I'm not sure what people were expecting from this team. Sure, the top 6 looked on paper. However, the bottom 6 are terrible, and the defense is not NHL caliber. We can't score 5 on 5 and if the top 6 doesn't score, the bottom 6 are incapable of contributing.

Dorion should be held accountable, we traded Paul for Joseph because why? $250k in salary? Sure Joseph is younger and quicker but he has zero hockey sense.. Why did we have to trade Briwn when did? He would look good on the 3rd line and is capable of moving up in the line up.

Where is the top r dman we have needed for 3 years?

Then there is DJ, I'm tired of sitting at games and seeing our 3rd and 4th lines playing against other teams top lines. For instance DJ always puts the 4th line out after the PP, other teams put out 1st line...

I love Watson, but he is not an nhl player. He can't skate. Same with Holden..

Batherson needs to sit. He is a defensive liability and makes the same mistakes over and over again. Where is the coaching?

We are not trading Giroux or Debrincat. Giroux chose to ge here. Debrincat has surprised me, he is better I thought but aren't using him correctly..

We also lack size.. Maybe Boucher and Ostapchuk solve this but we get pushed around.

Speed we don't play fast. Dump and chase is useless because we lack size, we need to utilize our top 6 skill and play fast puck posession game.

Thank gawd the team is being sold so we can get rid of Dorion and DJ.. We will be better next year just be a use they are gone.

Once Boudreau gets canned, the Sens should pounce. This team has plenty of problems, but I still think the biggest one is DJ.
- CooCooKaChoo

This may the most intriguing post.

What do you guys think? I think the Sens would develop and win a lot!

A big part of me wants to give up on the season and get another pick / target a strong D-man for the long term

I think you're right on the number. The coach is bad, but he has gotten Dorion's endorsement way too recently, a change would make PD look myopic. Afraid gambling and failing in the offseason probably sealed Dorion's fate. Best can be hoped for is the team miraculously goes on a tear. Grim scenario for his job security.
- Bartacus

Coach and GM will not survive ownership change. It would not be helpful to change them now.

Love this team. They well be outstanding under new ownership.

Sens do not have a primary problem called gm or coach. Their problem for may years has been an ownership problem. It is getting fixed.

This may the most intriguing post.

What do you guys think? I think the Sens would develop and win a lot!

A big part of me wants to give up on the season and get another pick / target a strong D-man for the long term
- AlfieisKing

I’m over tanking for better picks. Either this team is taking steps forward or they’re moving backward. Finishing middle of the pack and missing the playoffs isn’t the end of the world. I think this team needs wins and confidence more than another high draft pick.

I understand new ownership is likely to put in a new gm/coach, but that’s not reason enough for me to put my head in the sand and pretend this is working.

Added to that, imo the only chance Dorion has to save his job is for the team to go on a tear and that ain’t happening with DJ behind the bench.

On the bright side of success. Katey perrys commercial skip the dishes has finally brainwashed me to sing a long.

This may the most intriguing post.

What do you guys think? I think the Sens would develop and win a lot!

A big part of me wants to give up on the season and get another pick / target a strong D-man for the long term
- AlfieisKing

Would prefer Trotz or coach Q. But a coaching change can make a difference in one season...see Jets, Winnipeg.

Starting to think Batherson might have to slot to the third line in order to get some size in top 6.

Holden has to be the softest big man ever....

I would prefer they fire DJ if it happens soon so new coach has time to work with players before next year 🤙
Gonna put a worker on every line lol
What does that mean?

Lines for next game:

Tkachuk - Norris - DeBrincat
Kelly - Stutzle - Giroux
Watson - Pinto - Batherson
Kastelic - Gambrell - Joseph

Elite

Lines for next game:

Tkachuk - Norris - DeBrincat
Kelly - Stutzle - Giroux
Watson - Pinto - Batherson
Kastelic - Gambrell - Joseph

Elite
- PogBoi

Parker Kelly, second liner. I guess the idea here is a rough house left wing? Top penalty minute earners lined up. Strange. At least it's something different. I'm not convinced it will work but they need to stem Batherson leaking chances.

Lines for next game:

Tkachuk - Norris - DeBrincat
Kelly - Stutzle - Giroux
Watson - Pinto - Batherson
Kastelic - Gambrell - Joseph

Elite
- PogBoi

Tkachuk Stutzle Joseph
Debrincat Giroux Norris
Kelly Pinto Batherson
Gambrell Kastelic Watson

On the bright side of success. Katey perrys commercial skip the dishes has finally brainwashed me to sing a long.
- spazzbot

True.

Commercials are actually very clever. Colour contrasts and rapid scene changes get my attention.

Lines for next game:

Tkachuk - Norris - DeBrincat
Kelly - Stutzle - Giroux
Watson - Pinto - Batherson
Kastelic - Gambrell - Joseph

Elite
- PogBoi

Kelly, Watson, Gambrell should not be with the team next year.. The bottom 6 need upgrading.

Parker Kelly may be a good guy but he is too small to be effective as a 4th line player...

2nd line..omg lmfao

Parker Kelly, second liner. I guess the idea here is a rough house left wing? Top penalty minute earners lined up. Strange. At least it's something different. I'm not convinced it will work but they need to stem Batherson leaking chances.
- Bartacus

When top lines do not play good team defense it shows up dramatically in the results.

Contrary to some commentary...this is not a coaching issue. It is primarily a development concern. Most of the kids have played their entire careers dominating puck possession because they were the best player on the ice.

It is very different when puck possession no longer works just because you can dominate as the best player. The good news is all these guys can be better defensive players.

When they improve their +/- on a shift by shift basis they will begin to win more often than not.

Without going into details of the disappointment of this season, I am extremely tired of seeing people say the Sens can’t fire DJ until new ownership is in place. This team is losing any identity or style that they may have even slightly had under DJ right now. A toxic losing environment cannot be corrected by turning on a light switch.

A shakeup has never been more required. This is the same team that fired coaches shortly after decently successful seasons (Guy Boucher a goal away from the Stanley Cup final and Paul Maclean who won coach of the year). Why does DJ Smith have this gigantic leash? The rebuild argument has no weight. There are plenty of rebuilding teams that show progression even when losing.

If the assumption is ownership will do their own thing, then fine. Slap an interim coach label of DJ and co’s replacements. It’s been done before. Dorion can also show that he actually has a backbone and try to address some progressive issues that are clearly brewing to possibly secure a job when the new bosses role in. However, I guess he’d rather make mediocre trades that will likely cost this team some picks in this upcoming, strong, draft.

I’m over tanking for better picks. Either this team is taking steps forward or they’re moving backward. Finishing middle of the pack and missing the playoffs isn’t the end of the world. I think this team needs wins and confidence more than another high draft pick.

I understand new ownership is likely to put in a new gm/coach, but that’s not reason enough for me to put my head in the sand and pretend this is working.

Added to that, imo the only chance Dorion has to save his job is for the team to go on a tear and that ain’t happening with DJ behind the bench.
- CooCooKaChoo

I completely understand what you are saying.

The question is -- IS THIS CORE THE RIGHT/BEST/GOOD ENOUGH to win cups down the road? I'm not entirely sold.

I think Dorion's job is safe (not that I like or agree that's how it should be) but I do think new ownership will want a winner SOONER

Greig recalled by the team. The team's prospect pool is much shallower now as the big name prospects have joined the team, so hopefully see him do well.

He's a very typcial "DJ player", so he may stick around, even if he should spend the rest of the year in Belleville.

And norris is out for the season, to have surgery. Hope all the time they waited wasn't doing more harm than good.

Smith says quite clearly in his interview that he thinks you win games by grinding. He says it doesn't matter how much skill you have. He clearly has no clue how to use the skill of his players successfully because he doesn't feel it has any value. He wants them all to be grinders like he was when he played the game. Good luck with that.

And norris is out for the season, to have surgery. Hope all the time they waited wasn't doing more harm than good.
- david22

Just a disaster here. Should have had the surgery initially. The signing is not looking great right now. Shoulder issues pop up almost yearly for the guy. That is not the recipe for long term success.

Hopefully the surgery is successful.

Norris done for season, to have shoulder surgery, sounds like they rushed him just like Pinto last year, this entire coaching and management staff needs to be fired

Norris done for season, to have shoulder surgery, sounds like they rushed him just like Pinto last year, this entire coaching and management staff needs to be fired
- Mithos

I read that he was shopping for doctors who would recommend agaisnt the surgery.

How much overview does the League and NHLPA have on these types of decisions? It looks like there could be a case study from this team alone.

I am extremely tired of seeing people say the Sens can’t fire DJ until new ownership is in place.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Unless it's another coach with no experience, who would take the job knowing they'd be fired as soon as the team sells? That's the issue. The coaching quality won't be much better and potential coaches wouldn't want their first/comeback run to be with a perennial losing team like the Sens.

The current coaches that we have are the Sens only option at this point and even if Mann would be great, he'll get fired when the team sells.

I read that he was shopping for doctors who would recommend agaisnt the surgery.

How much overview does the League and NHLPA have on these types of decisions? It looks like there could be a case study from this team alone.
- david22

Some players fear the knife. Fear that shoulder surgery may have negative impact on long term career. Shoulder is more delicate and complicated than other common surgeries (hip/knee) and lots of folks want to pursue other options.

If he has the surgery now he should be ready for training camp. I think everyone has handled this the right way. They have probably not lost any time by waiting a couple of months before deciding to proceed with the surgery. If the kid does not get full recovery on his shoulder he will be able to know that he waited and only went in that direction as a last resort.

Sometimes when you do everything right, you still might not like the best answer that is offered up.

Norris done for the year.

F**k! This is annoying. This season is done man. We should develop the young players but look to get a top 7-8 pick!

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/ot...done-for-season-1.1909874

Norris done for the year.

F**k! This is annoying. This season is done man. We should develop the young players but look to get a top 7-8 pick!

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/ot...done-for-season-1.1909874
- AlfieisKing

Too much space between the really bad teams and this one to catch a top 5 pick.
Are we still at the point where we want to see this team make some gains and finish around 10th in the conference, and is that still even a realistic possibility?