Prospect Info: #46 Givani Smith, LW, Guelph (OHL)
- Thread starter Frk It
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The article actually mentions that he was getting the racist stuff before he flipped the bird at the Soo bench. It sounds like he'd been putting up with it for awhile. If there were guys on the other bench taking part in that stuff, getting flipped off is the least that should have happened.
Henkka
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Have they informed how Smith is projected for next season?
Griffins or Detroit?
What I've understood, he's quite physically ready player and would like to see him hurting opposite players already with punishing hits.
Griffins or Detroit?
What I've understood, he's quite physically ready player and would like to see him hurting opposite players already with punishing hits.
Have they informed how Smith is projected for next season?
Griffins or Detroit?
What I've understood, he's quite physically ready player and would like to see him hurting opposite players already with punishing hits.
Seems like the theme this coming camp is there will be a few forward and defense slots up for grabs by the young players.
newfy
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Kinda weird, hear nothing about Smith all year (or his junior career really). Then he flips off the bench and then theres a story about him facing racism in hockey right after as well. I'm not saying it was writtent o make him look better and take the pressure off the fact that he did that but it seems really odd
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Cyborg Yzerberg
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ChadS
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Well police escorts and personal security guards aren't exactly everyday things in junior hockey, so it's probably worth a story and some questions being asked.
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Have they informed how Smith is projected for next season?
Griffins or Detroit?
What I've understood, he's quite physically ready player and would like to see him hurting opposite players already with punishing hits.
I really don't see him in the NHL next year at any point. He needs a couple years in the A. I think he could turn out to be a nice depth player with a ton of strength and grit. I don't think there is much offense to his game, but he would bring some toughness.
Beyond improving his skating, I'm not sure Smith needs time in the AHL. Other than his skating, I think the biggest hurdle is that there is just limited roster space in Detroit right now. If we re-sign our RFA, we have twelve forwards in place for next season and that isn't counting Rasmussen and Svechnikov. One or two guys might get dealt this summer, but the spots available are still likely depth spots. At that point, I could see us keeping Turgeon or another Booth type signing to fill out the bench and let the rest get playing time in GR.
Frk It
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Not really sure what kind of articles you expect to see about 2nd rounders who have been hurt the majority of this year.
ShelbyZ
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I'd imagine Smith spends at least one full season in GR before getting sniffs at the NHL level. Obviously there's limited spots open (if they re-sign all RFA's and include Rasmussen and Svechnikov, you have 14 forwards), and if spots do open up, I'd bet guys like Pope or Turgeon might have the edge.
Even if he's good enough to play on the 4th line, I would imagine the team would rather see him go to GR and develop into more of a all around middle 6 guy that can maybe kill penalties and contribute on the PP, rather than just throw the body or beat people up for 7/8 minutes a night in the NHL.
Even if he's good enough to play on the 4th line, I would imagine the team would rather see him go to GR and develop into more of a all around middle 6 guy that can maybe kill penalties and contribute on the PP, rather than just throw the body or beat people up for 7/8 minutes a night in the NHL.
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newfy
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I've been on this site for 8 years and have over 7500 posts. I'm one of the more active posters here in regards to watching prospects and reporting back on how they've done (especially the OHL). So no, youre probably full of shit if youre going to pretend theres been much news about Smith at all
I dont know whats wrong with that. People who have watched Smith know how undisciplined he is. Going into a game 7 where he might have been Kitcheners best player in the series he flipped off the bench and got himself suspended from a game 7. Thats complete maturity issues right there.
He needs to get himself more under control or when hes in the NHL spending 150 minutes in the penalty box fans are going to start to dislike him. I'm one of the biggest tough/gritty hockey supporters on this site but I dont support stupidity and bad penalties either.
Frk It
Mo Seider Less Problems
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What news are you expecting to see on Smith? Never really been a high scorer in the OHL and it's not like he was a 1st round pick or anything.
Story seems very plausible to me, not like Givani Smith is someone who is facing insurmountable pressure and needs an article to lighten the load. Kitchener didn't even give up a 1st rounder to get him, and he is maybe like their 4th best player.
I guess the problem here is that you've dug yourself a hole and are perfectly content staying in it. Discrediting a story citing racism against a black hockey player because it just seems conveniently timed? Everyone knows damn well that hockey is far from being inclusive. But yeah, let's ignore the problems that have plagued the sport and talk poorly about how a player responded to being insulted and threatened in a way that most of us have no way to comprehend.
You want to say he needs time to in GR to mature and cut down on taking penalties, then just say it plainly. Don't make bullshit attempts to tie this back to standing up for himself as a player and human being.
Didn't his agent say something along the lines of "it's something he's dealt with in the past but didn't want it to become a narrative surrounding him."
I mean I'm sure he has, I've heard plenty of ignorance directed at individuals for no reason, not surprising considering the style of play Givani has.
I mean I'm sure he has, I've heard plenty of ignorance directed at individuals for no reason, not surprising considering the style of play Givani has.
If any of the racist stuff was consistently coming from opposing players, my biggest problem would be with all of the adults who let it slide than with Smith eventually reacting to it. I don't disagree that Smith has to control himself better regardless of the crap thrown his way, but this is a kids league filled with 16-21 year olds. They are kids (sorry to any posters in that age range, but you're a kid 
) and the adults involved should have thrown cold water on it the moment it started popping up.
There are always going to be fans who do/say ridiculously stupid things, and you can only police them so much. Players, coaches, etc. are a different story. Then again, in the NHL we had a guy who had to be warned off trying to lick people. So, maybe I've overestimated the maturity of the sport as a whole.
) and the adults involved should have thrown cold water on it the moment it started popping up.There are always going to be fans who do/say ridiculously stupid things, and you can only police them so much. Players, coaches, etc. are a different story. Then again, in the NHL we had a guy who had to be warned off trying to lick people. So, maybe I've overestimated the maturity of the sport as a whole.
newfy
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I've literally never said anything about discrediting the story, I actually fully believe everything in it is true. Did you read my post? I said its just weird how you hear nothing about him and then boom, all of a sudden hes taking a suspension in the biggest game of his OHL career and a massive story about racism comes out within a matter of a week. I'm saying its a weird coincidence, nothing more. You seem pretty quick to be going from "funny coincidence" like I thought to me completely burying my head in the sand and ignoring a problem that has plagued the sport. Take your foot off the gas there turbo..
Also, I must've missed where him flipping off the bench was done because of racist remarks. Has that been said anywhere? I was under the impression he just did it, because he has done a lot of dumb undisciplined stuff in his career. I did say it plainly, youre just having trouble reading. Can you point out where him flipping off the bench was done because of a racial remark towards him?
Shaman464
No u
Seems like a career AHLer, but by NO MEANS deserves any of the racist shit he gets. Anyone who discriminates or insults him because of his race doesn't deserve to be near this great sport.
Killerjas
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He's a bottom six player right now. He'll likely be in Grand Rapids for another two seasons.
He's not even playing every game though, and producing next to nothing as a bottom six guy, he could probably be in the ECHL to at least try and get him going.
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