I really hope you forgot to use your sarcasm smiley.
Sarcasm? I thought he was telling the truth!
I really hope you forgot to use your sarcasm smiley.
Based on the intelligible parts of your post, it would seem that Smith is doing a fine job of hitting a fat hog, or a goalie as a substitute, quite regularly. On top of that he has 2 ES goals, 5 ES assists (3 primary, 2 secondary). Your admitted hatred of Smith is showing and preventing any objectivity. Wilson's lack of ES goal scoring so far is troublesome ... but he at least is getting on the scoresheet with 4 ES assists (1 primary, 3 secondary). Stalberg is very disappointing so far.
I will not be optimistic about Smith. I would prefer him be on another team or out of the league.
This guy is a T.U.R.D. and not even a polished one. He currently plays 16:30 to 17:30 a night so not enough minutes excuse, is gone.
Thru 14 games he has 2 goals this is a pace to have 12 by year end. His 5 assists are on pace for 40 assists. He also averages 4.8 goals per 100 shots. He now has played in 130 NHL games and has 20 goals and 35 assists.
In the last 134 games Spaling has had 28 goals and 27 assists yet most want to see him traded.
I fail to understand his performance has afforded him top 6 minutes. Then again he is but one problem the offense has. And because he is in the top few on the team in points that does not provide comfort to anyone. Heck the entire fanbase has become accustom to poor offense. To promote Smith as the offensive option for the team is very shortsighted.
25 goals would be wonderful ... but how many 25+ goal scorers are there across the league in any given year?
Smith plays 2nd and 3rd line minutes, yet you want him to surpass the level of the top 60 in goal scoring the past three full seasons?
'12-'13 there were 54 players that got 15 (projected to get 25)
'11-'12 there were 59 (Hornqvist was lone rep)
'10-'11 there were 53 (no one)
'09-'10 there were 58 (Hornqvist's 30 goal year & lone rep)
'08-'09 there were 69 (no one)
'07-'08 there were 63 (Arnott, Radulov)
'06-'07 there were 76 (Legwand, Arnott)
'05-'06 there were 80 (Kariya, Sullivan & Hartnell)
i think byrddog is trying to say people are expecting too much from smith. and that we have no legitimate top line threat and i agree. smith may grow into a consistent, scoring option for us. he looks good so far. id say he tops out at 55 points. a second line winger. im more worried about forsbergs development. he is the only forward we have that has skills to be a threat at all times for us.
We need the coaching staff to make Forsberg successful, plain and simple. I don't know how and I don't care, but if he just rides the bench most of the year, it's a failure by Trotz.
Smith is a fast rag doll pinballing down the rink. I'm always amazed when he scores. I like the kid, but he still hasn't lived up to his billing. I hope he catches on fire.
That 4th round billing of his?
All the press and talk from Poile and Trotz when they convinced him to leave college and come play on the team. They built him up like he was going to solve everything.
The fans did more to hype him than Trotz and Poile did. Smith was a guy had a good international tournament to get asked to leave school and go pro ... then he had a great first 10-15 games before reality hit and since then has shown flashes of good offensive hockey with periods of absence. This season he's putting up decent numbers and remains tied for third on the team in points.
We're doing a lot of the same things with Forsberg ... basing too much on prospect reports and international play and not giving the kid time to adjust the pro game.
Pretty much he is being Trotzed which means all offense is being sucked out of him. He will ride the pine or 4th line until he plays defense and abandons his offense game.
Pretty much he is being Trotzed which means all offense is being sucked out of him. He will ride the pine or 4th line until he plays defense and abandons his offense game.
Anyone listen to coffee with Coach this morning? Trotz spent a good bit of time talking about Forsberg, and why he is using him the way he is...and get this....it makes perfect sense.
Anyone listen to coffee with Coach this morning? Trotz spent a good bit of time talking about Forsberg, and why he is using him the way he is...and get this....it makes perfect sense.