Kevin Francis: Top 5 Sens head coaches of all time!

Liked Paul McLean when he was an assistant coach with Detroit as well!

Pretty good list - Rick Bowness was there a few years too early, but is overall a very good coach as well. Murray is the right choice at #1... Martin was a good coach, right up until the point when the other team figured out how to beat his system. MacLean's post-game interview after the "player 81" incident was like something out of a psychology masterclass, especially the repeated emphasis of it being a suicide pass from "player 61". I've never seen a head coach do a more effective job of completely disrupting another professional sports team... the Canadiens essentially forgot they were playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs beyond that point.

Great read.

A whole column could be devoted to Paul McClean and the Michel Therrien melt down into total lunacy.

On the larger themes of coaching, I have never believed the Dorion/Smith combination as being the problem. Ownership forced some really bad choices resulting in a roster that was simply incapable of competing.

So, most folks now think the Dorion "problem" has been fixed. How does the Smith "problem" get fixed?

Subject to the addition of a top 4 Dman, I believe the Ottawa roster will be very competitive this year. Too much is riding on this season. I think it would be gross negligence to go into training camp without the addition of another top 4 Dman. Sens will probably overpay. However the addition of the right Dman would give them a top 4 D group fully capable of supporting their top 6 forwards.

If the Sens gain 12 points from the first 10 games most of the criticism of Smith will have disappeared. But, if they are under 10 points, calls for his dismissal will intensify.

Calls for his dismissal or his outright dismissal?

Dorion wants success this year he isn't about to let DJ Smith stop that.

Even without acquiring another top 4 Dman. Even if the Top 4 is Thompson-Chabot, Sanderson-Zub and they still have a lousy start with the their current forward group I would reckon DJ Smith gets sacked.

This is a really interesting one because of the timeline. I still think the best coach was Paul McLean, but he seems to have some Torts energy in terms of nobody wanting to be taskmastered for more than 5 minutes. Unlike Torts though, he never won, so he never got that get out of jail card.

Entertainment value, for sure MacLean. Who can forget his doppleganger.
Amazing to think that the bug eyed walrus was a fifty goal scorer in the NHL.

Jacques Martin for me taught a culture of defense that I think still swirls around the halls of that rink. If you defend really well it creates offense. As teams have to be riskier and riskier in their attempts to get through your defensive structure and it allows a lethal counterstrike.

Someone said it last week. "do you really think the Board will allow Dorion to hire another coach?"

I don't think so. Bad start this season, they're both gone.

This is a really interesting one because of the timeline. I still think the best coach was Paul McLean, but he seems to have some Torts energy in terms of nobody wanting to be taskmastered for more than 5 minutes. Unlike Torts though, he never won, so he never got that get out of jail card.
- AdamFrench

Very few coaches can get away with the Torts model today.

Listening to the Colorado and Tampa Bay coaches during the Stanley Cup finals was revealing. They sounded like cheerleaders offering psychological and strategic support.

Never speak publicly in negative terms about individual players when the team experiences a negative outcome. Go out of their way in taking the heat for team losses. Always appear to defer to the on ice leadership as what really matters when the team has a positive result.

Entertainment value, for sure MacLean. Who can forget his doppleganger.
Amazing to think that the bug eyed walrus was a fifty goal scorer in the NHL.

Jacques Martin for me taught a culture of defense that I think still swirls around the halls of that rink. If you defend really well it creates offense. As teams have to be riskier and riskier in their attempts to get through your defensive structure and it allows a lethal counterstrike.

Someone said it last week. "do you really think the Board will allow Dorion to hire another coach?"

I don't think so. Bad start this season, they're both gone.
- Octavarium

No. The next GM will hire a new coach. We will not see a new GM until a new ownership structure comes into being. If the Sens start bad and there is a decision to replace Smith it will only be on an interim basis.

If the Sens have a good season and make the playoffs there is still a good chance that both Dorion and Smith are moved on by a new ownership group.

So, most folks now think the Dorion "problem" has been fixed. How does the Smith "problem" get fixed?
- spatso

Babcock is available now!

Calls for his dismissal or his outright dismissal?

Dorion wants success this year he isn't about to let DJ Smith stop that.

Even without acquiring another top 4 Dman. Even if the Top 4 is Thompson-Chabot, Sanderson-Zub and they still have a lousy start with the their current forward group I would reckon DJ Smith gets sacked.
- TDBSenatoR

Letting DJ go is Dorions final move. If they struggle early, he will do it quickly, just to prove he is charge and try to save his own job at the end of the year.

And it will be the right move if this team gets off to another slow start.

Fun post. I always felt Boucher and MacLean got a bit of a raw deal in their dismissals. I liked both behind the bench, but you can certainly make the argument that their style does not bod well for long term tenure.

Hard to disagree with Murray as #1. His passion and hockey IQ will be hard to replicate.

I’m surprised Martin never got another head coaching gig.

Jacques Martins all day, baby!

Pretty good list - Rick Bowness was there a few years too early, but is overall a very good coach as well. Murray is the right choice at #1... Martin was a good coach, right up until the point when the other team figured out how to beat his system. MacLean's post-game interview after the "player 81" incident was like something out of a psychology masterclass, especially the repeated emphasis of it being a suicide pass from "player 61". I've never seen a head coach do a more effective job of completely disrupting another professional sports team... the Canadiens essentially forgot they were playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs beyond that point.
- khawk

Ottawa has been very fortunate to have some very good coaches over the years. But agreed on McLean....he was living rent free in Therien's head lol

Great read.

A whole column could be devoted to Paul McClean and the Michel Therrien melt down into total lunacy.

On the larger themes of coaching, I have never believed the Dorion/Smith combination as being the problem. Ownership forced some really bad choices resulting in a roster that was simply incapable of competing.

So, most folks now think the Dorion "problem" has been fixed. How does the Smith "problem" get fixed?

Subject to the addition of a top 4 Dman, I believe the Ottawa roster will be very competitive this year. Too much is riding on this season. I think it would be gross negligence to go into training camp without the addition of another top 4 Dman. Sens will probably overpay. However the addition of the right Dman would give them a top 4 D group fully capable of supporting their top 6 forwards.

If the Sens gain 12 points from the first 10 games most of the criticism of Smith will have disappeared. But, if they are under 10 points, calls for his dismissal will intensify.
- spatso

So true....I could easily write a full piece on the McLean/Therien coaching battle....

I think PD knows he has to fix the defense still.....or DJ wont have the best roster possible going into a huge year. I don't think fans would mind if PD overpays....they have stockpiled prospects and draft picks for years....the time is now....lets face it, Chabot was adamant about how the defense needed to be upgraded in the off season, yet here we are as we enter September and nothing has been done!

Calls for his dismissal or his outright dismissal?

Dorion wants success this year he isn't about to let DJ Smith stop that.

Even without acquiring another top 4 Dman. Even if the Top 4 is Thompson-Chabot, Sanderson-Zub and they still have a lousy start with the their current forward group I would reckon DJ Smith gets sacked.
- TDBSenatoR

When you look back at when McLean was fired, he started 11-11-5 that year....way more pressure on DJ than on PD.

This is a really interesting one because of the timeline. I still think the best coach was Paul McLean, but he seems to have some Torts energy in terms of nobody wanting to be taskmastered for more than 5 minutes. Unlike Torts though, he never won, so he never got that get out of jail card.
- AdamFrench

Yes very true....had he won a few rounds...then he might've had a longer shelf life. But Spezza and a few others didn't get along with him as his time ran out in Ottawa.

Kevin.
Did get anything out of PD's interview?
Say that you didn't already know?

I'm also surprised Martin never got another coaching gig. I think he'd be great with the team we have now, as I felt he always did a good job with young players.

I'm also surprised Martin never got another coaching gig. I think he'd be great with the team we have now, as I felt he always did a good job with young players.
- Panzer_IVA

he's like a Barry Trotz "light". His system is stifling defense. He doesn't let the horses run. The kids buy in because they get wins, but he was gifted some of the most offensive talents in Sens history and they kept winning 2-1.

You have to really like these comments. Tim Stutzke:


"I wouldn't say it changes me as a person. I would just say that I really see myself being a top player on the team and the last 35 games, I really showed that. I wanted to be the best player on the team. I got hope from D.J, and he really trusted me in all situations. I played some penalty kill at the end of the season. We wanted to build a full player, not just a power-play guy or an offensive guy. I want to be the guy that could play when the team pulls the goalie, who was going to be on the ice to defend the lead That's just how I want to be as a player. I never wanted to see myself as just a power-play guy who was terrible defensively. That was what a lot of people said about me because of my plus-minus. I wanted to change that and I think it helped me playing center. That was good for me."

Kevin.
Did get anything out of PD's interview?
Say that you didn't already know?
- Octavarium

Sad interview as always. You never get anything from his stuff on TSN1200.....I know for a fact from both people that inside the building at Bell Media and the Sens org, that PD instructs TSN1200 what they can and cant ask! That is 100% fact! He told them back in June nobody could ask him about the PM firing.....he only goes on with Steve Lloyd because he knows he wont get asked tough questions and know that Lloyd will follow what PD said. Notice that PD has never gone on with the morning show?! PD doesn't want to be asked REAL questions.

I was disappointed that he went out of his way to say Gambrell for the 4th line.....Kastelic then is destined for the AHL.....when he was far more productive than Gambrell in far fewer games and he actually hits! Go figure PD!

Fun post. I always felt Boucher and MacLean got a bit of a raw deal in their dismissals. I liked both behind the bench, but you can certainly make the argument that their style does not bod well for long term tenure.

Hard to disagree with Murray as #1. His passion and hockey IQ will be hard to replicate.

I’m surprised Martin never got another head coaching gig.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Cameron got fired because PD took over from Murray as GM too! Boucher and PD didn't agree on player stuff......it got ugly in his 3rd season....the 2 at each others throats and weren't talking at times.....just messed up!

Sad interview as always. You never get anything from his stuff on TSN1200.....I know for a fact from both people that inside the building at Bell Media and the Sens org, that PD instructs TSN1200 what they can and cant ask! That is 100% fact! He told them back in June nobody could ask him about the PM firing.....he only goes on with Steve Lloyd because he knows he wont get asked tough questions and know that Lloyd will follow what PD said. Notice that PD has never gone on with the morning show?! PD doesn't want to be asked REAL questions.

I was disappointed that he went out of his way to say Gambrell for the 4th line.....Kastelic then is destined for the AHL.....when he was far more productive than Gambrell in far fewer games and he actually hits! Go figure PD!
- Kevin Francis

💯 agree I rather Kastelic over Gambrell any day
He’s bigger and meaner and better offensive isn’t that what 4th line is about
Dorion just says Gambrell cause he traded for him didn’t he ??

I'm also surprised Martin never got another coaching gig. I think he'd be great with the team we have now, as I felt he always did a good job with young players.
- Panzer_IVA

Guys, he coached Florida and Montreal after he was fired in Ottawa! FL for 3 years, MTL he got fired early in his 3rd season.