse
Click to expand...

Yeah it's getting a lot of derision from canadian fans and of course sens fans but what kind of sexy mid season assistant coaching hire does one expect

he was a highly desired assistant at one point before becoming a head coach

Kings do a lot of dumb things especially lately, this is hardly one of them

don't get me wrong i'm not over the moon or anything but this will be the last guy i blame for anything
 
  • Like
Reactions: Johnny Utah
When pressed to expand on how he might change his approach behind the bench, Smith pointed specifically to sloppy mistakes and careless turnovers that need to be eradicated. And he suggested the program has reached the point where he should be able to bench players who are not playing up to the level that is commensurate with a playoff calibre team.

“The biggest thing is details. It has to be tightened up. The accountability towards small details becomes tighter and tighter as you want to get better. As the players get better, the mistakes have to be less and less. They know better. And the accountability has to be higher,” Smith says. “And it’s not just me, they are going hold themselves to a higher standard. They know where they want to go. Just letting guys play throughout it is not something you have with a team that expects to win. If you’re not going, someone else has to take your spot.”
Click to expand...
'I will coach them differently': How D.J. Smith plans to change his coaching tactics

Hopefully he benches PLD if/when he needs to
 
He coached defense and PK in Toronto. Hiller was PP dude..so not sure where he slots in the new regime.
 
McLellan was tasked with the very difficult job of getting immediate progress from a roster that had several players still needing their training wheels. Hard to win a fight on two fronts with opposing needs.

Curious to see how things change here, as dueling focuses can't still be the plan. Right?

Right?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Herby
bland said:
McLellan was tasked with the very difficult job of getting immediate progress from a roster that had several players still needing their training wheels. Hard to win a fight on two fronts with opposing needs.

Curious to see how things change here, as dueling focuses can't still be the plan. Right?

Right?
Click to expand...
The strategy cant be corrected until there is a new GM. What we have here is make the best of what is in place and see if whatever tweaks Hiller and co. come up with make the team more viable for this season. If things are still wonky by the deadline I would hope AEG prevents anything stupid from happening and defers to the new GM. They should stand pat - but at least move Roy since any GM would realize his salary which will be north of 5mil AAV wont fit into the blown out cap with multiple holes still to fill (goalies, 3LD) and QB's big raise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bland
bland said:
McLellan was tasked with the very difficult job of getting immediate progress from a roster that had several players still needing their training wheels. Hard to win a fight on two fronts with opposing needs.

Curious to see how things change here, as dueling focuses can't still be the plan. Right?

Right?
Click to expand...
I was no fan of Todd but he took that roster with Athanasiou to the playoffs and really squeezed every ounce out of the brutal roster the year before.
He asked for Clarke in the lineup last year even.
It was time for him to go but Blake has really done a number on the team.
He was reactionary when Pittsburgh/Tampa won with speed and skill and he went fully in that direction. Then Vegas wins and he goes all in on size down the middle and getting away with small pay goaltending. Instead of going copycat on cup winners he should have went with his own vision from the beginning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tigermask48, Nasti, Kingjin and 2 others
bland said:
McLellan was tasked with the very difficult job of getting immediate progress from a roster that had several players still needing their training wheels. Hard to win a fight on two fronts with opposing needs.

Curious to see how things change here, as dueling focuses can't still be the plan. Right?

Right?
Click to expand...

I don’t think anyone in the organization is under the delusion that they still need to develop prospects. They’ve all drank the Kool Aid and believe the Kings are supposed to be a contender. The PLD trade was the point of no return.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LAKings88 and DryIslandBartender
SettlementRichie10 said:
I don’t think anyone in the organization is under the delusion that they still need to develop prospects. They’ve all drank the Kool Aid and believe the Kings are supposed to be a contender. The PLD trade was the point of no return.
Click to expand...
Well, the way that they have handled Clarke and Turcotte this year shows that they still have development on their mind. Byfield's usage is still part of that process as well.

Its a disaster on all fronts, leading to mediocrity at best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LAKings88 and SettlementRichie10
dman3474 said:
'I will coach them differently': How D.J. Smith plans to change his coaching tactics

Hopefully he benches PLD if/when he needs to
Click to expand...
Funny, it seemed his achilles heel here was not holding players accountable. He seemed to be stuck firmly in a mode where you're 2-5 years from contention and you're letting your young, skilled players play and develop.

IMO, the dynamic in Ottawa soured because his roster didn't have a very deep veteran presence and DJ just seemed to spare the rod and spoil the prospect.

He would definitely benefit the Kings if he can help Byfield spread his wings a bit more, and motivate PLD, as a lot of you have said.

That said, I paid almost no attention to his tenure with the Leafs, which would match this Kings assignment for him a little more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chris kontos and dman3474
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom