Kevin Francis: DJ Smith needs to be accountable now!!! Nick Paul contract extension?!

Though I'm not a Sens fan they are a darn good young team, There Is no doubt they do need some help on the blueline but with all the assets they possess It shouldn't be that hard to make a deal and get that guy, Dorion has done a great job but Smith Is probably NOT the one to get Ottawa to the next level.

Good ol Francis having another temper tantrum over nothing

Good ol Francis having another temper tantrum over nothing
- Unholy_Forward

Glad to hear that you accept anything the coaching staff or management shove down our throats! We have a coach who tells his players you need to earn your ice time but then doesn't follow through on what he tells everyone by dressing players who clearly aren't able to play NHL hockey! He then tells the fans he will ice the best lineup to win games. So if you think icing the best lineup includes the goaltending duo of Forsberg/Murray and a blueline that includes Mete/JBrown/MDZ, rather than Gustavsson in goal and the guys who played here last week on the blueline that actually gave this team a chance to win, then I guess you like the spoon fulls of bullcrap coming out of the CTC!

If this logic happened at any company do you think that employee would keep their job? Doubtful! If my boss at my full-time job thought I wasn't performing but kept me over someone being more productive in the same position, then the CEO would fire his ass! It's pretty cut and dry!

My biggest complaint about DJ (since he GOT here) has always been his roster decisions. He’s done this since day one. Is he being pressured by management and/or ownership to lose game for better draft position? I don’t like to break out the tinfoil hat when it comes to hockey very often, but it honestly makes more sense than he’s actually dumb enough to make these types of lineup choices. Choices he’s made CONSISTENTLY during his coaching tenure here in the nation’s capital.

On to the free agents:
RFA's
Josh Norris - Aim to sign him for something like what Batherson got.
Alex Formenton - Bridge deal.
Dylan Gambrell - Haven’t seen enough of him to be anything other than indifferent. But he might be worth giving another year to.
Victor Mete - Let him walk if you can’t move him at the deadline for a roll of hockey tape.

UFA's
Nick Paul - Short-term deal.
Nick Holden - Short-term deal.
Chris Tierney - I’m indifferent. But don’t really see him in our future. Maybe move at the deadline for TWO rolls of hockey tape.
Zach Sanford - Literally wouldn’t care if not for the fact that he’s what we have to show for Logan Brown.
Logan Shaw - He was captain in Belleville last year. Try to keep him in an AHL capacity.
Tyler Ennis - Let him walk/move at deadline.
Josh Brown - Let him walk.
Anton Forsberg - Should have let him walk LAST off-season.

Anyhoo. Those are my opinions on the pending free-agents.

I don't disagree there have been some questionable choices made by DJ but this tirade seems misguided. I see two inherent faults with this argument.

1. The principal focus of Francis' tantrum seems to be DJ's poor decisions regarding roster make-up, specifically the duration of player development . DJ may have a voice in these matters, but its Dorion who who ultimately allocates players to the NHL roster.

2. The future appears bright but this roster is still 2 or 3 years away being adequately competitive. It is best to let these prospects develop. My suggestion is to relax and embrace the rebuild. Good times are on the horizon.

Interesting post!

Most NHL coaches want to keep their job so they play the best players to do so. The same goes for the GM. Is it possible the owner may have more say in who plays than we think? I love Melynk for saving the franchise and keeping it in Ottawa but he is probably the poorest owner in the league. Divorce and problems with your company and the stock exchange take a big toll. The expansion fees from Las Vegas and Seattle have been a god send but that revenue stream is now over. I hope Melynk has more assets than we think or we will be in a perpetual rebuild.

Sign Nick Paul to a long term contract!

It is easier to tear down a team for rebuilding, it is extremely difficult to build a team to compete and Dorion is over his head either because he does not have the experience or because melnyk has a thigh leash on him and prevents him from trading for top 6 Fs and top 4Ds to keep the payroll as low as possible.

OTTs 2021 draft is/was one of the worst drafts by team in recent memory, when have you ever heard annalists and pundits say after a draft that the team drafted zero future NHL players....

Only RFAs to keep are Formenton (Bridge deal) and Norris (he will ask forSuzuki contract if production matches or exceeds Suzuki from last year) , maybe Bishop for the AHL.

Trade/let walk all UFAs

And FFS use the plethora of picks and prospects to get already established top 6Fs/4Ds to fill out the roster.......Fans will only hold optimism and hope for so long.....

Interesting post!

Most NHL coaches want to keep their job so they play the best players to do so. The same goes for the GM. Is it possible the owner may have more say in who plays than we think? I love Melynk for saving the franchise and keeping it in Ottawa but he is probably the poorest owner in the league. Divorce and problems with your company and the stock exchange take a big toll. The expansion fees from Las Vegas and Seattle have been a god send but that revenue stream is now over. I hope Melynk has more assets than we think or we will be in a perpetual rebuild.

Sign Nick Paul to a long term contract!
- Barrykerr1

Melnyk is broke, he is worth 1.2B but 1/3rd of that is the sens who are valued at 450M, most of his value comes from property and other non-cash assets, his only inflow of cash is the Sens/CTC.

Considering how much cash the league put into the yotes to keep them in AZ, they will not force melnyk to sell the sens anytime soon unless he breaks some rule owners must abide by or by a scandal.

Dorion said the rebuild is over, whether we agree or not, the 5 years of spending has already started in melnyks mind so OTT has 4 more years to win a cup then he will rebuild again and Chabot, Brady, Drake, Norris, Stutzle, Sanderson will be gone.

Can't really say I'm that broken up about Gustavsson, Bernard-Docker, and Thomson being sent down. Those guys are definitely part of the future, but this year was always going to see them primarily relegated to AHL development and injury call-up duty. From what I could see, the issue isn't whether they're capable of being better than their NHL counterparts, it was a matter of them learning to play consistently at that level. For now, I'm just glad to see that they look like they're developing well as solid future players for this team.

As much as I'm frustrated with the team roster situation, there's a certain fundamental truth to the whole situation... which is that until Sanderson makes the jump over to the NHL and gives them another high-end D-pairing, this team is going to be in a state of transition. Declaring the rebuild as over was an error, but may have been necessary as window dressing to frame the whole Tkachuk contract issue. And if they're going to be "top-10 pick"-bad one more time, I can go along with that... provided that a) development of key prospects is the focus (vs. just a pure meritocracy), and b) they absolutely, positively use that top-10 pick to select a high-skill C.

I'd like to see Norris, Paul and Formenton signed longer term with Norris getting Batherson type money.

I have no idea what the management strategy is but since the team isn't going to be winning anything this year anyway let guys develop a bit more in Belleville and pick in the top five in a strong draft year. This team will not be getting any more top picks after 2022 for a long long time. Win win!

I'm always amazed by people who think squandering assets and trading away a soon to be perennial Cup contender's future for a team that can challenge for a wild card spot right now and forever is somehow a great idea.

I wonder how many of those computer games where you get to manage a team that you take to the Cup every year are in play here?

Take a pill and chill, Ottawa! The performance improvement over the next couple of years will be dramatic.

Don't give anything away flippantly. Don't undervalue your assets. Bide your time and when the time is right to make your trades don't wind up holding the short end of the stick.

My biggest complaint about DJ (since he GOT here) has always been his roster decisions. He’s done this since day one. Is he being pressured by management and/or ownership to lose game for better draft position? I don’t like to break out the tinfoil hat when it comes to hockey very often, but it honestly makes more sense than he’s actually dumb enough to make these types of lineup choices. Choices he’s made CONSISTENTLY during his coaching tenure here in the nation’s capital.

On to the free agents:
RFA's
Josh Norris - Aim to sign him for something like what Batherson got.
Alex Formenton - Bridge deal.
Dylan Gambrell - Haven’t seen enough of him to be anything other than indifferent. But he might be worth giving another year to.
Victor Mete - Let him walk if you can’t move him at the deadline for a roll of hockey tape.

UFA's
Nick Paul - Short-term deal.
Nick Holden - Short-term deal.
Chris Tierney - I’m indifferent. But don’t really see him in our future. Maybe move at the deadline for TWO rolls of hockey tape.
Zach Sanford - Literally wouldn’t care if not for the fact that he’s what we have to show for Logan Brown.
Logan Shaw - He was captain in Belleville last year. Try to keep him in an AHL capacity.
Tyler Ennis - Let him walk/move at deadline.
Josh Brown - Let him walk.
Anton Forsberg - Should have let him walk LAST off-season.

Anyhoo. Those are my opinions on the pending free-agents.
- PavohnDatsvares

I think Nick Paul on at least a 2 year deal, would be solid and Nick Holden 1 year deal. All the other UFAs, let them walk or trade them before the deadline. Gambrell, maybe he gets moved too before the deadline. Formenton a bride deal works best. Norris, 5 or 6 years!

As for DJ, he truly makes you wonder if he has learned at all from past mistakes with his roster decisions. He keeps talking about how they need to learn from last year, but I have yet to see it???

I don't disagree there have been some questionable choices made by DJ but this tirade seems misguided. I see two inherent faults with this argument.

1. The principal focus of Francis' tantrum seems to be DJ's poor decisions regarding roster make-up, specifically the duration of player development . DJ may have a voice in these matters, but its Dorion who who ultimately allocates players to the NHL roster.

2. The future appears bright but this roster is still 2 or 3 years away being adequately competitive. It is best to let these prospects develop. My suggestion is to relax and embrace the rebuild. Good times are on the horizon.
- Jackie Daytona

If you've read my blogs and the issues with DJ, you would realize I'm talking about the mixed message he sends players. Formenton or Stutzle make a mistake and they get sat for a period! Brady or Nick Paul do the same thing 3 straight times and they have no TOI taken away, no ramifications for their mistakes. Turn to the defense, same thing this year as it was last year, identical actually! Numerous vets makes mistakes on the blueline but the moment Brannstrom does, like last year, he gets nailed to the bench. Same goes for this year, he keeps rolling Zaitsev and JBrown out there when they treat the puck like a grenade!

Interesting post!

Most NHL coaches want to keep their job so they play the best players to do so. The same goes for the GM. Is it possible the owner may have more say in who plays than we think? I love Melynk for saving the franchise and keeping it in Ottawa but he is probably the poorest owner in the league. Divorce and problems with your company and the stock exchange take a big toll. The expansion fees from Las Vegas and Seattle have been a god send but that revenue stream is now over. I hope Melynk has more assets than we think or we will be in a perpetual rebuild.

Sign Nick Paul to a long term contract!
- Barrykerr1

Oh there is no doubt a lot of substance to your opinion on the owner with the line up moves! It wouldn't surprise me one bit!

Can't really say I'm that broken up about Gustavsson, Bernard-Docker, and Thomson being sent down. Those guys are definitely part of the future, but this year was always going to see them primarily relegated to AHL development and injury call-up duty. From what I could see, the issue isn't whether they're capable of being better than their NHL counterparts, it was a matter of them learning to play consistently at that level. For now, I'm just glad to see that they look like they're developing well as solid future players for this team.

As much as I'm frustrated with the team roster situation, there's a certain fundamental truth to the whole situation... which is that until Sanderson makes the jump over to the NHL and gives them another high-end D-pairing, this team is going to be in a state of transition. Declaring the rebuild as over was an error, but may have been necessary as window dressing to frame the whole Tkachuk contract issue. And if they're going to be "top-10 pick"-bad one more time, I can go along with that... provided that a) development of key prospects is the focus (vs. just a pure meritocracy), and b) they absolutely, positively use that top-10 pick to select a high-skill C.
- khawk

So with regards to Gus, if you recall last year, Gus was very average in Belleville. In fact management called up Daccord before Gus don't forget because they thought he wasn't developing that well. Then when Gus outplayed Daccord at the NHL but couldn't at the AHL level, even DJ himself came out and said that some goalies don't do well in the AHL due to the structure, compared to the NHL!

So yet again, this year Gus has outplayed both goalies here and clearly gives Ottawa a better chance to win in each game he has played. In fact, Gus has been super consistent where you cant say that for either Forsberg or Murray. So I don't understand what going down to the AHL is gong to do for hm? Do you honestly think he's going to develop better down there? He has played 1 game in Belleville this year. Look where is development curve is now playing in the NHL. If anyone actually thinks Gus playing in the AHL is going to serve him better is wrong in my opinion. Plus this team plays with more confidence in front of him. The eye test says it all.

With regards to JBD, I never said not to send him down, he truly needs more time in the AHL. As does Sokolov, he needs to adapt to the speed of the game at the NHL level. Both of those players would benefit greatly from a year in the AHL.

Thomson has shown he's more than capable of playing here, he has played in the AHL for 2 years now. Heck Thomson was seeing a lot of time with Chabot, it allowed Ottawa to legit split up Zub from him and it made the D more balanced. I say, if Thomson plays 3-4 bad games in a row, then maybe he could benefit with more time in the AHL.

For now, the eye test is very clear. Gus and Thomson belong in Ottawa. There are no expectations this year for this team, let them grow and gain valuable NHL experience for next year.

I just wish management would say, look we are playing for a top 5 pick. The roster decisions sure makes it look that way so don't take your fanbase as stupid. They were up front with everyone during the build. Dont start taking the fanbase for fools now!

It is easier to tear down a team for rebuilding, it is extremely difficult to build a team to compete and Dorion is over his head either because he does not have the experience or because melnyk has a thigh leash on him and prevents him from trading for top 6 Fs and top 4Ds to keep the payroll as low as possible.

OTTs 2021 draft is/was one of the worst drafts by team in recent memory, when have you ever heard annalists and pundits say after a draft that the team drafted zero future NHL players....

Only RFAs to keep are Formenton (Bridge deal) and Norris (he will ask forSuzuki contract if production matches or exceeds Suzuki from last year) , maybe Bishop for the AHL.

Trade/let walk all UFAs

And FFS use the plethora of picks and prospects to get already established top 6Fs/4Ds to fill out the roster.......Fans will only hold optimism and hope for so long.....
- Mithos

I am on the same page as you with the RFA's and UFA's! As for Melnyk, not that we all didn't already see it, but more than ever now these roster moves make it look like he has to count every dollar in to make sure he doesn't miss payroll again like he did a few years ago and had to go to the league for help!

I'd like to see Norris, Paul and Formenton signed longer term with Norris getting Batherson type money.

I have no idea what the management strategy is but since the team isn't going to be winning anything this year anyway let guys develop a bit more in Belleville and pick in the top five in a strong draft year. This team will not be getting any more top picks after 2022 for a long long time. Win win!

I'm always amazed by people who think squandering assets and trading away a soon to be perennial Cup contender's future for a team that can challenge for a wild card spot right now and forever is somehow a great idea.

I wonder how many of those computer games where you get to manage a team that you take to the Cup every year are in play here?

Take a pill and chill, Ottawa! The performance improvement over the next couple of years will be dramatic.

Don't give anything away flippantly. Don't undervalue your assets. Bide your time and when the time is right to make your trades don't wind up holding the short end of the stick.
- Whatisavailable

I cant see Nick Paul getting more than 3 years, but I agree with you, Formenton the same thing, bridge deal. Norris 5-6 year I am with you.

If management is tanking for a top 5 pick, just be up front with the fans, but how can you when you tell fans the rebuild is over? Meaning no more top 10 picks. This is where Dorion needs to learn to be quiet! I stated my reasons in another reply to khawk why some prospects need to be in Ottawa and others in the AHL.

Why blame DJ Smith when PD put him in this position again just like last year … instead of playing the kids he need vets that can’t keep up to pace of game anymore … I’m sure only reason they being sent down is to pay them AHL salary and not NHL , they not gonna pay NHL players the money just to sit n watch every game till trade deadline 🤷‍♂️ And play the kids more money.
Cause we know how cheap our owner is … so I blame PD
Plus I also think more pull is coming from The top then there is from coaches 😉

I cant see Nick Paul getting more than 3 years, but I agree with you, Formenton the same thing, bridge deal. Norris 5-6 year I am with you.

If management is tanking for a top 5 pick, just be up front with the fans, but how can you when you tell fans the rebuild is over? Meaning no more top 10 picks. This is where Dorion needs to learn to be quiet! I stated my reasons in another reply to khawk why some prospects need to be in Ottawa and others in the AHL.
- Kevin Francis

I totally agree with you as far as playing LT and Gus in Ottawa goes but I don't think Dorion wants to shine too bright a light on the Murray contract by making him your backup just yet. As far as LT goes I have no idea what Smith is thinking unless of course they've decided to pick as high as possible next summer.

I also agree with your observation regarding Smith's inconsistency between what he says and what he does when it comes to rewarding players for good things they do.

I've never been a big fan of benching a player because of one mistake and I don't know what's going on but I hope Smith is not hurting players that don't fit neatly into his idea of how he wants them to play individually. For now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that since he's making the big bucks he knows better than me what he's doing.

Formenton and Paul for three years each sounds good to me and six for Norris would be fine but I think the longer the better.

Keeping some of the other guys like Holden around for another year is probably a good idea.

I see where the Kings writer for The Athletic wrote about Vilardi possibly being traded and how it might be time to do so. A day after I wrote my piece on it! Interesting.

Why blame DJ Smith when PD put him in this position again just like last year … instead of playing the kids he need vets that can’t keep up to pace of game anymore … I’m sure only reason they being sent down is to pay them AHL salary and not NHL , they not gonna pay NHL players the money just to sit n watch every game till trade deadline 🤷‍♂️ And play the kids more money.
Cause we know how cheap our owner is … so I blame PD
Plus I also think more pull is coming from The top then there is from coaches 😉
- sens4life1971

Why? He's the one on the podium saying "we" all the time. PD needs to stop hiding behind DJ then if what you are saying is true! I agree with you, we all know Eugene is nickel and diming.

I totally agree with you as far as playing LT and Gus in Ottawa goes but I don't think Dorion wants to shine too bright a light on the Murray contract by making him your backup just yet. As far as LT goes I have no idea what Smith is thinking unless of course they've decided to pick as high as possible next summer.

I also agree with your observation regarding Smith's inconsistency between what he says and what he does when it comes to rewarding players for good things they do.

I've never been a big fan of benching a player because of one mistake and I don't know what's going on but I hope Smith is not hurting players that don't fit neatly into his idea of how he wants them to play individually. For now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that since he's making the big bucks he knows better than me what he's doing.

Formenton and Paul for three years each sounds good to me and six for Norris would be fine but I think the longer the better.

Keeping some of the other guys like Holden around for another year is probably a good idea.
- Whatisavailable

If there was ever a dman to keep for a year it would be Holden, agreed!

Sens to Quebec City.

Interesting article here, written just 2 days ago on the start the Blues' farm team has had in Springfield, as their new AHL affiliate.
https://theahl.com/weeken...sful-start-in-springfield

Curiously, there were 8 player-specific comments in the story, but not a single mention of Logan Brown. This, despite his apparent and remarkably fast transformation into a dominant force in the AHL... where he's neither the top C on the team, or anywhere near their top scorer. Which begs a rather obvious question, what the hell is wrong with the AHL writers in Springfield? Surely Logan Brown's troubled development and modest scoring output can't have overshadowed the undeniable genius of his play. Can someone please watch Brown for only a very small fraction of his GP, and explain all of this... preferably using nothing but subjective fawning about his vision?

Interesting article here, written just 2 days ago on the start the Blues' farm team has had in Springfield, as their new AHL affiliate.
https://theahl.com/weeken...sful-start-in-springfield

Curiously, there were 8 player-specific comments in the story, but not a single mention of Logan Brown. This, despite his apparent and remarkably fast transformation into a dominant force in the AHL... where he's neither the top C on the team, or anywhere near their top scorer. Which begs a rather obvious question, what the hell is wrong with the AHL writers in Springfield? Surely Logan Brown's troubled development and modest scoring output can't have overshadowed the undeniable genius of his play. Can someone please watch Brown for only a very small fraction of his GP, and explain all of this... preferably using nothing but subjective fawning about his vision?
- khawk

The article only really talks about the standout performance of Perunovich who as a defenseman is right now doubling the point totals of the team's leading offensive players which is pretty unusual.

The team has a pretty balanced attack with their top guys all around the ten point mark but it's really early days in the season and things may spread out a bit as the season rolls along. Logan Brown is fourth in scoring right now with five goals and five assists and a plus minus of -1 which is average but like I said these numbers will likely change so we'll just have to wait and see.

The article also mentioned the goalie's record. It mostly spoke about St. Louis finally looking like they've stabilized their farm team situation.