If he's not one of the late-season re-enforcements that Botts has mentioned, I will be shocked.Five goals and three assists in his last 6 games. Might be time to get a call-up.
If he's not one of the late-season re-enforcements that Botts has mentioned, I will be shocked.
So... let's talk Smith. Jack needs a defensive conscience out there, still. Smith is a high-energy, 3-zone player who has yet to get an opportunity in any minutes regular run with Eichel to see if he could potentially be the Hyman to Jack's Matthews.
I'm not impressed with the slotting by the brain trust, the limited usage, the idiocy of stapling him to Sobotka on his recall or tossing him into the Larry-Gus tandem in d-heavier rotation so his splits were 60-40 defensive to offensive zone start. Nylander is almost 70% offensive zone start, while Olofsson is a pleasant surprise at almost 50-50 (53-47 to the offensive side). I get that the purely offensive skills of VO and AN are higher than Smith's, but his use as a puck hound can and should be further explored going into next season. Yes, there is only one game left, yes, they wasted an opportunity to see if they had something... but there is a real need for a Hecht to Eichel's Briere.
Digging around in some primary point production at the AHL level for this year: Found Mr. Smith was 6th in the league with 34 in only 62 games. I'm not saying this is an indicator of NHL success, just that I was impressed when I found it. Going back a few years, I see guys like Ryan Carpenter, Derek Ryan and Frank Vatrano as being in the top 16.
Marchessault, Gourde, Connor Brown, Weal... interesting. Not a pattern so much as affirmation I guess.
Where in the lineup do you see CJ Smith playing? 4th line? Who would he replace?
Skinner - Eichel - Oloffson
Ferland - Cirelli - Reinhart
Nylander - Mitts - Acciari
CJ Smith - Larry - Okposo
Does Smith take the Girgs spot?
Replace Sheary, Pomer and Sobotka
Digging around in some primary point production at the AHL level for this year: Found Mr. Smith was 6th in the league with 34 in only 62 games. I'm not saying this is an indicator of NHL success, just that I was impressed when I found it. Going back a few years, I see guys like Ryan Carpenter, Derek Ryan and Frank Vatrano as being in the top 16.
Marchessault, Gourde, Connor Brown, Weal... interesting. Not a pattern so much as affirmation I guess.
Is he waiver-eligible next season? Or is he still exempt?
I would hope he's figuring into the NHL roster plans for next season.
He should've been the guy bringing offense to the Larsson line, without bringing down the defensive acument of said line.... ALL YEAR....
How we handled our forward options and groupings was bizarre all year.
Smith-Larsson-Erod is a modern NHL 4th line