Senators Fire Coach D.J. Smith, Sparking Fan Frustration
The Ottawa Senators have fired coach D.J. Smith after 26 games into the 2023-24 season, following the team's fourth consecutive loss. Smith, who had been with the team for five seasons, was replaced by Jacques Martin on an interim basis. The Senators also fired assistant coach David Payne. The move comes as the Senators sit last in the Eastern Conference with an 11-15 record and struggle to show consistency. The decision was likely made preemptively to avoid growing discontent from the home crowd. Smith's tenure was marked by slow starts and defensive issues, with the team failing to make the playoffs under his leadership. Martin, a former head coach of the Senators, brings a fresh voice and hopes to replicate his success in transforming the franchise into a playoff team.