Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Smithson to NHL contract

[Mimico]

He suits a 4th line roll much better than Smith. Can win draws and gets engaged physically.

 

[TMLeafer]

Not a real surprise. Someone who can win faceoffs (we need it!).

If this lack of centres occurred a few days earlier, Manny Malhotra would've been my choice, but oh well.

 

[getyourselfsomerest]

Mcclemment... our 2nd line center everyone...

Wrong. JVR-Kadri-McClement-Smithson. I'd imagine they'll trade for someone before making McClement the 2C.

 

[Quares27]

How about Greg Mckegg call up ? Why bring a old man up.. Watch Carlyle play him 12 minutes a night

Why would they call a rookie skill player to play on the 4th line between Orr and Mclaren? what does that add to the team?

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

JVR i repeat can no play Center and should not... It will ruin Kessel in every way who would be pass to as JVR is battling along the boards and against the other teams Top C?

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

I dont care if he is good at faceoffs or not .. We need a Offensive Center not some scrub 34 year old.... Plain and simple other teams make trades when they have injuries like this .. And we sign scrub 30 somethings to fill in for a few months... Playoffs what do you mean playoffs?

Bozak is back in a few weeks.... they're not going to blow their load on an offensive centre ...

 

[TootooTrain]

I dont care if he is good at faceoffs or not .. We need a Offensive Center not some scrub 34 year old.... Plain and simple other teams make trades when they have injuries like this .. And we sign scrub 30 somethings to fill in for a few months... Playoffs what do you mean playoffs?

Bozak will be back in a month. At which point we'll have a more reasonable depth chart center wise. It's not like we're living with our current situation for the entire year.

 

[Mimico]

How about Greg Mckegg call up ? Why bring a old man up.. Watch Carlyle play him 12 minutes a night

McKegg is restricted to a top 6 role, if not, he's useless

 

[pspot]

maybe we'll see

Lupul/JVR/Kessel
Kulemin/Kadri/Clarkson
Raymond/McClement/Ashton

 

[Eyedea]

I dont care if he is good at faceoffs or not .. We need a Offensive Center not some scrub 34 year old.... Plain and simple other teams make trades when they have injuries like this .. And we sign scrub 30 somethings to fill in for a few months... Playoffs what do you mean playoffs?

He's there to be a 4th line/PK specialist. The leafs already have a fair amount of offense still intact in the top 6, what they need is guys to take defensive zone draws. JVR certainly isn't going to take very many of those, and now neither will Kadri (for the most part) because they'll have McClement and Smithson doing that.

 

[p.l.f.]

He was +8 in 9 Marlie games

 

[zeke]

Previous 2 years:

C J.Smithson (34): 114gms, 4gls, 12pts, 224ht, 73bk, 55.8fo%, -0.671correlqoc, -12.0correl, 11:18 (82gms, 3gls, 9pts, 161ht, 53bk)

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

I have little doubt he will stick with team until Bolland is back- he's perfect for low minutes, 4th line role. His FO ability is desperately needed. I only hope he can skate A LITTLE better than Steckel.

 

[TootooTrain]

JVR i repeat can no play Center and should not... It will ruin Kessel in every way who would be pass to as JVR is battling along the boards and against the other teams Top C?

Kessel scored 30 goals with Matt Freaking Stajan. Take a chill pill.

 

[jmart21]

I dont care if he is good at faceoffs or not .. We need a Offensive Center not some scrub 34 year old.... Plain and simple other teams make trades when they have injuries like this .. And we sign scrub 30 somethings to fill in for a few months... Playoffs what do you mean playoffs?

You're just mad because you let yourself think we were pulling off a blockbuster and getting a 1C.



It's a good signing; he's going to bring the elements we'll miss most from Bozak and Bolland. I can't complain.

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

Bozak is gone for 8 games .. That is a significant amount of games to have Smithson doing nothing ... What if we go 4-8 or 2-8 or or worse 0-8

 

[Quares27]

Bozak is gone for 8 games .. That is a significant amount of games to have Smithson doing nothing ... What if we go 4-8 or 2-8 or or worse 0-8

What are you even talking about? Smithson is a replacement for Smith...

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

Kessel scored 30 goals with Matt Freaking Stajan. Take a chill pill.

He did not play with Stajan the whole year though to be fair.. And Center take the responsibility of shutting down the other center and need to make that defensive play so the wingers can float and work the boards.

Kessel replys on passes from the boards to JVR, he will not be there if he players center because he will work up the middle...

 

[Man Bear Pig]

David Steckel 2.0.

 

[Leafski]

Mcclemment... our 2nd line center everyone...

So Kadri was traded huh...?

 

[LeafalCrusader]

I think he'll be alright as the 4th line center. If he can play 5 minutes a night and win a few faceoffs I'd be happy.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

What are you even talking about? Smithson is a replacement for Smith...

THAT alone is a reason to celebrate; addition by subtraction far as I'm concerned

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

I was expecting more from a Team that is top in the East...

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

I think he'll be alright as the 4th line center. If he can play 5 minutes a night and win a few faceoffs I'd be happy.

Same Here lets hope Bozak injury doesnt linger which it looks like and hearing like it will

 

[TootooTrain]

He did not play with Stajan the whole year though to be fair.. And Center take the responsibility of shutting down the other center and need to make that defensive play so the wingers can float and work the boards.

Kessel replys on passes from the boards to JVR, he will not be there if he players center because he will work up the middle...

So Lupul is chump meat then eh? They were PPG players together, so yeah. No worries there. Kessel will be fine.