I know I don’t need to remind any Sens fans of the stats.
In each of D.J. Smith’s first three seasons as head coach, the Ottawa Senators have stumbled out of the gate - and that’s putting it nicely. In 2019-20, they went 2-7-1 in their first ten games, making it clear right from the start that they were gunning for those sweet, sweet lottery odds. In 2020-21, they started with a truly impressive 2-12-1 record, effectively ending their season before it began, which is unfortunate because by the end of the season they were playing at a level that would have put them in the playoff picture if not for that terrible start.