Before last year, Smithson had six consecutive seasons with double-digit point totals.
Skille might have more scoring chances but if he's not converting, it's just an intangible, at the end of the day. Much like Smithson's ability to win faceoffs is an intangible. You could actually make a case that Smithson's intangible is more important, if anything.
i agree with your premise that, in a vacuum, faceoffs are more important than the energy/momentum of scoring chances if they are not finished.
that being said, the overall point you're trying to make is completely flawed because these two players are not in a vacuum. skille can contribute offensively, smithson cannot.
skille's statistics last year (on pace) were more than smithson had in any season, and he's clearly improving as a player while smithson is clearly on the decline. he had six points last year (that's abysmal).
if smithson could contribute the points he did in 07-08 or the goals he did in 09-10, then you might have some type of argument here. but if you think this guy has the ability to score 10 goals or 20 points after watching him during his tenure as a panther, we're clearly watching a different player.
this guy has absolutely nothing to offer in the offensive zone. and looking at his stats, he's also never been a + player in his career after 05-06.....playing on pretty good predators teams too. i don't put much stock into the +/- stat, but in this case, i do, as his numbers in this category are extremely consistent. the fact that he's a -4 through -9 in his last 6 seasons straight is pretty telling. lets say you're the best defensive player in the history of the NHL and only allow 10 goals scored while you're on the ice. but you're so terrible offensively that you score 0. you're still a -10, despite being a wizard on D, you're causing more harm than overall good to your team.
i know your're a big baseball fan too (i lurk on marlinsbaseball.com) - but hockey isn't a sport like baseball where you have "specialists" like LOOGY's that can contribute in only one area. having a good faceoff guy is great, as are enforcers, if they can play and contribute in all three zones. Smithson doesn't. Neither does Parros. and because of it, our fourth line is a complete black whole, regardless of the unfortunate soul that is paired with those two. that's a PROBLEM.
now, on the list of problems this team has right now, jarred smithson being terrible is probably in the 20's or 30's of things that need to be fixed, but my point is he's still a
problem. he's waiver wire fodder just like santorelli.
thanks, santos
