News Article: Sens hire DJ Smith as head coach

[Multigrain]

according to Duchene he sure didn’t care what the coaches had to say about anything so ya they still had some issues

So if everything Duchene said is true? Was the uber video accurate then?

 

[Multigrain]

I have a strong belief that you need a core of vets and some youth to make it to the Cup. Look at the average age of Boston and St. Louis they are all on the older end. I think the youth movement is great but I like the balance that most teams have. That being said, Ottawa youth is great but some vets would be nice to add.
Not sure who is available and for the price that Ottawa would be willing to pay. Maybe bringing Brassard back would not be a bad idea.

 

[Multigrain]

I suspect the ottawa players will give him a chance and then not like him within the 3 years. Just a hunch. Mr. Stopgap come on down.

Yes, the youth movement all players under 21 and a young coach seems to be how Ottawa is trending.
Hopefully the inmates won't run the asylum.

 

[slamigo]

I like this hire. Actually looking forward to the start of the year now. If they had kept Crow, I would have simply tuned out.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I can understand that point, but you'd think he'd at least have the smarts to know he's not fooling anyone and not willingly look like such a doofus up there. The proof is right in front of everyone to see. It's not something that's really up for debate, it's just a known fact.

I thought BMurray handled it perfectly. You don't give it all the focus in the world, but you at least acknowledge you have budget constraints and not sit there lying through your teeth that you have all the resources you could ever want.

Bryan Murray had a ton of experience when he was our GM and he still got flustered about all the talk about budget and money, he publicly defended Melnyk more than once.

Dorion is as green as they come.

 

[Cosmix]

I have a strong belief that you need a core of vets and some youth to make it to the Cup. Look at the average age of Boston and St. Louis they are all on the older end. I think the youth movement is great but I like the balance that most teams have. That being said, Ottawa youth is great but some vets would be nice to add.
Not sure who is available and for the price that Ottawa would be willing to pay. Maybe bringing Brassard back would not be a bad idea.

It was a mistake to trade for Brassard before and bringing him back would be a second mistake. He is lazy and not the type of veteran this team needs at this time, if ever.

The team needs to become tougher to play against, so a physically imposing tough hitting forward who can be a policeman would be helpful to provide a deterrent to other team’s players who try to target our younger players (similar to Carkner and Neil who countered Kane and Boyle when they attacked Karlsson). Reaves would be a great addition for that role.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Bryan Murray had a ton of experience when he was our GM and he still got flustered about all the talk about budget and money, he publicly defended Melnyk more than once.

Dorion is as green as they come.

I didn't think he did, but fair enough.

Dorion may be green, but that's no excuse for being a bold face liar imo.

 

[Cosmix]

I don’t think D.J. Smith is going to have a great impact on the results of this team during the 3 years. He is becoming the coach of a team that has traded away its best players when they were becoming UFAs leaving the team with little talented vets to lead the youngsters.

It will take 3 to 5 years for this team to tank, get high draft picks and rebuild into a playoff team. If this team tries to make the playoffs in the next two years by adding cheap declining vets, it would only prolong the rebuild. High draft picks are a must do in order to get high quality prospects.

However, one major underlying problem is Melnyk and his budget which will remain until he sells the team to hopefully an owner who will invest in making the team better by spending close to the cap to retain its highly skilled vets (Chabot and Tkachuk for example) when the UFA time comes.

The second problem is Dorion. This team needs a smarter experienced GM. Unfortunately Melnyk and his budget is in the way of getting one. There would be no need for a POHO if you had a competent GM.

 

[Icelevel]

I like this hire. Actually looking forward to the start of the year now. If they had kept Crow, I would have simply tuned out.

I guess compared to crawford, Smith should be better for the young guys development. Hopefully they reeeeeeally suck next year though and we get a high draft pick. We need it.

 

[supsens]

I don’t think D.J. Smith is going to have a great impact on the results of this team during the 3 years. He is becoming the coach of a team that has traded away its best players when they were becoming UFAs leaving the team with little talented vets to lead the youngsters.

It will take 3 to 5 years for this team to tank, get high draft picks and rebuild into a playoff team. If this team tries to make the playoffs in the next two years by adding cheap declining vets, it would only prolong the rebuild. High draft picks are a must do in order to get high quality prospects.

However, one major underlying problem is Melnyk and his budget which will remain until he sells the team to hopefully an owner who will invest in making the team better by spending close to the cap to retain its highly skilled vets (Chabot and Tkachuk for example) when the UFA time comes.

The second problem is Dorion. This team needs a smarter experienced GM. Unfortunately Melnyk and his budget is in the way of getting one. There would be no need for a POHO if you had a competent GM.

When they designed the cap they expected some teams on the floor some in the middle and some at the cap, the sens will never fall into the close to cap group again.

 

[Cosmix]

When they designed the cap they expected some teams on the floor some in the middle and some at the cap, the sens will never fall into the close to cap group again.

“Never” is not likely to be true; however, if the team gets a new owner with business interests that would complement team ownership (beer sales, etc.) it could happen in some years but I also am a realist and recognize that the Ottawa market is likely going to be in the mid-range level re the Salary Cap due to the Canadian Dollar, ad revenue, and game revenue issues. Ottawa is not like the large markets in NY, Toronto, Montreal, etc. and therefore cannot be at the Cap all the time.

 

[Fandlauer]

Obviously this was a pure budget hire. Another guy with no NHL head coaching experience hired after all the best available coaches have already been picked up. That being said, it's hard not to like the guy. I've heard him speak twice and I already find him to be more credible than the people who hired him. Here's hoping he can achieve some sort of success.

 

[Engineer]

When they designed the cap they expected some teams on the floor some in the middle and some at the cap, the sens will never fall into the close to cap group again.

Just like Florida and Anaheim will never be cap teams.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Just like Florida and Anaheim will never be cap teams.

Or Nashville.

 

[RaMai]

When they designed the cap they expected some teams on the floor some in the middle and some at the cap, the sens will never fall into the close to cap group again.

So you are saying Eugene is a liar? FYOUS, I thought you are a fan not like us suckers...

 

[Peptic Balcers]

When they designed the cap they expected some teams on the floor some in the middle and some at the cap, the sens will never fall into the close to cap group again.

not until 2021 when they go "close" to the cap. ALL IN BABY

 

[slamigo]

As much as I don’t trust Melnyk or PD, I honestly don’t think this was a budget hire.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I didn't think he did, but fair enough.

Dorion may be green, but that's no excuse for being a bold face liar imo.

I remember vividly Canada Day 2014, when Murray did his presser. He went on a decent rant about how he felt about the media harping on the budget. I mean here he is, trying to build a competitive team while dealing with Melnyk and now people are starting to pile on about money? I'd be pissed as well, don't matter if I'm right or wrong. I don't need my players having no confidence in management and ownership.

That was the first time I noticed how sick he looked as well... We found out just how bad it was not long after

 

[Sens Vader]

Well zero chance we hire a coach at 3 or 4 mil + so it was always going to be a budget hire.

None of the 7 candidates deserve that much cash anyway

In the end, this is 100% on Dorion and the scouts to actually build an NHL quality roster instead of spitting garbage like the team just needs to compete harder and defence is a mindset. Build a proper team dumbass

 

[L'Aveuglette]

As much as I don’t trust Melnyk or PD, I honestly don’t think this was a budget hire.

Ron Howard voice:

"It was"

 

[L'Aveuglette]

Obviously this was a pure budget hire. Another guy with no NHL head coaching experience hired after all the best available coaches have already been picked up. That being said, it's hard not to like the guy. I've heard him speak twice and I already find him to be more credible than the people who hired him. Here's hoping he can achieve some sort of success.

Setting the bar pretty low there.

Boucher sounded very credible until we realized he was about as flexible as an 80 year-old with crippling arthritis.

 

[Micklebot]

As much as I don’t trust Melnyk or PD, I honestly don’t think this was a budget hire.

I think the budget screened candidates out well before the interview process. I don't think salary was the deciding factor between Smith, Leaman or Mann, and I doubt the cost of Martin or Bowness would be much more expensive if at all. Roy might have commanded more though.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

I think the budget screened candidates out well before the interview process. I don't think salary was the deciding factor between Smith, Leaman or Mann, and I doubt the cost of Martin or Bowness would be much more expensive if at all. Roy might have commanded more though.

You have said it perfectly. I highly doubt money was the deciding factor between Smith and the other final candidates, but money probably prevented numerous other candidates from even being considered.

I like the theory that the Roy interview was sort of a mutually beneficial dog and pony show. Those exact words weren't used, but I think it was speculated on Hockey Central that it might have been a situation where Roy wants it known that he wants back into the NHL, so the Sens gave him an interview as a favor when he contacted them - and the Sens benefited by being able to validate their coaching search by having someone with lots of name value in the mix.

 

[2CHAINZ]

DJ SMITH WE DA BEST MAN !

 

[Thervguy]

Good luck to a great coach. I'm season ticket holder for the Oshawa generals, and had the pleasure of watching him guide us to the Memorial Cup. Highly regarded by the Generals fans.