Kevin Francis: Pierre Dorion needs to upgrade the Sens head coaching position, NOW!

Great piece. Anyone other than DJ behind the bench this coming season means Dorion isn't serious about making this team a playoff contender. Kevin, you nailed it with all you said. Any Sens fan knows this team is doomed with DJ running the show. We have watched his act for 3 years and it hasn't yielded any results Move on from the Junior coach now. There are too many options on the market.

If Dorion and the front office want to show progress, it starts with the head coach. What better way to show your fanbase that you're serious about winning by replacing DJ with a competent NHL head coach.

We are going to find out soon enough if Dorion is secretly a genius that was held back from actualizing by a bad owner - or if he just really is a moron.

I hope you don't mind if I repost this, Kevin, but I really like the idea.

I know one thing I would be looking at real hard if I were Dorion. The Oilers need a goalie and that will cost them. They also need to extend McLeod, Puljujarvi, Yamamoto and Kulak. They won't have the money for Kane. That's the top six winger the Sens should look to sign. No one is going to offer him long term so offer 5 or 6 million for a year but no more than 2 years at 5 or 6. Get him if you can. It's the perfect opportunity.

He's proven that he can be a very effective top six guy (22 goals and 39 points in 43 games with Edmonton and a bunch in the playoffs) and if you don't give him more than a couple of years you're not stuck if he screws up. If he doesn't screw up you get a couple of years to allow the team's young players and prospects to further develop and it doesn't cost you anything other than money.

There's also the intriguing idea of what he might get you at the trade deadline.

That's my 2 cents.

We are going to find out soon enough if Dorion is secretly a genius that was held back from actualizing by a bad owner - or if he just really is a moron.

I hope you don't mind if I repost this, Kevin, but I really like the idea.

I know one thing I would be looking at real hard if I were Dorion. The Oilers need a goalie and that will cost them. They also need to extend McLeod, Puljujarvi, Yamamoto and Kulak. They won't have the money for Kane. That's the top six winger the Sens should look to sign. No one is going to offer him long term so offer 5 or 6 million for a year but no more than 2 years at 5 or 6. Get him if you can. It's the perfect opportunity.

He's proven that he can be a very effective top six guy (22 goals and 39 points in 43 games with Edmonton and a bunch in the playoffs) and if you don't give him more than a couple of years you're not stuck if he screws up. If he doesn't screw up you get a couple of years to allow the team's young players and prospects to further develop and it doesn't cost you anything other than money. That's my 2 cents.
- Whatisavailable

Two years ago, Ottawa failed to use its cap space as a weapon to gain assets from other NHL teams. This is where Dorion failed this team, ownership and fan base. I know we have all beat the horse on this, but Dorion has failed on so many levels on the pro scouting level.

If anybody is listening to TSN1200 the morning show, they are selling out PD and what has gone on with drafting Tyler Boucher. Incredible discussion.

The correct order of events would be to replace Dorion with a competent GM and for that GM to hire the new coach. That said, I'd be happy to see Mann promoted to take over the NHL team. It would be a low cost, low risk hire that should result in continued development of the younger players.

The correct order of events would be to replace Dorion with a competent GM and for that GM to hire the new coach. That said, I'd be happy to see Mann promoted to take over the NHL team. It would be a low cost, low risk hire that should result in continued development of the younger players.
- SensFan25

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You and many Sens fans would be fine with that move. Mann has proven himself with the results of so many prospects becoming fulltime NHLers.

DJ mention after the WC how far he is to be a good coach. I would like that he said to Pierre that put me assistant with Julien or Cassidy ( but I read the reason he was fired is because , he s not good with young player . Don t give a big leash ) Plus we can add Mann assistant too

Dont get a coach like Torts, who would likely put some discipline in your younger guys, but often at the expense of harming their offensive development and creativity.

I 100% with your viewpoint though. A lot of teams with mediocre coaches should be looking at the field of choices outside of their organizations.

Yes, given the talent available to the Sens right now, all of whom would be a definite upgrade to DJ, a coaching move would make sense.

However, I understand PD keeping DJ around. It's gives him a move to make, to try to keep his job and to prove that he is in charge and willing to make hard decisions, in that he waits to see how the team is doing after 20 games. If they aren't doing well, he fires DJ and replaces him with Mann. Then he sees how the team responds....if the team responds to change and rally around Mann, great. If not, he goes searching for a new coach next summer.

The only problem is there will not be the same coaching talent available next year, in my opinion. And PD may not (please, pretty please) be in a position to make that decision.

In other news, anyone see PD falling upward in the organization next year, becoming POHO and then hiring a new GM, making a new coach that persons decision? Just a thought. The board and the family seem to like him. Only way to explain how he still has a job.

It only took a few sentences into this blog to remind me why I have stopped reading these. The tone of these articles sounds like a spoiled child upset with a parent.

It only took a few sentences into this blog to remind me why I have stopped reading these. The tone of these articles sounds like a spoiled child upset with a parent.
- HoweHatrick

How true. I have been following this column for a while and cannot disagree. I am most amused by this columnists simplistic and infantile rants about the coach. Each loss somehow seems to be DJ's fault. Either he starts the wrong goalie, plays one of the useless defensemen too much, assembles the wrong line combinations, or simply stands facing the wrong direction during the national anthems. While most agree DJ will never be contemplated as a candidate for the Adams trophy, these senseless ongoing tantrums prove comical.

The reason the team fails to improve is an utter lack of top-tier talent. The most consistent forward is rated as a second liner, the inept defensive continues to regress, and the Sens best goalie would dress for the AHL affiliate with most franchises.

I agree DJ is not an valued asset, but I suggest the columnist should recognize drafting and developing players is not the job of an NHL coach. I also agree DJ should be replaced, but to most it is obvious even Eggman, Coach Q, or any coach of the columnists choosing cannot magically vault this insipid roster into playoff contention. Success will require much more than a coaching change; an overhaul of the entire program is necessary.

Unfortunately, its easier for a child to believe simplistic fallacies and blame besieged tyrants than it is to understand and accept the truth.

The correct order of events would be to replace Dorion with a competent GM and for that GM to hire the new coach. That said, I'd be happy to see Mann promoted to take over the NHL team. It would be a low cost, low risk hire that should result in continued development of the younger players.
- SensFan25

Wouldnt that be glorious. I agree on Mann, as he worked with many of the guys on the team and others that will be playing in the not too distant future with the team.

It only took a few sentences into this blog to remind me why I have stopped reading these. The tone of these articles sounds like a spoiled child upset with a parent.
- HoweHatrick

But you keep coming back to read it, then make a comment in the blog. Showing all of us, you took the time to even post in a blog that you say is so awful. What you don't understand with sports journalism is that writers don't care if you like their work or not. As long as you keep coming back, which you proved to all of us here you continue to do. I wonder who is the spoiled child now to come off the way you do.

I've always been a firm believer that a new coach with a team entering a rebuild is a placeholder until the team start to form an identity and a coach that better fits that identify is brought in. Ottawa is not far off having to find a guy that better suits this team. While DJ Smith hasn't had the benefit of fully established NHL stars, the lack of team improvement over the last 3 years is enough to try something new. Coaches have been let go for less.

To me, you'd be foolish to not approach Bruce Cassidy. Local guy with very good results in Boston. A team that went through significant changes at various positions and stayed relatively competitive.

Paul Maurice would be my second pick, but he is a guy that will choose where and when he coaches. He may want more time off.

Claude Julien would perhaps be interesting. Local, bilingual guy. His best days might be behind him.

I think the Sens need an established coach rather than a new guy "getting a chance". How many coaches do the Sens need to give "chances" to? Get an established name, a presence, and see how it works.

I suspect a coaching change will only occur if the Sens get off to a rocky start in October/November. By that time, some of the attractive options might be elsewhere.

If Dorion and the front office want to show progress, it starts with the head coach. What better way to show your fanbase that you're serious about winning by replacing DJ with a competent NHL head coach.
- LawyerSens4Life

Many of you in here know I follow all the Canadian teams but the entire league in general. There was a great podcast I was listening to today with John Shannon and he said that many GM's are looking at their current head coach situations with so many great coaches on the market looking for work. That's what a great GM does, always looking to upgrade at any position on the ice or in the front office, or behind the bench. No wonder Ottawa continues to be in the bottom 10 for 5 straight years, when your GM is below average, you get below average results in all areas of the organization.

It only took a few sentences into this blog to remind me why I have stopped reading these. The tone of these articles sounds like a spoiled child upset with a parent.
- HoweHatrick

Don't come back then, oh wait, you did again.

How true. I have been following this column for a while and cannot disagree. I am most amused by this columnists simplistic and infantile rants about the coach. Each loss somehow seems to be DJ's fault. Either he starts the wrong goalie, plays one of the useless defensemen too much, assembles the wrong line combinations, or simply stands facing the wrong direction during the national anthems. While most agree DJ will never be contemplated as a candidate for the Adams trophy, these senseless ongoing tantrums prove comical.

The reason the team fails to improve is an utter lack of top-tier talent. The most consistent forward is rated as a second liner, the inept defensive continues to regress, and the Sens best goalie would dress for the AHL affiliate with most franchises.

I agree DJ is not an valued asset, but I suggest the columnist should recognize drafting and developing players is not the job of an NHL coach. I also agree DJ should be replaced, but to most it is obvious even Eggman, Coach Q, or any coach of the columnists choosing cannot magically vault this insipid roster into playoff contention. Success will require much more than a coaching change; an overhaul of the entire program is necessary.

Unfortunately, its easier for a child to believe simplistic fallacies and blame besieged tyrants than it is to understand and accept the truth.
- Jackie Daytona

They have top tier talent. It's just young. There D will be a lot better very soon. They will need a goalie but it's too soon to tell whether or not they have one in the organization. Not only do they not need a complete overhaul but doing so would be an unmitigated disaster. There is absolutely no need for hysterics.

They have top tier talent. It's just young. There D will be a lot better very soon. They will need a goalie but it's too soon to tell whether or not they have one in the organization. Not only do they not need a complete overhaul but doing so would be an unmitigated disaster. There is absolutely no need for hysterics.
- Whatisavailable

Keep in mind this poster has said Chabot is not a top 4 dman and endless other takes that sound like a 5 year old is typing it out. Thankfully, this fool has stayed away for months because she brings nothing of substance to the table. I recall a few on here destroying her take on the Sens when she clearly hadn't watched a Sens game all year due to her comments about the Sens lineup. Most Sens posters in here will just ignore. She's looking for a rise out of Sens fans. Probably a closet Leafs fan.


The moment she said developing young players is not the job of the head coach is when it definitely showed me this person has never understood the job of a head coach. Comical.

Great discussion! I will reply to everyone later today, let's keep it going as we all know DJ shouldn't be leading this team to start the season unless you all want mediocrity!

If Dorion and the front office want to show progress, it starts with the head coach. What better way to show your fanbase that you're serious about winning by replacing DJ with a competent NHL head coach.
- LawyerSens4Life

If you knew the amount of Sens fans that message me on IM on Twitter or on here on HB, all saying the same thing, you would be blown away. I would say the majority of the fanbase wants this.

They have top tier talent. It's just young. There D will be a lot better very soon. They will need a goalie but it's too soon to tell whether or not they have one in the organization. Not only do they not need a complete overhaul but doing so would be an unmitigated disaster. There is absolutely no need for hysterics.
- Whatisavailable

Wise words. Stay calm.

Love this team. Looking forward to returning with some comments as we begin the draft period and free agency.

But you keep coming back to read it, then make a comment in the blog. Showing all of us, you took the time to even post in a blog that you say is so awful. What you don't understand with sports journalism is that writers don't care if you like their work or not. As long as you keep coming back, which you proved to all of us here you continue to do. I wonder who is the spoiled child now to come off the way you do.

- LawyerSens4Life

I said I no longer read the blog posts. There are a few posters here that have intelligent things to say and they make returning to the comments worth the time.

The correct order of events would be to replace Dorion with a competent GM and for that GM to hire the new coach. That said, I'd be happy to see Mann promoted to take over the NHL team. It would be a low cost, low risk hire that should result in continued development of the younger players.
- SensFan25

I could see a new owner firing both at same time if Sens get off to bad start. I could even see the Melynk daughters doing it to send a message...but only if McGuire was still here. Who would replace PD internally as of right now? Do the Sens even have an assistant GM?