Kevin Francis: Sens losing streak reaches seven games, when will it end?!

I got a buddy looking to unload his tics for next weeks game, they are in the 100 level and he is looking to get back half the price for the tickets. If you are interested, DM on Twitter or send a DM on hockeybuzz. 3 games next week! Monday, Wed. and Sat. at 1pm

I've mentioned it before, at a certain point in rebuilds, a lot of teams outgrow the coach and a new voice is needed. It's never been more apparent than it is now. While there are still roster holes an a coaching change isn't going to magically turn this group into a contender, it may ignite this team's core to take it to the next level. In my opinion, it's only a matter of time before DJ and the rest of the staff is cut loose.

With this said, Dorion should not get a free ride cause of the poor coaching efforts. He needed to get at least one solidified NHL d-man. He didn't. The only thing to change on the back end is a 20 year old Jake Sanderson, who you could argue, has been this teams most well rounded d-man. Additionally, with Norris injured, it's created an opportunity for Pinto to play up in the lineup more often, thus creating a weaker bottom six. While I think this team can get away with a sub par bottom six if the team solidifies their blue line but guys like Kelly, Kastelic, Gambrell, Watson are not names that will etched on the Stanley Cup while on the same team.

Much work to do with this roster. In order to win, Dorion needs to address that in the next 1-3 season while players are in their prime and some still on entry/bridge deals. Otherwise, you risk going through another retooling cycle which ultimately will set the club back.

On an extreme positive note, Alfie getting inducted to the hall this weekend will be an incredible moment in Sens franchise history. Hope he and his family savour every moment of it.

The team is for sale and we should get a new owner before the end of the season. I would expect the new ownership group would bring in a new GM, who will hire a new coach. It should provide a great reset to an organization that has had quite decent success in drafting a solid core.

In the present we have a talented top 6F group, some decent bottom 6F, and a D group that is mediocre but not bad. The team results have been bad. The team is not achieving anywhere near its overall ability. That is on the coaching staff.

I believe that we are near a breaking point where the players and the fans start checking out. It is time to change the coaching staff with an interim coaching staff that can bring fresh perspective and methodology to a reasonably talented group. I feel that the interim coach cannot come from within the current coaching staff. Personally I would like to see Troy Mann given his shot as interim coach and I would love to see Jacques Martin hired as a consultant. I don't think Jacques would have any interest in the head coaching job - the job should be his if he wanted it.

these are all fair points.

Mads Søgaard was involved in a collision in Syracuse tonight. He left the game putting no weight on his left leg.

I've mentioned it before, at a certain point in rebuilds, a lot of teams outgrow the coach and a new voice is needed. It's never been more apparent than it is now. While there are still roster holes an a coaching change isn't going to magically turn this group into a contender, it may ignite this team's core to take it to the next level. In my opinion, it's only a matter of time before DJ and the rest of the staff is cut loose.

With this said, Dorion should not get a free ride cause of the poor coaching efforts. He needed to get at least one solidified NHL d-man. He didn't. The only thing to change on the back end is a 20 year old Jake Sanderson, who you could argue, has been this teams most well rounded d-man. Additionally, with Norris injured, it's created an opportunity for Pinto to play up in the lineup more often, thus creating a weaker bottom six. While I think this team can get away with a sub par bottom six if the team solidifies their blue line but guys like Kelly, Kastelic, Gambrell, Watson are not names that will etched on the Stanley Cup while on the same team.

Much work to do with this roster. In order to win, Dorion needs to address that in the next 1-3 season while players are in their prime and some still on entry/bridge deals. Otherwise, you risk going through another retooling cycle which ultimately will set the club back.

On an extreme positive note, Alfie getting inducted to the hall this weekend will be an incredible moment in Sens franchise history. Hope he and his family savour every moment of it.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Right on with all your points man! Watson has no business being in the lineup....he constantly chasing the play.....Kelly has such a poor hockey IQ that whenever a new coach comes in, he wont dress as often. Kastelic is the only one who deserves to dress every game now on that 4th line. I would rather see Gambrell use his speed and get on that line for a bit to see if he can show anything. If he cant, then call up Crookshank from Belleville.

The team is for sale and we should get a new owner before the end of the season. I would expect the new ownership group would bring in a new GM, who will hire a new coach. It should provide a great reset to an organization that has had quite decent success in drafting a solid core.

In the present we have a talented top 6F group, some decent bottom 6F, and a D group that is mediocre but not bad. The team results have been bad. The team is not achieving anywhere near its overall ability. That is on the coaching staff.

I believe that we are near a breaking point where the players and the fans start checking out. It is time to change the coaching staff with an interim coaching staff that can bring fresh perspective and methodology to a reasonably talented group. I feel that the interim coach cannot come from within the current coaching staff. Personally I would like to see Troy Mann given his shot as interim coach and I would love to see Jacques Martin hired as a consultant. I don't think Jacques would have any interest in the head coaching job - the job should be his if he wanted it.
- SensFan25

I would like to see Mann be elevated to Asst. coach, but we don't need another coach learning at the NHL pace....we need a serious NHL experience coach....Jacques would grab their attention, that's for sure.

I don't think we will see new ownership until the end of the season due to the long process. Regardless, I am with you, both PD and DJ wont be here come next year after new ownership steps in.

these are all fair points.
- Spacebar

Ottawa got to face another back up goalie, then the 3rd string goalie for the last half of the third period and OT against NYI. 4th time the Sens have faced a back up goalie. They need to rack up points in these spots.

Mads Søgaard was involved in a collision in Syracuse tonight. He left the game putting no weight on his left leg.
- Kevin Francis

Bibeau and Mandolese for Belleville I guess, but Merilainen is playing in Europe. I wonder why he didn't play for Kingston in the OHL, does anyone know why?

I've mentioned it before, at a certain point in rebuilds, a lot of teams outgrow the coach and a new voice is needed. It's never been more apparent than it is now. While there are still roster holes an a coaching change isn't going to magically turn this group into a contender, it may ignite this team's core to take it to the next level. In my opinion, it's only a matter of time before DJ and the rest of the staff is cut loose.

With this said, Dorion should not get a free ride cause of the poor coaching efforts. He needed to get at least one solidified NHL d-man. He didn't. The only thing to change on the back end is a 20 year old Jake Sanderson, who you could argue, has been this teams most well rounded d-man. Additionally, with Norris injured, it's created an opportunity for Pinto to play up in the lineup more often, thus creating a weaker bottom six. While I think this team can get away with a sub par bottom six if the team solidifies their blue line but guys like Kelly, Kastelic, Gambrell, Watson are not names that will etched on the Stanley Cup while on the same team.

Much work to do with this roster. In order to win, Dorion needs to address that in the next 1-3 season while players are in their prime and some still on entry/bridge deals. Otherwise, you risk going through another retooling cycle which ultimately will set the club back.

On an extreme positive note, Alfie getting inducted to the hall this weekend will be an incredible moment in Sens franchise history. Hope he and his family savour every moment of it.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Great point about Sanderson. It's very troubling to think that Sanderson is the Sens best defenseman after only 13 games in the NHL. But wait, if this coaching staff gets their claws into him, he might eventually regress like so many others on defense.

Anyone see Josh Brown playing solid hockey in Arizona? What does that tell you about this coaching staff?

The team is for sale and we should get a new owner before the end of the season. I would expect the new ownership group would bring in a new GM, who will hire a new coach. It should provide a great reset to an organization that has had quite decent success in drafting a solid core.

In the present we have a talented top 6F group, some decent bottom 6F, and a D group that is mediocre but not bad. The team results have been bad. The team is not achieving anywhere near its overall ability. That is on the coaching staff.

I believe that we are near a breaking point where the players and the fans start checking out. It is time to change the coaching staff with an interim coaching staff that can bring fresh perspective and methodology to a reasonably talented group. I feel that the interim coach cannot come from within the current coaching staff. Personally I would like to see Troy Mann given his shot as interim coach and I would love to see Jacques Martin hired as a consultant. I don't think Jacques would have any interest in the head coaching job - the job should be his if he wanted it.
- SensFan25

A few people have said in the last blog comment section, how Giroux looks to be doing more coaching than this pathetic staff we have here. Mind blowing. This defense needs to be coached up, but there is zero leadership on that bench. Solid points in your post. Jacques would be nice to get in here on this staff to give real structure to this team. Pipe dream I guess.

Now that Zaitsev is gone, it clears the way for some folks to focus on Chabot as the problem. Expect to see an increasing number of people microanalyzing every Chabot move.

Without Zub in the line up the back end is very, very thin.

It strikes me as wildly naive when folks suggests that you can improve on the back end performance of the Sens by simply increasing the minutes given to Hamonic or Brannstrom and reducing the minutes that Chabot is played.

The reality is Chabot is playing far too many minutes and it causes serious degradation in his game the deeper you go into each period.

But there is no simple solution. The addition of a top 4 Dman that the Sens listed as #1 priority for the off season did not happen. Zub's injury is highly problematic.

As I said before, I assume most of the folks who have now decided to rag on Chabot are many of the same folks that drove Jason Spezza out of Ottawa. They have no idea what it means to play with a rookie partner and go head to head against the top lines of every team on every shift for 25+ minutes a night.

Now that Zaitsev is gone, it clears the way for some folks to focus on Chabot as the problem. Expect to see an increasing number of people microanalyzing every Chabot move.

Without Zub in the line up the back end is very, very thin.

It strikes me as wildly naive when folks suggests that you can improve on the back end performance of the Sens by simply increasing the minutes given to Hamonic or Brannstrom and reducing the minutes that Chabot is played.

The reality is Chabot is playing far too many minutes and it causes serious degradation in his game the deeper you go into each period.

But there is no simple solution. The addition of a top 4 Dman that the Sens listed as #1 priority for the off season did not happen. Zub's injury is highly problematic.

As I said before, I assume most of the folks who have now decided to rag on Chabot are many of the same folks that drove Jason Spezza out of Ottawa. They have no idea what it means to play with a rookie partner and go head to head against the top lines of every team on every shift for 25+ minutes a night.
- spatso

100% correct unfortunately.

Chabot helps JBD out quite a lot which is why JBD is managing to deal so well with playing against the oppositions top lines but people don't seem to want to see that.

Chabot makes great defensive and offensive moves every game but you never hear any of that mentioned by the talking heads. Instead they sit there like vultures waiting for the slightest miscue and then proceed to put that miscue under a microscope to make it look as big as possible. Every talking head and all the people who listen to them then proceed to repeat it over and over and over ad nauseum proving to each other that their keen insight has determined why their widely celebrated summer of Pierre has not manifested with success on the ice.

I imagine that some degree of this nonsense must get through to Chabot in one way or another. Here's hoping he's strong enough to deal with it and doesn't try to do too much trying to prove anything to the vultures. They'll never admit that they were wrong.

Now that Zaitsev is gone, it clears the way for some folks to focus on Chabot as the problem. Expect to see an increasing number of people microanalyzing every Chabot move.

Without Zub in the line up the back end is very, very thin.

It strikes me as wildly naive when folks suggests that you can improve on the back end performance of the Sens by simply increasing the minutes given to Hamonic or Brannstrom and reducing the minutes that Chabot is played.

The reality is Chabot is playing far too many minutes and it causes serious degradation in his game the deeper you go into each period.

But there is no simple solution. The addition of a top 4 Dman that the Sens listed as #1 priority for the off season did not happen. Zub's injury is highly problematic.

As I said before, I assume most of the folks who have now decided to rag on Chabot are many of the same folks that drove Jason Spezza out of Ottawa. They have no idea what it means to play with a rookie partner and go head to head against the top lines of every team on every shift for 25+ minutes a night.
- spatso

Well when the coach is over playing you you’re bound to get burned out sooner or later 32mins last game is ridiculous
Keep Chabot hovered around 20mins he will show you a big difference in my opinion 😏🤷‍♂️

Well when the coach is over playing you you’re bound to get burned out sooner or later 32mins last game is ridiculous
Keep Chabot hovered around 20mins he will show you a big difference in my opinion 😏🤷‍♂️
- sens4life1971

As I stated in my blog, the defense has regressed with the coaching of DJ over the years. Discussion on my Twitter feed right now, fans saying how is it that Josh Brown is playing 18-20min. and in a top 4 role in AZ under Tourigny, looking like a steady NHL defenseman but that couldn't happen here? Same with Gudbranson, no way he gets that 4 year contract with CLB without playing under Sutter in Calgary. It boils down to coaching and this team is getting none of it.....with DJ and Jack Capuano....cut the damn cord already!

Now that Zaitsev is gone, it clears the way for some folks to focus on Chabot as the problem. Expect to see an increasing number of people microanalyzing every Chabot move.

Without Zub in the line up the back end is very, very thin.

It strikes me as wildly naive when folks suggests that you can improve on the back end performance of the Sens by simply increasing the minutes given to Hamonic or Brannstrom and reducing the minutes that Chabot is played.

The reality is Chabot is playing far too many minutes and it causes serious degradation in his game the deeper you go into each period.

But there is no simple solution. The addition of a top 4 Dman that the Sens listed as #1 priority for the off season did not happen. Zub's injury is highly problematic.

As I said before, I assume most of the folks who have now decided to rag on Chabot are many of the same folks that drove Jason Spezza out of Ottawa. They have no idea what it means to play with a rookie partner and go head to head against the top lines of every team on every shift for 25+ minutes a night.
- spatso

I don't trust this coach with Zaitsev until he's either in Belleville or on loan to the KHL, then I will feel comfortable at that time saying he is gone, sadly.

As for Chabot, he has had 4 D partners already this year. It all goes back to zero coaching from Jack Capuano and DJ for over 3 years now. But a team shouldn't fall apart they have on defense because Zub is out. Look at Florida, they are crushing it with out Ekblad who is out with an injury, plus they lost Weegar, but yet Paul Maurice an experienced NHL coach is putting his players in a position to succeed by playing to their strengths and playing in triangles at times with their breakout.

nick Paul: 3.15Mx7 4g-4A=8P +4 in 14 games
Joseph : 2.950Mx4 1g-2A=3P +4 in 13 games

nick Paul: 3.15Mx7 4g-4A=8P +4 in 14 games
Joseph : 2.950Mx4 1g-2A=3P +4 in 13 games
- Mithos

Interesting. 3rd line role players if paid and slotted correctly can really give your team an edge.

This is a results oriented business, and your coaching staff in Ottawa is failing miserably.

Well when the coach is over playing you you’re bound to get burned out sooner or later 32mins last game is ridiculous
Keep Chabot hovered around 20mins he will show you a big difference in my opinion 😏🤷‍♂️
- sens4life1971

Yeah this. I don't think it's 'wildly naive' to suggest that Chabot has historically shown his best game with less deployment. The numbers show it and the numbers don't lie. We can conjecture and hypothesize all we want about how reducing his TOI will hurt the team, but since we have no real sample of what that looks like to work with, that is all it is - hypothesis and conjecture. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it's broke, try something else. Anything else, really, when you've lost this many in a row.

Talbot starts in goal for Ottawa. Still no Gambrell, how on earth is Watson still in the lineup? He cant even penalty kill, always chasing the play. DJ told us he put Zaitsev into the lineup to make sure he got reps and was ready for time down the road if injury happened. Why hasn't the same been done with Gambrell? Just like the former head coach told me yesterday, DJ deploys a double standard and players around the league, along with coaches see it.

Talbot starts in goal for Ottawa. Still no Gambrell, how on earth is Watson still in the lineup? He cant even penalty kill, always chasing the play. DJ told us he put Zaitsev into the lineup to make sure he got reps and was ready for time down the road if injury happened. Why hasn't the same been done with Gambrell? Just like the former head coach told me yesterday, DJ deploys a double standard and players around the league, along with coaches see it.
- Kevin Francis

smith just talks out of his ass, he says one thing does another, he will never get another HC job in the NHL and most likely never be a AC either.

smith just talks out of his ass, he says one thing does another, he will never get another HC job in the NHL and most likely never be a AC either.
- Mithos

100%, it's amazing. He told the media the day before the season began in Buffalo that the best players would play.....really..how is Joseph in the lineup? He has been downright awful.....he skates miles every game and does absolutely nothing....like NHL personnel and scouts said about him.....no hockey IQ....oh boy does it show!

Now that Zaitsev is gone, it clears the way for some folks to focus on Chabot as the problem. Expect to see an increasing number of people microanalyzing every Chabot move.

Without Zub in the line up the back end is very, very thin.

It strikes me as wildly naive when folks suggests that you can improve on the back end performance of the Sens by simply increasing the minutes given to Hamonic or Brannstrom and reducing the minutes that Chabot is played.

The reality is Chabot is playing far too many minutes and it causes serious degradation in his game the deeper you go into each period.

But there is no simple solution. The addition of a top 4 Dman that the Sens listed as #1 priority for the off season did not happen. Zub's injury is highly problematic.

As I said before, I assume most of the folks who have now decided to rag on Chabot are many of the same folks that drove Jason Spezza out of Ottawa. They have no idea what it means to play with a rookie partner and go head to head against the top lines of every team on every shift for 25+ minutes a night.
- spatso

I'll just say I don't fit your assumption that people who rag on Chabot are the same folks that ragged on Spezza. I was a Spezza supporter and didn't fully understand some the negative attitudes towards his game. Gifted players will take more chances, thus create more offensive opportunities than the average player but also create some negative turnovers as a result. The biggest thing for me is that Spezza's overall play usually negated the negative moments. I was frustrated that he was seemingly pushed out of town by fans and the media.

This season, I haven't seen Chabot do anything significant to negate his negative moments. He hasn't been super strong defensively and has not shown he can push offsets from the back end. I will not discount coaching. His deployment has never really made sense under DJ. However, some onus has to be put on the player. He's still getting $8 million a year. Not really his fault Dorion gave him a blank check early in his career, but with that, comes expectations.

Just from a purely objective standpoint, people have to admit that Chabot's game has regressed this season so far in comparison of the last couple of seasons. The reason for that can be 100% debated (deployment, coaching, rotating parters, not playing well, lack of intensity, hockey IQ, etc) but anyway you slice it, this team will not be simnifically successful if Chabot's play doesn't improve one way or another.

To me, a coaching change is a logical start. It could benefit the entire team, including Chabot. I'll be more than happy to recognize a strong game by Chabot when it happens.

Clearly a top RD is unavailable via trade at a reasonable cost. And we are not the only team looking for one. Better to wait for the right deal/player, and better to wait to address it with a ufa.

And getting A RD helps nothing if the coaching in place is bad and there is no system.

The quickest and easiest change to make now with the most immediate impact short term (and possibly long term) is to make a coaching change. Getting a new player doesn't, especially if the system is flawed. Takes awhile for any player to adjust and make an impact on a new team.

I think the sens aren't making the playoffs but if they are serious about trying, the coach has to go.

And if I'm Trent Mann I say a hard no to an assistants job. And changing Capuano out doesn't change the problem.