I believe Zub is still not 100% healthy, so they probably didn't want to stress his body.
- PogBoi

I hope that's not true.

I really....really like Zub. He is very smart and defensive minded and this is a guy playing against the BEST players. I wish we could clone this guy and put him with Sanderson. Hamonic is not bad but it looks like the Sens don't have the horses behind Chabot which was my biggest point. Also with Forsberg, if he gets hurt, what will the Sens do? I think that's less of a problem still than the deployment of players and D

What you think happens first, OTT overpays for chych or DJ gets fired

What you think happens first, OTT overpays for chych or DJ gets fired
- Mithos

DJ gets fired.

How did Sanderson look?

Zub's minutes were being limited due injury. It was heavily discussed on all levels of media yesterday - keep up people. I thought the coaches did an adequate job spreading the minutes around.

The defense really was pretty good last night I thought. One little 2 minute stretch of chaos cost them the game. Anderson stood on his head.

I mostly had issue with the top six really. They are just too fancy all the time. Riddiculous back passes and spin-o-rammas. Just shoot it.

Zub's minutes were being limited due injury. It was heavily discussed on all levels of media yesterday - keep up people. I thought the coaches did an adequate job spreading the minutes around.

The defense really was pretty good last night I thought. One little 2 minute stretch of chaos cost them the game. Anderson stood on his head.

I mostly had issue with the top six really. They are just too fancy all the time. Riddiculous back passes and spin-o-rammas. Just shoot it.
- Octavarium

100%. It was basically a 2-1 road loss, where Zaitsev didn't play, and Forsberg had a .941sv%. This team is very clearly built around a two-line scoring attack, and they scored 1G, blew a 5-3 PP opportunity, and looked like they were believing their own press instead of just making high-probability offensive plays. And while early season chemistry might be a bit mercurial, the pattern of getting overwhelmed in the 2nd period really seems to be a persistent coaching issue. Glass half-full is that maybe we're 1/20 games into the kind of early-season disappointment that costs DJ Smith his job?

100%. It was basically a 2-1 road loss, where Zaitsev didn't play, and Forsberg had a .941sv%. This team is very clearly built around a two-line scoring attack, and they scored 1G, blew a 5-3 PP opportunity, and looked like they were believing their own press instead of just making high-probability offensive plays. And while early season chemistry might be a bit mercurial, the pattern of getting overwhelmed in the 2nd period really seems to be a persistent coaching issue. Glass half-full is that maybe we're 1/20 games into the kind of early-season disappointment that costs DJ Smith his job?
- khawk

Which coaches of note are sitting on the waiver wire to replace Smith right now?

Which coaches of note are sitting on the waiver wire to replace Smith right now?
- Bartacus

Two of the bigger names would be Claude Julien and Alain Vigneault. Hard to go wrong with either of those two. Even if not perfect, they at least grasp the basic concept of system structure, and managing game scenarios (e.g. line matching, planning d-zone faceoffs, etc.).

Two of the bigger names would be Claude Julien and Alain Vigneault. Hard to go wrong with either of those two. Even if not perfect, they at least grasp the basic concept of system structure, and managing game scenarios (e.g. line matching, planning d-zone faceoffs, etc.).
- khawk

Hard to argue with those guys. It would be nice to have a guy with legitimate NHL experience behind the bench. I’m not totally against a guy like Rick Tocchet either. Some NHL experience looking for a chance. I am over this team trying to find a diamond in the rough coach. Out of all the coaches since Bryan Murray, Guy Boucher produced the best results and he had the most previous NHL experience I believe. You have enough young players building experience. Don’t really need that for coaching.

I will have a new blog up on tomorrow for gameday as I am waiting to see if Murray is starting in goal! Great discussion everyone, as always!

Two of the bigger names would be Claude Julien and Alain Vigneault. Hard to go wrong with either of those two. Even if not perfect, they at least grasp the basic concept of system structure, and managing game scenarios (e.g. line matching, planning d-zone faceoffs, etc.).
- khawk

His name is Barry Trotz. Everywhere he goes he tightens a team up defensively by installing a system and structure, two things the sens need badly. Why the isles git rid of him....

What you think happens first, OTT overpays for chych or DJ gets fired
- Mithos

Good question. I think Chychrun more likely to get done soon. DJ if the Sens aren't good by around mid-dec to mid-jan

My Top 6 Sens Defensive D-men

*Jake Sanderson will climb this list quickly

6. Dylan Demelo
5. Artem Zub (he is climbing the list fast)
4. Mark Borowiecki
3. Marc Methot
2. Chis Phillips
1. Anton Volchenkov

Jason Smith is actually my favorite - but I was a huge fan when he was the captain of the oilers

My Top 6 Sens Defensive D-men

*Jake Sanderson will climb this list quickly

6. Dylan Demelo
5. Artem Zub (he is climbing the list fast)
4. Mark Borowiecki
3. Marc Methot
2. Chis Phillips
1. Anton Volchenkov

Jason Smith is actually my favorite - but I was a huge fan when he was the captain of the oilers
- AlfieisKing

Chara?

seems Murray is dealing with groin discomfort, status vs OTT TBD

seems Murray is dealing with being too chicken to play, status vs OTT TBD
- Mithos

Fixed.

Fixed.
- HoweHatrick

Gods... Leafs fans are gonna lose their minds if Murray continues with last year's confidence blips.