News Article: Sens hire DJ Smith as head coach

[Clayonator]

He wasn’t really bad, he was just in a tough position and was held onto for a couple years too long.

Yeah 7 years is a long bloody time for a coach to be honest.

 

[Cosmix]

Capuano is an interesting choice for us actually. He LOVES offense from the D. He encourages them to rush, join the rush, etc often. It's is a great fit for today's game and our emerging D corps or Chabot, Brannstrom, Wolanin, JBD, etc. BUT, Florida was a freakin trainwreck defensively. Either the talent wasn't there or we couldn't deploy them properly.

But we may have better suited players for that style. Not better players, just a better fit for what he does with the D.

Good, I like my Ds to rush the puck up ice, taking calculated but not stupidly risky plays, plus join the rush as third wave attack after the three forwards have entered the O-zone. Makes for a more thrilling game with higher scoring. BUT, and that is a BIG BUT, the Ds must be able to get back ultra fast to play defense too. Requires excellent skaters which we seem to have a few of: Chabot, Wolanin, Brannson, Ceci. The rest of the D men: Borowiecki, Harpur, DeMelo might not fit that mold.

 

[Cosmix]

Real 200 ft hockey,I want an hell bent forecheck,and players that will win puck battles all over the ice

Me too with some big bruisers who hit hard and often. Playoff style. Big Fish, not minnows!

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Doesn't sound like Kelly will continue as an assistant coach for the Sens.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Watch Kelly go somewhere else...

 

[scallionjj11]

 

[Samboni]

Watch Kelly go somewhere else...

Kelly is a good guy and a familiar face. I would only be upset if he was replaced by a dud. The important thing is to have quality coaches that round out the bench.

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

It sounds like kelly will continue in player development or some other similar role or not be involved in hockey at all

 

[aragorn]

So far I'm liking what I'm hearing from DJ Smith especially that he loves the way the Tkachuk's play. Hopefully, he builds this team the way St Louis has & we end up with a big tough skilled team.

 

[Larionov]

I hope Chris Kelly goes back to the player development role he was in. That was a good fit for him - I have a lot of confidence in having he and Shean Donovan in those positions.

 

[Tuna99]

Kelly should be our GM one day. Stick a bit closer to home and less road warrior work as a scout - just want him to stay. But he seems like more of a manager to me then a coach

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[aragorn]

It wouldn't surprise me if Chris Kelly & Troy Mann both return to Belleville for another yr especially if they have the makings of a good team that could go all the way next season. It would be good recognition for both to help them promote themselves.

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

It wouldn't surprise me if Chris Kelly & Troy Mann both return to Belleville for another yr especially if they have the makings of a good team that could go all the way next season. It would be good recognition for both to help them promote themselves.

We already know Troy Mann is still their head coach. He has a contract...

 

[otown]

Kelly should be our GM one day. Stick a bit closer to home and less road warrior work as a scout - just want him to stay. But he seems like more of a manager to me then a coach

A bit of a stretch to be a GM when he is just getting his feet wet in an assistant coaching and player development role.
Would hate to see him leave the organization since his strength appears to be working directly with the players.

 

[Crosside]

I read an article in the jdm and Chabot said we have the best coach for us. He have a good chat with DJ and he like what he hear

 

[Boud]

I read an article in the jdm and Chabot said we have the best coach for us. He have a good chat with DJ and he like what he hear

Chabot has never been coached by Smith, he'll just say whatever the team wants to hear.

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

I read an article in the jdm and Chabot said we have the best coach for us. He have a good chat with DJ and he like what he hear

Sénateurs d'Ottawa: l’optimisme règne

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Sénateurs d'Ottawa: l’optimisme règne

If Chabot is smart he lets Dorion sign him to a contract that eats up his RFA years and walks him straight to UFA. I expect a deal that leaves him with 1 RFA year because the long term money would be too much for Melnyk to swallow. Chabot shouldn't worry but If I was him, I would not be signing long term for anything under 10 million.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Sen's DJ
“I think the St. Louis Blues and Boston, both, are the way we want to play,” he said, addressing the media before teeing off in the Senators Alumni golf tournament Friday.
“We want to be physical. We don’t want to give you anything. I think you saw that with St. Louis in the end, the way they shut that down in the second half (of Game 7). That’s the way you can win in this league.” --- Maybe he should bring in Boucher as an assistant.

 

[Micklebot]

Sen's DJ
“I think the St. Louis Blues and Boston, both, are the way we want to play,” he said, addressing the media before teeing off in the Senators Alumni golf tournament Friday.
“We want to be physical. We don’t want to give you anything. I think you saw that with St. Louis in the end, the way they shut that down in the second half (of Game 7). That’s the way you can win in this league.” --- Maybe he should bring in Boucher as an assistant.

Interesting to hear Neil make those comments even if they aren't surprising. It's a tough balancing act for a coach to be accepting of input from the players when things aren't working and getting them to stick with something when you think its just a matter of getting the bounces or developing the chemistry to make a systwm instictive.

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

If Chabot is smart he lets Dorion sign him to a contract that eats up his RFA years and walks him straight to UFA. I expect a deal that leaves him with 1 RFA year because the long term money would be too much for Melnyk to swallow. Chabot shouldn't worry but If I was him, I would not be signing long term for anything under 10 million.

I think he signs something like an 8 x 8mill contract in the offseason if he can. for a 22 year old to get a 64 million dollar contact locked up it's tough to turn that down.

 

[aragorn]

Sen's DJ
“I think the St. Louis Blues and Boston, both, are the way we want to play,” he said, addressing the media before teeing off in the Senators Alumni golf tournament Friday.
“We want to be physical. We don’t want to give you anything. I think you saw that with St. Louis in the end, the way they shut that down in the second half (of Game 7). That’s the way you can win in this league.” --- Maybe he should bring in Boucher as an assistant.

Love what I'm hearing from DJ Smith & very glad they got rid of Boucher. Neil should have jersey-ed Boucher.

 

[Back in Black]

Guess I'm gonna take a wait and see approach before I bitch about this move....

Yeah!

 

[FormentonTheFuture]