Speculation: D.J. Smith - Part II

[Clayonator]

Where are all the plebs calling for his head on a platter now?

 

[Sweatred]

Where are all the plebs calling for his head on a platter now?

Refreshing to have the noise about DJ and for that matter Wolanin, PD, and co turned wayyyy down.

 

[Micklebot]

Kids are developing nicely, hopefully DJ can makes some progress with the shockingly bad PP this offseason, because it's been terrible ever since he arrived. Between Stützle Batherson, Norris, Tkachuk, Chabot, Dadonov, Brannstrom, Mete, C.Brown, Pinto, White and Paul there's enough talent to not be embarrassingly bad, though adding some better options for the 2nd unit would probably help (maybe one of Sokolov or L.Brown makes next year's team). Hopefully we can get into the top 20 next year.

 

[GCK]

Kids are developing nicely, hopefully DJ can makes some progress with the shockingly bad PP this offseason, because it's been terrible ever since he arrived. Between Stützle Batherson, Norris, Tkachuk, Chabot, Dadonov, Brannstrom, Mete, C.Brown, Pinto, White and Paul there's enough talent to not be embarrassingly bad, though adding some better options for the 2nd unit would probably help (maybe one of Sokolov or L.Brown makes next year's team). Hopefully we can get into the top 20 next year.

Entries got better with Brannstrom. Hopefully Chabot doesn’t play the full PP next year.

 

[Micklebot]

Entries got better with Brannstrom. Hopefully Chabot doesn’t play the full PP next year.

Entries were up and down all year. Even early in the season when people complained non-stop about the drop pass entry there were times where it was working rather consistently even if it was predictable.

I'm hopeful that this year's PP failures were the result of limited practice time in a compressed schedule and the coaching staff prioritizing other issues to work on. Lots of new faces rotated through the lineup, so anything that's system based might be challenging.

 

[GCK]

Entries were up and down all year. Even early in the season when people complained non-stop about the drop pass entry there were times where it was working rather consistently even if it was predictable.

I'm hopeful that this year's PP failures were the result of limited practice time in a compressed schedule and the coaching staff prioritizing other issues to work on. Lots of new faces rotated through the lineup, so anything that's system based might be challenging.

I don’t mind the slingshot mixed in as a change up. My main point is I find Brannstrom runs the PP better than Chabot. Chabot is miles better offensively 5v5 IMO.

EDIT: I also never found EK ran a good pP but was the best offensive D 5v5 since Coffey.

 

[Micklebot]

I don’t mind the slingshot mixed in as a change up. My main point is I find Brannstrom runs the PP better than Chabot. Chabot is miles better offensively 5v5 IMO.

EDIT: I also never found EK ran a good pP but was the best offensive D 5v5 since Coffey.

Personally I prefer to have the PP run through the halfwall, I was hopeful that L.Brown would have filled the role but obviously that isn't panning out. Stützle might be the guy now, he has the creativity, the passing ability and the shot to keep the opposition honest. I'd love to see Tkachuk in front of the net, Norris Batherson and Stützle lined up across the middle and either Chabot or Brannstrom on D in a 1-3-1 formation. We done it a bit, and a good PP changes it up as the D adapts, but I think we have the pieces to be pretty effective in that formation.

 

[GCK]

Personally I prefer to have the PP run through the halfwall, I was hopeful that L.Brown would have filled the role but obviously that isn't panning out. Stützle might be the guy now, he has the creativity, the passing ability and the shot to keep the opposition honest. I'd love to see Tkachuk in front of the net, Norris Batherson and Stützle lined up across the middle and either Chabot or Brannstrom on D in a 1-3-1 formation. We done it a bit, and a good PP changes it up as the D adapts, but I think we have the pieces to be pretty effective in that formation.

2nd PP has Brann at the point with Formenton in front and Brown half wall, Daddy bumper and Brown trigger until Sharkolov arrives.

 

[trentmccleary]

Here are some season splits for the team. The improvement over the course of the year is drastic and undeniable. The first 15 games and first quarter away games were extremely painful.

In quarters

Period	GP, Record	pts	Pt/82	GPG	GAA	PP	PK	SF	SA
1st 14	14, 2-11-1	5	29	2.21	4.14	13.8	75.0	31.4	31.1
2nd 14	14, 7-7-0	14	82	3.07	3.57	15.4	74.4	32.5	32.2
3rd 14	14, 4-7-3	11	64	2.57	3.57	17.7	80.0	30.1	35.0
4th 14	14, 10-3-1	21	123	3.21	2.21	16.3	86.7	24.8	30.1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

In thirds

Period	GP, Record	pts	Pt/82	GPG	GAA	PP	PK	SF	SA
1st 19	19, 4-14-1	9	39	2.32	4.11	11.6	73.0	31.9	31.1
2nd 18	18, 8-7-3	19	87	2.72	3.33	18.0	82.0	30.7	33.7
3rd 19	19, 11-7-1	23	99	3.26	2.68	18.1	82.8	26.5	31.7

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Home vs Away

Period	GP, Record	pts	Pt/82	GPG	GAA	PP	PK	SF	SA
F14 A	14, 3_11_0	6	35	2.36	4.71	10.0	63.2	32.0	31.6
F14 H	14, 6_6_2	14	82	3.00	3.00	20.0	84.1	33.9	31.2
L14 A	14, 6-7-1	13	76	3.00	3.50	23.7	80.0	24.1	34.7
L14 H	14, 8-4-2	18	105	2.71	2.29	8.3	87.2	28.8	30.9

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

The excruciating first 15 games vs the rest of the season

Period	GP, Record	pts	Pt/82	GPG	GAA	PP	PK	SF	SA
F15	15, 2-12-1	5	27	2.13	4.20	13.3	74.1	32.1	30.8
L41	41, 21-16-4	46	92	3.00	3.07	16.7	81.2	28.8	32.6

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Also, shots didn't correlate to wins in any of these tables. Take "advanced" stats with a grain of salt.

 

[Dionysus]

Entries were up and down all year. Even early in the season when people complained non-stop about the drop pass entry there were times where it was working rather consistently even if it was predictable.

I'm hopeful that this year's PP failures were the result of limited practice time in a compressed schedule and the coaching staff prioritizing other issues to work on. Lots of new faces rotated through the lineup, so anything that's system based might be challenging.

One thing I noticed with Brannstrom on the PP was an increased pace to push the puck back up ice once it was cleared. Chabot likes to really take his time when regrouping.

Also like Brannstrom's quick decision making and passing in the offensive zone. Hopefully they share duties next season.

 

[Sweatred]

I think Brann is also a better passer, especially into a waiting one timer.

We don’t see the rushing/slashing Chabot when he’s playing 30 min a night ... I miss that Chabot.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[aragorn]

Kids are developing nicely, hopefully DJ can makes some progress with the shockingly bad PP this offseason, because it's been terrible ever since he arrived. Between Stützle Batherson, Norris, Tkachuk, Chabot, Dadonov, Brannstrom, Mete, C.Brown, Pinto, White and Paul there's enough talent to not be embarrassingly bad, though adding some better options for the 2nd unit would probably help (maybe one of Sokolov or L.Brown makes next year's team). Hopefully we can get into the top 20 next year.

The PP is much improved once Batherson got back in the lineup, he seems to be the straw that stirs the drink & makes the plays better than anyone else on the team. Tkachuk has his job in front of the net, Norris slots in on the right side circle for his great shot & Chabot controls the blueline.

Stutzle IMO is learning to also be a playmaker on the PP from Batherson on where & how to set up the PP. The only thing that is kind of missing from their PP is the big shot from the point, they don't seem to have that at the moment but Thomson has a big shot & we might see that next yr. They also need to improve their 2nd PP unit to be much more effective & that should come with better players next yr.

 

[BUCKLE UP]

My shower thought of the day is what does DJ stand for?

 

[cudi]

he keeps using this word but im not sure he knows what it means

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

he keeps using this word but im not sure he knows what it means

He's an elite defender but he isn't as good as Chabot, Zub, maybe even Holden.. So I guess we haven an elite d corps.

Not everyone agrees, naturally.

 

[armani]

he keeps using this word but im not sure he knows what it means

DJ is elite at defending Zaitsev.

 

[Emerica]

lol how can he say that with a straight face

 

[SensHulk]

Mike Johnson on the radio alluded to the fact that the sens have been disastrous to start the season 2 years in a row. Last year they could blame COVID and not having a full training camp + preseason. However this year, they had all of that and even some extended looks with Brady being out. So why we’re they so bad yet again to start the season? It can’t be that players didn’t have their feet under them or they’re suddenly buying in two years in a row. The coaches have to have them ready.

I think a lot of this is not only on DJ but also Dorion for giving him lots of useless pieces. There’s quite clearly a philosophical shift that allows the players to play looser or better once they’re seemingly out of the playoff picture or when DJ diverts from his stubbornness.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

DJ is elite at defending Zaitsev.

Elite talent evaluation would be nice

 

[Emerica]

Elite

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Elite

And that's including the last few games after the move with Chabot. He's been better there but before that he wasn't good with anyone.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

He seems to be a little broken up about Zaitsev and seems a little more somber generally.

 

[sens13]

he keeps using this word but im not sure he knows what it means

if this is how the coach thinks of zatsev this team is not going anywhere.
like wtf this is complete stupidity.

 

[Speatleysson]

Back in the day we would've said Zaitsev was 1337