So DJ Smith out.....Gallant in? That would work wouldnt it? (Admittedly don't know a whole lot about him)

So DJ Smith out.....Gallant in? That would work wouldnt it? (Admittedly don't know a whole lot about him)
- RyeDog13

I was coming to write something similar and see everybody else's pulse on that... 😉

So DJ Smith out.....Gallant in? That would work wouldnt it? (Admittedly don't know a whole lot about him)
- RyeDog13

anyone would be a improvement on Smith

anyone would be a improvement on Smith
- Mithos

Nobody is going to replace Smith in the current situation. I don't even think Dorion could make a change at this point.

The only thing that really matters is if new ownership decides to replace Dorion. I have always thought and still believe that a new owner will choose to want his own man in the GM chair. So, if we had some insight on a new GM, we might also have a feel for what a coaching change might look like.

Nobody is going to replace Smith in the current situation. I don't even think Dorion could make a change at this point.

The only thing that really matters is if new ownership decides to replace Dorion. I have always thought and still believe that a new owner will choose to want his own man in the GM chair. So, if we had some insight on a new GM, we might also have a feel for what a coaching change might look like.
- spatso

Dorion was at the game Quebec vs Gatineau. Apparently to see Roy and have a talk. I think Roy would be the perfect fit. He know how to work with young players. Know how to win the cup. Would be a good marketing for french community. The rivalry with Montreal would be something else

anyone would be a improvement on Smith
- Mithos

DJ will get the first 10 to 20 games next year. If they start again like they did the last couple of years, Dorion will fire him to try and save his own job. And I suspect new GM or coaching changes will be decided on by new owners.

Ownership has to be decided on by start of season, one would hope.

DJ will get the first 10 to 20 games next year. If they start again like they did the last couple of years, Dorion will fire him to try and save his own job. And I suspect new GM or coaching changes will be decided on by new owners.

Ownership has to be decided on by start of season, one would hope.
- GrimmdaGoalie

I think him getting the 10-20 games is what everyone is terrified of, he already proved he can't get them up and ready from game 1. I hope someone making the decisions realizes they need him gone before training camp starts.

I think him getting the 10-20 games is what everyone is terrified of, he already proved he can't get them up and ready from game 1. I hope someone making the decisions realizes they need him gone before training camp starts.
- RyeDog13

Yeah I don't trust Smith with this team at all. The 5 on 5 was abysmal, and he's in charge of that. He was the Leafs D coach under Babcock, and the Leafs D was their Achilles heel. But silver linings - Sens special teams were the bright side of the team this year, so give him credit for that right? PP is managed by Davis Payne, PK is managed by Jack Capuano. Players seem to love him and defend him, and they bear a lot of responsibility for his mistakes, but deployment, line matchups, line creativity - these are all sore spots for this team.

Dorion was at the game Quebec vs Gatineau. Apparently to see Roy and have a talk. I think Roy would be the perfect fit. He know how to work with young players. Know how to win the cup. Would be a good marketing for french community. The rivalry with Montreal would be something else
- Crosside

When Ryan Reynolds and his partner bought Wrexham they said the existing manager was very good and highly regarded but they still replaced him because their plans called for something more high profile. I think any new owner will want to put someone in control that meets with their vision.

Patrick Roy would certainly fit the image of somebody with the personality and profile matching up with a burning desire for winning and success.

Maybe Dorion was meeting with his future boss.

Hiring Roy, in any role, would be a public relations explosion.

Roy has experience as a player, a coach, a gm and as the owner of one of the most successful major junior franchises.

No thanks on Roy.
He rubs everyone the wrong way.
Ask yourself why he hasn't gotten another crack at a coaching gig while Coach Q is about to be reinstated and get offers.

Gallant might work. But really at this point it's the waiting game until ownership is determined. Reynolds, Snoop, The Weekend, Circque Du Soleil....who knows at this point.

What I do believe is that Smith will never coach in the NHL again after this.

Any predictions / preferences for the lottery tonight?

Would like to see Bedard stay out of East / Division. Also don't want Chicago to get him, wouldn't really be fair after so much success.

Any predictions / preferences for the lottery tonight?

Would like to see Bedard stay out of East / Division. Also don't want Chicago to get him, wouldn't really be fair after so much success.
- david22

Would be very much like PIT getting Crosby after Lemieux. Given that ANA won a Cup already, the sentimental pick has to be CBJ... who had a series of pretty underwhelming 1st round picks in the early 2000s (i.e. Klesla, LeClaire, Nash, Zherdev, Picard, Brule), and have already started to put together an interesting new young core including Kent Johnson, David Jiricek, Adam Boqvist, etc.

pfft rigged draft, sens stay 12th

anyone else notice how the SN announcers called CBJ moving to 3rd right before the commercial break, before daly even flipped the card for 3rd OA??? looks like to me they knew in advanced the rankings

pfft rigged draft, sens stay 12th

anyone else notice how the SN announcers called CBJ moving to 3rd right before the commercial break, before daly even flipped the card for 3rd OA??? looks like to me they knew in advanced the rankings
- Mithos

They did knew in advance, no controversy here.
But I'll never understand why we never see the actual lottery.

pfft rigged draft, sens stay 12th

anyone else notice how the SN announcers called CBJ moving to 3rd right before the commercial break, before daly even flipped the card for 3rd OA??? looks like to me they knew in advanced the rankings
- Mithos

I would imagine that it was nothing more than a delay on the feed so SN could insert their presence and transition commentary into the process. But a bonehead move by SN to let the cat out of the bag.

In 2020 the hockey world made a mistake on Lafreniere. He was highly regarded and rated higher than Jack Hughes out of the 2019 draft. Hughes was downgraded a little because he was undersized. Lafreniere had everything except he was not regarded as an elite skater. I am probably wrong, but does anybody have any concern over Bedard being undersized and not a particularly strong skater.

He is awfully small.
I dunno.
The hockey people seemed to think Shayne Wright was man....until they suddenly changed their minds.

He is awfully small.
I dunno.
The hockey people seemed to think Shayne Wright was man....until they suddenly changed their minds.
- Octavarium

Undersized, not a strong skater and going to play for a super bad team like the Hawks. Not going to be any place for the kid to hide.

Undersized, not a strong skater and going to play for a super bad team like the Hawks. Not going to be any place for the kid to hide.
- spatso

Fvck it's fun watching other fan bases meltdown. Keep it up. LMAO

Fvck it's fun watching other fan bases meltdown. Keep it up. LMAO
- GPHawksfan

An unexpected visit from a hocks fan.
Nobody is discounting his talent but when he "Lafrenniere's out" in a couple years....don't say we didn't warn ya.

You want DeBrincat back? They're about the same size.

Undersized, not a strong skater and going to play for a super bad team like the Hawks. Not going to be any place for the kid to hide.
- spatso

I'm not convinced he's anything close to a Crosby/McDavid generational talent, but it will be interesting to see how well he transitions to the NHL game. Personally, I think you'll see more of a Jack Hughes development trajectory, especially given the lack of supporting talent. He's more of a goal scorer than Hughes, but I'm not sure he's as quick/fast on his skates. It will be interesting to see who CHI can put around him on a line to maximize his skill set.

Jesus. One would assume everyone has to be 6'4 to have any value in this league. He's 5'10.
Sidney Crosby is 5'11. Wayne Gretzky 6 ft. McDavid is 6'1. A handful of centimeters, and this kid is built like a tank. His numbers in junior are bananas. Just look at the PPG and GPG comparables he matches with. I include Lafrenière to show a recent top overall comparable, obviously one that didn't work out.

Gretzky 2.89 PPG; 1.11 GPG
Crosby 2.71 PPG; 1.06 GPG
McDavid 2.55 PPG; .93 GPG
Bedard 2.51 PPG; 1.25 GPG
Lafrenière 2.15 PPG; .67 GPG

Crosby and Gretzky played their final junior in the QMJHL and OHA, both statistically easier to score in than the WHL (Bedard) and OHL (McDavid). That considered, there's a striking amount of parity across what we would label 'generational superstars'.

Bedard is no Lafrenière. Like Gretzky, Crosby, and McDavid before him, he has been hype for years. Years. He has been the unquestioned top pick for his draft year since he was 13 years old. They spoke of McDavid and Crosby with similar reverence before they could grow facial hair. Bedard has all the signs and numbers to be a generational talent, and his goal scoring prowess, in particular, sets him apart from other top picks his age. He's as close to a sure bet as you're going to find in this era, and I'd be shocked if he turned out anything but magical. He will earn many linemates more money than they deserve.

Since Bobby Orr won 8 in a row, here are the D-men that have won the Norris trophy 3x:

Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey, Chris Chelios, Ray Bourque, Nicklas Lidstrom (7)

Not a bad list Erik Karlsson is about to join

I've said it repeatedly.
Closest thing to Orr, since Orr.
We were lucky to get to watch him here for the years we did.

I think Forsberg and the kids are the best option to start the season. If it does not work they can look for a deal as the season progresses. I have no confidence in this management when it comes to signing or dealing for a goalie.

I really like the D going into next season. If the D is better, goaltending improves.
- spatso

Oh look...a cheap goalie option for the Sens....

Canadian Olympic G Tomkins terminates SHL contract https://www.tsn.ca/1.1958552.1683723520