GDT: Senators @ Flames | 9PM | TSN2, SNW, RDS | The Turnstile of Turncoat Turnarounds Edition

[Sun God Nika]

Man, has Zub ever had a sub-par year. I fully believe he will bounce back next year but the string of injuries, particularly the broken jaw, really set him back. As a result, he has never truly looked comfortable...

He looked really good at the start of the year but injuries messed with his flo for sure. Still nowhere close to our worst defender. I wonder what losing Zaitsev might have done with him, he was the only real friend he had on the team that could have actual conversation with him.

 

[Sun God Nika]

I would love to know what some people think the role of coach is, if not to identify errors their players are making and instruct them so that those mistakes can be corrected.

The on-ice mistakes may be on the players, but the buck ultimately stops at Smith. We can't fire the players, but we can sure as heck fire the coach - and we absolutely will if Dorion thinks it'll by him a bit more leeway.

The #1 role of a coach to me is get the most out of the roster you have. To do that you gotta motivate players to get better and shelter them effectively to build and regain confidence. Put systems and assignments in that you know the players on your team can play too.

 

[Rodzilla]

no other than the fact that the coaching staff is scared to take TC off the PP

Really weird to have Chabot of all people on his one T.

 

[NB613]

L2 is a mess rn

Honestly bring back Grieg for a bit…

Really weird to have Chabot of all people on his one T.

More than willing to give both him, DeBrincat, and Batherson a reset with new coach next year…

 

[bert]

Honestly bring back Grieg for a bit…


More than willing to give both him, DeBrincat, and Batherson a reset with new coach next year…

Debrincats money doesnt make sense for this team and its current make up with his skillset. But dumping Batherson and Chabot before trying a new coach would be pretty horrid asset management.

This is not directed at you. Just wanted to say I do find it interesting that so many posters blame everything on the coach. There are certainly things to blame on the coach but when I see people blame him for mistakes that are quite clearly the players responsibility I dont think the position they are coming from is very genuine.

 

[Cosmix]

Hopefully they will turn out long-term but we definitely need Talbot and Forsberg back for the experience.

One experienced G will do.

I wonder how Forsberg will be after he returns next season from his two injuries.

I also wonder (concerned) about signing an old age 36 goaltender (on his July 2023 birthdate) UFA on the downside of his career.

Hopefully one of Sogaard or Mandolese will give us decent goaltending.

Hamonic is reckless. He injured both of our starters

You really mean "wrecking ball"?

 

[Cosmix]

We scored how many on Chicago, Vancouver and Calgary. Let’s not pretend we are Oilers here.

To become a consistent playoff team and SC contender, the Senators will have to reduce the GA and increase the GF. We have seen the GA improve but the GF falls. We have also seen the GF rise but GA increase. Personaly I think we need a coaching staff that focuses on reducing the GA for awhile, by establishing a tighter checking system in the D and N zones. Once that gets sorted out, the focus can shift to improving the GF.

 

[Golden_Jet]

He got benched after the Chicago loss when we’re like 13-3-1 or whatever.

Posters here tel us not to over react but uhhh what about dj lol

The one where Holden came in and had 2 primary assists, the next game. Seems like a good hunch, and a goal the following game.

Joseph has been great of late, sucks to lose him.

Any word on his injury?

 

[Cosmix]

Well, the Senators PP and their PK were pretty good. Presumably the coach would have some role in that. Both of those elements have fallen off recently though. I'm not a DJ apologist of trying to defend him, but you did ask the question, and the things I mentioned seemed fairly obvious.

I think the season is pretty much done. The results of this Western Conf road trip have been the opposite of what we needed. It wouldn't be surprising if the new owners put their own people into place.

They should! We have lived with the bargain priced GM and coaching staff for too long.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Jack Hughes was drafted in the 2019 entry draft.

We drafted Brady Tkachuk in the 2018 entry draft, a draft in which New Jersey drafted 17th overall.

Who started their rebuild first again?

Missed the previous 3 years, where they drafted 6,12 and first

 

[Cosmix]

For other teams.

Meaningful games were played in November and the team failed at them.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

To become a consistent playoff team and SC contender, the Senators will have to reduce the GA and increase the GF. We have seen the GA improve but the GF falls. We have also seen the GF rise but GA increase. Personaly I think we need a coaching staff that focuses on reducing the GA for awhile, by establishing a tighter checking system in the D and N zones. Once that gets sorted out, the focus can shift to improving the GF.

Not many teams over the history of the NHL have had the offense to outscore poor defense.
You have to be able to defend to win the close games in playoff hockey. Defending is about a mindset and hard work. Offense can come from defense as well and that does not necessitate blowing the zone as soon as you think your teammate might win a 50/50 puck. Stay in support give him a short pass target to get out of trouble and so on. This team wants to run and gun and they want to steam roll you on offense without taking pride in shutting down the other team defensively. A new more defense first coach like Trotz , Julien or Martin and many more are going to have a lot of teaching to do to get this team playing "the right way"

 

[Union2017]

As they keep saying - Defense wins the cups. We’ve seen that so many times. And the theory is also that good Defense is coachable. Don’t get me wrong - you won’t coach Ceci to become Orr, but you will fix a lot of things with a good defensive system and coverage in place. We have top 4 D, yet we look as bad as we did 2 years ago. Even Chychrun is starting to make some brain farting moves now. And I see only one thing in common - coaching staff. How much longer are we supposed to wait and evaluate them? Until someone asks to be traded to a playoff team? The time is now. We have the core in place that we believe is better than what they show. So get the coach to take them to that next level.

 

[Golden_Jet]

As they keep saying - Defense wins the cups. We’ve seen that so many times. And the theory is also that good Defense is coachable. Don’t get me wrong - you won’t coach Ceci to become Orr, but you will fix a lot of things with a good defensive system and coverage in place. We have top 4 D, yet we look as bad as we did 2 years ago. Even Chychrun is starting to make some brain farting moves now. And I see only one thing in common - coaching staff. How much longer are we supposed to wait and evaluate them? Until someone asks to be traded to a playoff team? The time is now. We have the core in place that we believe is better than what they show. So get the coach to take them to that next level.

Need to be patient. We know no decisions will be made until new owners.

 

[Union2017]

Need to be patient. We know no decisions will be made until new owners.

Yes I understand that. And I don’t want them to get a new coach until we are clear on that front. Also need to ensure we are not getting a new coach from the bargain bin, and to do that either Dorion needs to step up again and spend (not sure if he is allowed to do that at this point) or the new GM will do it if Dorion is on his way out. Funny enough, I complained about PD so much but I am willing to give him a chance with the new owners. DJ should be out, though.

 

[Korpse]

As they keep saying - Defense wins the cups. We’ve seen that so many times. And the theory is also that good Defense is coachable. Don’t get me wrong - you won’t coach Ceci to become Orr, but you will fix a lot of things with a good defensive system and coverage in place. We have top 4 D, yet we look as bad as we did 2 years ago.

It's because of plays like this....



10 seconds left in the period. You are out for a d zone face off and you make a half ass play like that on the boards. If this team wants to take the next step, it doesn't matter who the coach is when the players are the ice are making plays like that.

 

[Union2017]

It's because of plays like this....



10 seconds left in the period. You are out for a d zone face off and you make a half ass play like that on the boards. If this team wants to take the next step, it doesn't matter who the coach is when the players are the ice are making plays like that.

Right. And how do we fix that?

 

[Korpse]

Right. And how do we fix that?

Having players take responsibility. You just can't make plays like that at this level. This is also a great example of where they miss Norris. DJ doesn't have a lot of options to go to in this situation and he has had to rely on the Stutzle line in situations they aren't suited for.

I love Stutzle, I applauded his competitiveness before he played a NHL game but there's still a lack of maturity in his game and he is expected to be an on ice leader in all kinds of situations.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

The one where Holden came in and had 2 primary assists, the next game. Seems like a good hunch, and a goal the following game.


Any word on his injury?

Damn so why did he come out yesterday should have kept him in

 

[Union2017]

Having players take responsibility. You just can't make plays like that at this level. This is also a great example of where they miss Norris. DJ doesn't have a lot of options to go to in this situation and he has had to rely on the Stutzle line in situations they aren't suited for.

I love Stutzle, I applauded his competitiveness before he played a NHL game but there's still a lack of maturity in his game and he is expected to be an on ice leader in all kinds of situations.

How do they take responsibility when nobody holds them accountable? I am sure they don’t like losing and they are actually trying to do too much sometimes.

The bottom line is, DJ is not doing what the good coach should be doing. Accountability is one of many things on that list. I pretty much would bet anything that this group would be in a playoff sport had they have someone like Trotz as their coach as of May last year.

 

[Korpse]

How do they take responsibility when nobody holds them accountable? I am sure they don’t like losing and they are actually trying to do too much sometimes.

The bottom line is, DJ is not doing what the good coach should be doing. Accountability is one of many things on that list. I pretty much would bet anything that this group would be in a playoff sport had they have someone like Trotz as their coach as of May last year.

I don't know that anyone on this board is in a position to asses whether there is accountability or not.

 

[Union2017]

I don't know that anyone on this board is in a position to asses whether there is accountability or not.

Tampa coach benched his top players for one period. Didn’t see DJ do any of that. He did scratch Brannstrom. Cause that’s how it’s done.

 

[Korpse]

Tampa coach benched his top players for one period. Didn’t see DJ do any of that. He did scratch Brannstrom. Cause that’s how it’s done.

How has that worked out for Tampa? Not to mention the situations are in no way comparable. Benching players are a tool and it's one that DJ has used. It's not to only way and not something you can do over and over. Brannstrom gets scratched not because of accountability, rather he just isn't effective enough to warrant a spot in the lineup.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

How has that worked out for Tampa? Not to mention the situations are in no way comparable. Benching players are a tool and it's one that DJ has used. It's not to only way and not something you can do over and over. Brannstrom gets scratched not because of accountability, rather he just isn't effective enough to warrant a spot in the lineup.

…4 straight cup finals…3 and 1 in those finals…or is it 3 straight?

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

2015 during the Hamburglar run