They're the Lowly Sens Until they Prove Otherwise
Photo: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
Written by: Luke Muise
After another disheartening Sens loss, this time to the Columbus Blue Jackets, I was going to start writing this right away. I decided to give myself the night to sleep on it instead, hoping that I would have some more calm thoughts about the team I invested far too much emotional energy into.
I do not. This is nonsense.
What are we doing here? Every game feels the same - like a cruel reality check that we as Sens fans will be pushing the rock of patience up the hill for all eternity.
This team still loses games in the same ways they have throughout the rebuild. Hell, they look the same skating around on the ice as they have for years. Even with the improved roster on paper they still play the same way on the ice - and they get the same results. I can hardly tell the difference between the Stepan/Zaitsev Senators and the Giroux/Chychrun Senators. That’s uhhh… not good, folks.
Then after every one of these losses, the post-game pressers sound the same. Same platitudes, same clichés, same excuses, same “we’ll learn from this and try to get better.” Enough. The Sens are supposed to be better already. On paper they are, and the cap hit reflects that, but the play on the ice and the repetitive post-game pressers betray that they’re just as used to this as the fans are. Mediocrity is the motto.
It’s clear that this is a very fragile group right now. Even if they start a game looking like the team they should be, they fold like a lawn chair as soon as their opponent starts to push back. How many games this year have we watched the Sens give up unanswered goal after unanswered goal? Other teams must recognize this - it doesn't matter if the Sens are beating you, if you can get one goal back on them they’ll completely lose their composure and melt into a puddle ripe for splashing. Will they push back on you? Nope. Once the spiral into oblivion begins, that’s it, you’ve won. Remember - they’re used to this.
If all of these points sound like an indictment of one very specific person, they should. DJ Smith is responsible for setting the team culture, strategizing the team’s play, setting the lineup, motivating the players, making adjustments in-game, and getting the most out of his roster. There are coaches in the league who would do horrible, terrible things to have the roster DJ Smith has, and he’s squandering it. The fact that the Sens are in the same position in 2023 with a cap roster as they were in 2019 with a floor roster is as clear an indication as possible that he’s so far past his shelf life that he’s making the whole team sick.
The players shouldn't be let off the hook either. There are way too many guys who are complete non-factors game in, game out. Domink Kubalik? Who is that? Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko? Josh Norris? Jakob Chychrun? Forsberg? The entire fourth line? Bueller? Anyone? HELLO!? Maybe a new coach would bring the players back to life, but we’re still not seeing enough from lots of the guys.
Then there’s Steve Staios. Look, we all know you were dealt a crappy hand as soon as you took your seat but you’re not going to win the pot if your only move is to check. At some point, chips need to be pushed on the table if you’re going to make the most of what you were dealt. I understand the idea that stability is the move after a period of turmoil, but trust me as someone who has been watching this team for years: the current results are stability for this team. You can't get much more stable than being at or near the bottom of the Atlantic division… again. It's been this way for ages now. Shake things up. It's not too late to turn the ship around, but something has to give, fast. Games in hand don't matter if you lose them all.
The fans’ frustration is quickly turning into apathy. We’ve seen this movie before. In fact, we’ve been watching it on repeat while strapped to a chair with our eyes pried open for years, Clockwork Orange style. We’re tired, man. The angry comments might be frustrating to people in the organization, but they indicate that people still care. They indicate that people are still invested. If things keep going the way they are, the anger will give way to acceptance, and acceptance will lead to silence. Silence is so, so much worse for a franchise.
One last thing to end my rant: I don't want to hear another fan or pundit say things like “Sens lose to lowly Blue Jackets.” Don't call other teams lowly. This is the Sens we’re talking about. The Sens are lowly too, until the whole organization proves otherwise.
