D.J. Smith Reflects on the Past, Present, Future as Senators’ Head Coach

The Ottawa Senators concluded their 2022-23 season with a 4-3 overtime loss in Buffalo Thursday evening. Less than 24 hours later, head coach D.J. Smith met assembled media for one final time prior to departing to his home in the Windsor, ON area for the summer.

Smith spoke on an array of topics from the Senators rebuild, where he feels the club is presently while touching on the unknown of his future with the organization.

The goal for the Senators this season was to play meaningful games down the stretch. That they did, posting a 39-35-8 mark, missing out on the final Wildcard position by a mere six points.

While the club made strides, falling short left a bitter taste. But on the flip side, the young Senators group learned a valuable lesson on what it takes to become an annual playoff team.

“This should hurt. I’m not one for predictions because everyone is trying to get in, but this group is ready to hold themselves accountable and push themselves to be playing this time of year,” said Smith Friday at the Canadian Tire Centre.

While the Senators had a subpar 4-9-1 record in November, the team overcame the deficit and were driving to toward a playoff appearance until going 1-4-0 on a frustrating Western road trip in mid-March which opened in Chicago,

“You can look at every part of it. In saying that; December and January were exceptional months. When we got real close, that trip out West is probably what put us away – losing both goalies (Anton Forsberg/Cam Talbot to injury), and going out there with a couple of young guys with the injuries we had, that’s probably what put us away. But we can’t look at that, you’ve got to look at as a group these guys understand every point matters,” explained the Senators head coach.

“I think we can say this is a big game, and that’s a big game. The fifth game of the year is a big game, just the same as the 82nd game is a big game. And if you’re consistent and we look at the small – people always say process. The process is just to be better the next day to give yourself a chance. When you look at the teams that are in the playoffs every year. They do the same things all the time. This team has enough talent to be there. Now it’s going to be health, and just getting better.”

Completing his fourth campaign as head coach, Smith is under contract for next season with the club holding an option for 2024-25.

Coaching through the rebuild, the 45-year-old has had in pivotal hand in cultivating the Senators’ young core to where they are today.

“When you’re guiding this rebuild, you need to make sure their confidence is there. When a young guy loses his confidence, there’s no way you can keep progressing. On a daily basis when Brady (Tkachuk) was a rookie or Timmy (Stützle) and (Josh) Norris and these guys, is constantly reassuring them they’re going to be good players is part of it. Now they know they are good players. Now it’s reassuring them that the group is doing it right. And more times than not this year, that has to progress,” Smith noted.

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Two players who appreciate what Smith and his staff have done to further their careers are Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk. At the age of only 21, Stützle registered 90 points and was one goal shy of 40. Tkachuk reached a career-high of 35 goals and 83 points.

“A lot of the young players wouldn’t be where they are right now. He’s been so good for us. He’s just fun to be around too. He makes us feel really good, especially if you have a bad game. He’s always talking to you, trying to make you better,” said Stützle.

“He’s been telling me that I’m going to be a really good player since I’m young. He’s trusted me to put me out there in every situation, I’m really thankful for everything he’s done. And I think everyone in that room will say the same thing.”

Tkachuk commented, “From my experience, I wouldn’t be in my position if it wasn’t for D.J. He’s given me so many opportunities to become the player I am, but also the person and leader that I am. He’s been a huge influence. He’s given me so much opportunity. Timmy said it perfectly, a lot of us young guys wouldn’t be in our positions if it wasn’t for him. I believe he’s the coach for us. We all love playing for him. He makes our team just that much better. I firmly believe 100% that we have all the belief in him that he’s the coach for us.”

Smith appreciated his players’ ringing endorsement, “Well I appreciate that by them. Now my job is to push to them to get them into the playoffs. If the new ownership deems that I’m the guy to do it, now everything changes. Just guiding young guys is one thing, pushing them to make the playoffs is a whole other step. The good thing is I was with Toronto when they had Mitch Marner and Auston Matthew and those guys, and I’ve seen them take that step. These guys know what I expect from them. They played important games. They understand what every point means to know how to win.”

Smith touched on other players that exceeded expectations this season in his eyes, telling Full Press Hockey, “Derick Brassard, the even-strength goals that he scored. He was a plus player. Claude Giroux scored 35 goals, a plus player. (Mark) Kastelic at the end really came on. He showed some skating, showed some touch. I thought (Tyler) Kleven coming in. I thought (Erik) Brannstrom took another step this year, plus player. These are guys that listened, were dialled in.”

Now that the season is over, Smith will join Team Canada’s staff for the IIHF World Championship being held in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia May 12-28 as an assistant coach to Andre Tourigny. Smith will be seeking a Gold medal after bringing home Silver last May.

One thing Smith noted, while the Senators are on the rise, all positions will be reviewed by new ownership when the Senators are eventually sold, and his future with the organization isn’t guaranteed.

“I know that I did my best. I know that I did it for not only the organization but for the city, but for the players that are under me. My job is to make them better. I feel I made some guys better. Whatever happens, happens. If I get an opportunity I’m going to do my best. I believe wholeheartedly in this group. We’re ready to go to the next level. I think without injuries, we’re probably there now. I hate using that as an excuse, but we just had so many. I’m going to go the Worlds, and I’m going to learn. If they tell me I can’t coach here, I’ll go somewhere else. I’d like to coach as long as I can coach.”