News Article: Sens hire DJ Smith as head coach

[JD1]

The assistant job was never going to be a fit with Smith ideology. He said he could never imagine a person who wasn't a dman coaching the D, and he wanted his other coach to be a PP specialist.

I always interpreted the comments about Kelly not wanting the job as referring to going back to his previous role before Boucher was fired.

Tbh, with 18 games worth of experience as an assistant at any level that I'm aware of, I'm not sure Kelly has the resume to be the one I want with a relatively inexperienced HC. Would have liked him to do another year working as a development coach then maybe coach in the AHL.

The guys we are apparently interviewing all look like good candidates, might be for the best regardless of why Kelly isn't here.

I agree completely

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

DJ again said he wants a fast physical team that finishes their checks.

Would be nice to see again since under Boucher nobody hit anyone in the offensive zone

I think DJ is more keep it simple. Finishing checks is a basic thing everyone should do . It will help you win games. With Boucher you had to be in the right 3 square feet of ice .. Boucher most likely would make a great assistant to work special teams .. He can teach the trap we know that... he would be a good tool for a Head Coach.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Zaitsev and polak incoming lmao

 

[BonkTastic]

Apparently Davis Payne is the front-runner to be the other main Assistant Coach under Smith next to Capuano?

Which... is a hire I actually don't hate at all? I kinda like Payne. Thought he was WAY ahead of his times with the Blues, and did real good work with the Kings - he basically fixed their PP within one year.

Sooo... yay? Hesitant optimism with this move?

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

Apparently Davis Payne is the front-runner to be the other main Assistant Coach under Smith next to Capuano?

Which... is a hire I actually don't hate at all? I kinda like Payne. Thought he was WAY ahead of his times with the Blues, and did real good work with the Kings - he basically fixed their PP within one year.

Sooo... yay? Hesitant optimism with this move?

He won a cup with them right?

 

[Wallet Inspector]

You know if Zaitsev is willing to waive his NTC to go from a contender to a bottom feeder just to be under DJ Smith again, that probably bodes well for how good a coach he is.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Apparently Davis Payne is the front-runner to be the other main Assistant Coach under Smith next to Capuano?

Which... is a hire I actually don't hate at all? I kinda like Payne. Thought he was WAY ahead of his times with the Blues, and did real good work with the Kings - he basically fixed their PP within one year.

Sooo... yay? Hesitant optimism with this move?

Two assistants with NHL head coach experience is a-ok with me as well.

 

[Micklebot]

Two assistants with NHL head coach experience is a-ok with me as well.

And neither is crawford, thats a huge win for me.

 

[thinkwild]

Each assistant having a cup of coffee nhl career, Capuano on defense and Payne as a winger, so im guessing that will be their coaching responsibilities? Both have got some solid experience in coaching. So appears to be a pretty solid coaching crew.

 

[BatherSeason]

Each assistant having a cup of coffee nhl career, Capuano on defense and Payne as a winger, so im guessing that will be their coaching responsibilities? Both have got some solid experience in coaching. So appears to be a pretty solid coaching crew.

Both have to be high character guys for them to be hired by Dorion.

 

[BonkTastic]

And neither is crawford, thats a huge win for me.

100% agreed.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]