Player Discussion Brendan Smith

[bl02]

Really wasn't sold on the Smith signing mostly due to his cap hit and unfortunately it seems like we should have listened to Red Wings fans. We were lucky to acquire Smith when we did but I don't think we can expect to see that level of play from him anytime soon. The scary part now is that we have a 4.35 million dollar defenseman sitting on the bench and we have a bunch of RFAs to resign.

It is scary getting that kind of a cap hit with someone who isn't even helping the team out right now, but what we saw in the playoffs couldn't be a fluke. He was a beast. Combination of the nastiness and toughness of jeff beukaboom but with skill and good skating ability.
Not excusing it at all, but maybe during regular season he has these stretches where he looks disinterested and makes lots of mistakes? Hopefully he did come in to this season out of shape but that part is fixable.

 

[Captain Lindy]

Here is an article; update on the Smitty situation:

Brendan Smith’s marriage with the Rangers is off to a rocky start

If you look at the four-year, $17.4 million commitment Brendan Smith and the Rangers made to one another on June 28 as a kind of marriage, it is safe to say that neither party thought the “for worse” part of it would arrive so soon.

 

[Ori]

It`s still too early, but no doubts that he was out of shape beginning of this season. And I think it`s too easy to blame his wedding, but some guys mentioned he has a history to not perform after he has signed a contract with *Detroit Red Wings earlier in another forum section here - so who knows what is going on. It`s a modified contract as well.

 

[Miamipuck]

It`s still too early, but no doubts that he was out of shape beginning of this season. And I think it`s too easy to blame his wedding, but some guys mentioned he has a history to not perform after he has signed a contract with Devils earlier in another forum section here - so who knows what is going on. It`s a modified contract as well.

Devils?

 

[Ori]

Devils?

No Detroit, typo.

 

[Miamipuck]

No Detroit, typo.

Hahah I thought one of us went nuts for a second.

 

[Inferno]

Hahah I thought one of us went nuts for a second.

not mutually exclusive.

 

[nyr2k2]

We need to get him back out there soon. Put him out there with Staal. Limit the minutes if we have to. He's a good player when he's right and we need to get him back to that level. If we can get the Smith from past season back into the lineup the defense becomes considerably stronger.

 

[True Blue]

Just my view, but AV is being penny wise and pound stupid here.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Just my view, but AV is being penny wise and pound stupid here.

I absolutely agree. He needs to be playing. He is a decent enough solid enough 4-5 Dman that he shouldn't be getting scratched every night.

 

[torirose1998]

What is this..the 6th or 7th game he's been scratched in a row ? Its getting ridiculous. You don't keep benching a decent defensemen that we legit just gave a new contract to over the summer for 4 years, $17.4 mil.

 

[nyr2k2]

Knowing AV, he'll come in after we next lose. And not a game sooner.

 

[RangerBoy]

Brooks wrote Smith could have gotten more as a free agent. His agent was quoted in the article. Did the agent tell Brooks? Maybe the Rangers could trade Smith to one of those teams. Smith does not sound happy with the situation.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Hard to get the guy back in there when the teams winning, so I don't really blame AV for not forcing him into the lineup. Holden looked pretty bad last night if he has another shaky game I wouldn't mind bumping him to work Smith back in.

 

[TheTakedown]

the Staal-Shattenkirk pairing looks fine.

If Smith can get back into shape the only logical place for him is on the top pairing. Sucks but that's where he's going to have to play.

 

[Rangers in 7]

the Staal-Shattenkirk pairing looks fine.

If Smith can get back into shape the only logical place for him is on the top pairing. Sucks but that's where he's going to have to play.

shattenkirk has been playing with skjei not staal i believe but then again i could tell last night that the d lines are all jumbled right now and multiple pairs were being thrown out there last night

in an ideal world id be ok with smith playing with mcd

mcd-smith
skjei-shattenkirk
staal-holden/deangelo(when he gets called up)/kampfer

 

[Inferno]

Brooks wrote Smith could have gotten more as a free agent. His agent was quoted in the article. Did the agent tell Brooks? Maybe the Rangers could trade Smith to one of those teams. Smith does not sound happy with the situation.

nobody craps on AV more than me..but i have zero issues with Smith being benched..he's SUCKED.

I just dont care for Kampfer or Holden. Id rather have ADA/Pionk/Graves play with 1 of the 2 former.

 

[will1066]

Shattenkirk has been with Skjei primarily, but I also saw the D pairings get mixed around. Staal has been with Kampfer, who has been fine as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Riche16]

A lot of this hinges on him being out of shape or not.

IF He came to camp not ready then I think AV has the right to keep him out of the lineup until he is ready. His play to this point has been pretty horrific. Now, Kampfer and Holden aren't much (if any) better but if they're in shape and he isn't there's not much to dispute.

 

[McRanger]

Smith was brutal early on and needed to work on his conditioning. I didn't have a problem with him taking a seat.

That said, Smith could have lost one of his legs over the summer and he'd still be a better play than Holden and Kampfer. At some point he has to be allowed to play to get his game back.

 

[TGWL]

Playoff hockey (end of the season) is typically played a lot tighter than during the regular season. I actually think this benefits a guy like Smith to be more physical and not get lost on the rink, especially in AV's system. From years of watching him on the Wings, he's always frustrated me with his inconsistent play and I don't mean in the sense that he'll disappear on you, I'm talking about looking like a solid #4 and looking like he shouldn't be on the team.

 

[will1066]

Smith was brutal early on and needed to work on his conditioning. I didn't have a problem with him taking a seat.

That said, Smith could have lost one of his legs over the summer and he'd still be a better play than Holden and Kampfer. At some point he has to be allowed to play to get his game back.

What if, by freak of nature, he lost both his legs? Would he still play better than Holden and Kampfer?

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

As bad as he has been he still hasnt been as bad as Holden and not even as close to as bad as Kampfer. Even as a 7th Kampfer is bad. Smith should 100% be playing. AV is the f***ing worst and I will celebrate when he is relieved of his duties.

 

[will1066]

Please detail how Kampfer is bad. Aside from going to his Corsi. Use specific plays as examples. I guess drawing a retaliatory penalty after a solid hit that resulted in a power play goal against CBJ is bad? Or stopping a 2-on-1 in the Lightning game is bad? I guess that pass to Buch for what could've been his second goal, as he had Rask beat but McAvoy got his stick in to save the goal, is bad too. Is he bad because he's holding up a roster spot of your favorite player on the team or down at the farm? Give me some basis to work with instead of saying Kampfer sucks because it's a popular thing to say.

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

Wings fan who would just like to add some context on something that concerned me.

Brendan Smith has always struck me as a quintessential “all the tools, no toolbox player”. I am not surprised at all to see a slow start from him, he did it with Detroit annually, but I AM surprised at him supposedly not doing his best effort in terms of both fitness and self evaluation. Smith’s gifts bave always beem his physical tools, and while I haven’t watched him this year, I can only imagine how bad he looks without what was always his saving grace.

With that being said, there was some truth in the type of play you saw post trade deadline. Smith is the type of player who goes into the next gear come playoff time, always has. I am still incredibly relieved we didn’t re sign him, he’s worth 2.5 max imo, but I do hope he can rebound with you guys.

Smith’s game has always had warts, but when he does play well, he’s an x factor and plays like a legit top 4 guy with snarl. I think he’ll find his groove come April, as he always does. There are many things Smith lacks, but his compete level was never one of them. I’d chalk up him being pedestrian as a fitness thing that should be resolved shortly. The contract is still bad, but he is an NHL player

Please excuse typos btw, broken iphone screen lol