Zack Smith's awesomeness cannot be denied

[JoeSakic]

Hell no...if you're going to **** things up might as well **** things up BIG!!!!

 

[starling]

His goal last night was huge.
He still sucks though.

 

[Micklebot]

How old are you guys? Did you guys ever watch Chris Kelly play? He was a REAL Third line Centre.

This guy. 4th liner Centre. Maybe if he starts producing on some points. He had a good first half a season 2 years ago and that was it.

To be fair, Smith is only 25 years old. Kelly didn't even crack the NHL until he was 25.

Lot of time for Smith to refine his game left, and while I've always thought Kelly was underappreciated until his departure, there was lots of people complaining about Kelly during his tenure here, so it's not like people are changing their tunes.

 

[Benjamin]

Smith is a 3rd liner. He just shouldn't be the best player on the 3rd line.

 

[Master Kush]

He's played well after a horrible start. Hard to blame him for a lack of points when he's been playing with arguably our two worst forwards this year in Greens and Neil.

 

[LuckyPierre]

Smith is now one of the better open ice skaters, and puck carriers on the team.

I didn't see that coming, at all. Props to him for turning a physical and mental corner.

His numbers don't show it, of course, given his assignment as a checker and the quality of his linemates. But he has definitely developed a latent ability to carry the puck into open ice and hang onto it.

 

[Nordic*]

Seriously, put Smith with semi-skilled players and he can perform great.


MacArthur-Turris-Ryan (1st)

Michalek-Spezza-Pageau (2a)

Greening-Zibanejad-Smith (2b)

Condra-Grant-Conacher (4)

 

[MarkZackKarl]

bump

goal scoring machine

 

[DrunkUncleDenis]

bump

goal scoring machine

#FirstLineCentre

 

[robsenz]

I sent him an angry tweet 4 games ago about how lifeless of a player he is (classy I know..lol)
... 3 goals in the past 4 games. Still not a big fan though, but at least the puck is going in for him

 

[YNWA14]

Smith is better than people give him credit for. He's a keeper.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Seriously, put Smith with semi-skilled players and he can perform great.


MacArthur-Turris-Ryan (1st)

Michalek-Spezza-Pageau (2a)

Greening-Zibanejad-Smith (2b)

Condra-Grant-Conacher (4)

Wot.

 

[Drama]

He is nowhere near Fisher because as far as I can remember Fisher never took as many dumb penalties and he was overall a smarter player which is what netted him more points overall. Mike Fisher is Smiths ceiling and I doubt he ever gets close.

 

[DrunkUncleDenis]

He is nowhere near Fisher because as far as I can remember Fisher never took as many dumb penalties and he was overall a smarter player which is what netted him more points overall. Mike Fisher is Smiths ceiling and I doubt he ever gets close.

I think Fisher is an excellent 3rd line centre and decent 2nd line centre. Smith is an excellent 4th line centre and decent 3rd line centre.

 

[Back in Black]

He's one of our better players, at least he hits & scores.

Let's hope Murray doesn't throw him in for a trade!

 

[Holdurbreathe]

I think Smith's offensive potential is being stymied because he doesn't get to play with offensive players. Look at when he was playing on the top line last year with Alfie and Michalek (IIRC). He had points in 7 of 8 games (again, IIRC) and really made that line work again.

He has all the attributes to be a decent offensive forward. Great at carrying the puck, good skating, high compete level, great shot and decent passing. He's also physical and good defensively his hard forecheck and boardwork opens up space for his linemates. I still think he'd be great on the top line with Spezza.

Smith - Spezza - Ryan could work wonders IMO. They all play at about the same speed and you have Ryan/Smith working the boards and creating shots while Spezza has more space because Ryan is dangerous and Smith is running around.

Smith - Spezza - Ryan
MacArthur - Turris - Michalek
Conacher - Zibanejad - Condra

Make it happen Mac.

You really aren't serious??

Did you not see the one game MacLean had Smith on a line with Spezza??

Every Sens fan should be acutely aware Ryan doesn't fit with Spezza.

IMO MacLean should leave the top six as it was last night.

 

[Holdurbreathe]

I think Fisher is an excellent 3rd line centre and decent 2nd line centre. Smith is an excellent 4th line centre and decent 3rd line centre.

Smith is a very good third line center being asked to play with two guys that are at best 4th line NHL caliber.

While Greening is physical and skates well, his puck skills are ZERO.

Neil brings very little other than his physicality, he handles the puck just about as well as Greening.

Of course both Neil and Greening will score the odd goal, but even a broken clock gets it right twice a day.

 

[LynxBud]

I've been loving Smith's game for the last while. Really feels like like since MacLean complimented his game, he's elevated it. He does take some dumb penalties here and there, but I'll take the good with the bad here. I think he's a legitimate third line center who needs some better wingers.

 

[starling]

Wtf was that penalty last night?
As dumb as it can possibly be.

 

[fringie]

I agree he is not as good as Mike Fisher, maybe never will, but he is good fit for a 3rd or 4th line centre role. He just needs to take less dumb penalties, and he got to be more consistent from game to game. Defensively, I found he still makes bad plays, sometimes could not get the puck out of his own zone. Smith needs to be more assertive with the puck and play with some more skilled players will help his offence for sure.

 

[83DIZ65]

Smith is not Mike Fisher......Yet. He is cut from the same clothe and if memory serves me is developing at a similar pace...took a few years for Fisher to become the beast we all remember. Give him time aside from the odd untimely penalty he is one of the more effective role players on the teamhe takes penaltys because he battles hard he battles hard because he gives a **** which is more then i can say about half the ****in team.... Give him time he will get there and even if he doesnt quite get there he will at the very least be a decent replica of Chris Kelly.....which i personally wouldnt mind.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

He just simply is not that great. 1 of every 15 games are good. Personally thought Winchester was the better smarter hockey player. I do admit that his bad play is partly due to having not much talent on his wings. But playing him against other teams top lines is so far out of his element.

 

[Sensinitis]

 

[Korpse]

Smith does the little things very well and that's why Maclean loves him. He is the best on the team for supporting his teammates in all three zones, skates with the puck well and gains the zone. He has been the 4th best forward on this team this year.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Smith does the little things very well and that's why Maclean loves him. He is the best on the team for supporting his teammates in all three zones, skates with the puck well and gains the zone. He has been the 4th best forward on this team this year.

It doesn't matter, if he isn't scoring people accuse him of suckage. The Greening-Smith-Neil line hasn't been bad at all for quite some time, but people continue to throw out face palms about them being together.