As if 2020 wasn’t a big enough shock for everyone, the Senators made serious changes as a club. With the help of the late Alex Trebek, the Senators drafted German forward Tim Stutzle third overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. This was huge for the organization. They also decided to re-brand and bring back their 2D jerseys the fans have been asking for years, and let me just say, they are one of the best jerseys in the league.
The start of the season looked positive as the Senators dominated the Leafs with a 5-3 win that shocked many around the league. They wanted to prove people wrong and they did just that in Game 1. After such a great game, the Sens have been on a gut-wrenching losing streak. One that disappoints both management and the fans who are quickly growing impatient. Even more frustrating is the on ice product that the coaching staff is electing to dress each night.
Already on social media, fans around the world are calling for DJ Smith’s head after the regression the team is showing. Can you blame them? No. I don’t agree with the lineup DJ has been putting together. I am all for the Sens playing vets in the lineup but they are getting more ice time then the young prospects and not performing up to the standards expected by NHL veterans. We have the talent but he decides to go with what he thinks is right. As fans, we should trust our coach and our GM to make the right choices, but something just doesn’t seem logical in what DJ is doing.
Colin White was drafted 21st overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, alongside his teammate Thomas Chabot. He has shown in the years that he is ready to play the NHL full time. White has been scratched for several games so far and many fans are questioning DJ. When White did play, he’s shown he deserves to be in the lineup full-time. His speed and constant scoring chances (which he does need to start burying) provided that much-needed offence for this struggling team. Another player, Tim Stuztle needs to start on the first power play unit instead of Dadonov, who seems to take his sweet time with the puck without creating much in the way of chances. Stutzle needs more ice time, full stop. He has been one of the most consistent players on the ice and his skill shows that. There are so many changes that need to be done, if they don’t, I don’t see DJ being behind the Senators bench for that much longer.
Remember one thing, if a team is not having success, the coach is always the first to go. What Sens fans have to remember is that they are early in a rebuild and Rome wasn’t built in one day (despite what hyperbolic headlines might tell you). The Senators are going to be a great team in the future but the one word we need to remember when watching their play this season, is patience. Something that is becoming increasingly hard to have if there aren’t fundamental changes in who the staff put out on the ice.
-Alicia Scodeller
Twitter: @aliciascodeller