Zack Smith

[ChocolateLeclaire]

Has a player ever become more expendable on a roster than Zack Smith?

When he entered the league, he had all the makings of being a perfect 3rd line center. He could hit, he could skate with some speed, he was defensively aware, he could agitate and he exhibited a nice scoring touch with a good slapshot.

Now...he's the definition of comfortable. He doesn't hit anymore. He doesn't draw penalties, just takes them (usually at inopportune times) and he doesn't contribute offensively at all. This season, even his defensive play has suffered.

What happened to this guy?!?

Click to read more...

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Has a player ever become more expendable on a roster than Zack Smith?

When he entered the league, he had all the makings of being a perfect 3rd line center. He could hit, he could skate with some speed, he was defensively aware, he could agitate and he exhibited a nice scoring touch with a good slapshot.

Now...he's the definition of comfortable. He doesn't hit anymore. He doesn't draw penalties, just takes them (usually at inopportune times) and he doesn't contribute offensively at all. This season, even his defensive play has suffered.

What happened to this guy?!?

Hes lazy.

 

[HSF]

he isn't lazy he just lacks the hockey IQ like Greening

 

[Benjamin]

Looks like the team, or maybe its just himself, is trying to make him a defensive specialist instead of an agitator.

Not a fan.

 

[Icelevel]

wanted him gone last 2 years

 

[lafite]

Smith is a very good 3rd or 4th line centre which is what he has always been with this team. He is not offensively talented enough to be a top 6 centre. The problem with this team is not guys in the bottome 6, it is having a very good 2nd line promoted to 1rst line, and a patchwork 2nd line with a revolving door. The idea that Zibby is a potential 1rst line centre is a long shot, and a long way away. The future looks bright for this team, but it is the future, not now.

 

[blahblah3]

Has a player ever become more expendable on a roster than Zack Smith?

When he entered the league, he had all the makings of being a perfect 3rd line center. He could hit, he could skate with some speed, he was defensively aware, he could agitate and he exhibited a nice scoring touch with a good slapshot.

Now...he's the definition of comfortable. He doesn't hit anymore. He doesn't draw penalties, just takes them (usually at inopportune times) and he doesn't contribute offensively at all. This season, even his defensive play has suffered.

What happened to this guy?!?

His growth stopped as soon as he was chained to Neil. He got lazy, true, but his hockey IQ is very good. You can't keep both Neil and Smith so trade one. I would rather keep Smith.

 

[Sensinitis]

Looks like the team, or maybe its just himself, is trying to make him a defensive specialist instead of an agitator.

Not a fan.

Just out of curiosity, who are you a fan of on the team other than Karlsson?

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Smith is a very good 3rd or 4th line centre which is what he has always been with this team. He is not offensively talented enough to be a top 6 centre. The problem with this team is not guys in the bottome 6, it is having a very good 2nd line promoted to 1rst line, and a patchwork 2nd line with a revolving door. The idea that Zibby is a potential 1rst line centre is a long shot, and a long way away. The future looks bright for this team, but it is the future, not now.

to be a very good 3rd line center.. he would have to be at the very top of his game.. night in night out. the guy is a fourth line center. at most.

 

[Benjamin]

Just out of curiosity, who are you a fan of on the team other than Karlsson?

Turris, MacArthur, Zibanejad, Chiasson, Stone, Hoffman, Lazar, Condra, Ceci, Gryba, Boro, Lehner, Anderson.

In different of: Ryan, Cowen, Wiercioch, Legwand, Methot

Don't like the rest.

 

[Derivation]

He's a good 4C but Stache sets him up for failure by icing him with offensive talent. Keep him at 4C or if Leggers is 4C h'll have to be 4W or get off the team.

Lineup w/o Bobby R

Mac Turr Stone
Hoff Zib Chase
Mick Lazar Condra
Smith Leg Neil

 

[Lenny the Lynx]

Every time I see him on the ice my mind kind of turns off because I know nothing good is going to happen for the next 45 seconds or so.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Still a great 4th line center.

Anywhere above the 4th line and he's not so great.

 

[jbeck5]

He's terrible.

He's effective when he's trying to hurt people, be it hits or fights. He's effective when he uses his body to cycle down low. He's effective when he mixes it up after the whistles.

He's not effective when carrying the puck through the neutral zone. He's not effective when trying to set up plays. Though his shot is ok, he's not a sniper and not effective shooting from the perimeter.

He's been doing everything he's not effective at, and nothing that he's effective at.

I don't know if I blame zack or the coaching staff, but he needs to either figure **** out quickly or get traded/waived. He's useless out there playing a finesse game.

 

[Icelevel]

Trade him, put in derek grant or pageau. team is better

if you listen to coach richardson talk about grant sounds like a perfect replacement and improvement

 

[Busboy]

His play has definitely fallen off. He looks less inspired when he plays.

I could see him as the type of player who really responds to certain types of motivation (like sticking in the NHL). As others have said, he looks comfortable out there and doesn't play with the edge he had when breaking into the league.

He needs to sit for a few games and hopefully that will act as a wake up call.

 

[jbeck5]

His play has definitely fallen off. He looks less inspired when he plays.

I could see him as the type of player who really responds to certain types of motivation (like sticking in the NHL). As others have said, he looks comfortable out there and doesn't play with the edge he had when breaking into the league.

He needs to sit for a few games and hopefully that will act as a wake up call.

Sitting him for a game didn't seem to do anything...unless you meant like 10 games straight like cowen. I'm down for trying anything at this point.

 

[Karlsson2Turris*]

He's the definition of a scrub.

 

[God Says No]

Still a great 4th line center.

Anywhere above the 4th line and he's not so great.

That's how I see it as well.

 

[bonehead]

I think many agree, he's become a very marginal player. I'd say he's a 13th forward or a poor 4th line centre. No skating or puck skills, not really good defensively, and not very physical. All that's left is past reputation.

I remember a few years ago - back when he was a decent, hard-nosed player - Smith received a big head shot (maybe a collision with a teammate?) that wasn't diagnosed as a concussion, and he returned to action pretty quickly. Never seemed the same.

 

[Six Assets]

he's pretty useless now. We have too many players like him.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I'd be very happy with Pageau taking his place

 

[StefanW]

I'd be very happy with Pageau taking his place

Yeah, I agree. Last year and the year before Smith played a better all around game. He looks more like he is going through the motions this year. Crap linemates don't help, but he has had crap linemates before without looking this bad.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

Yeah, I agree. Last year and the year before Smith played a better all around game. He looks more like he is going through the motions this year. Crap linemates don't help, but he has had crap linemates before without looking this bad.

Especially when those "crap" linemates look 100x better when he's replaced with Eric Condra.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

He became a product of his line mates.

This guy used to be the perfect bottom 6 forward.