Injury Report: Smith "Lower Body Injury" - [UPD: Returned to AZ to consult team med staff]

[Mosby]

I'm very curious to see what the prices will be on goalies like Fleury and Bishop.

 

[RemoAZ]

Smith will be bought out in summer and AZ will deal for Fleury later this year once Murray returns or just after playoffs/prior to expansion draft. That's my call.

Why buy out one over-priced goalie to trade for another?

 

[hbk]

Why buy out one over-priced goalie to trade for another?

One actually plays and wins.

 

[Jormungandr]

One actually plays and wins.

Anyone can play and win for Pittsburgh.

 

[hbk]

Anyone can play and win for Pittsburgh.

Are you really of the opinion that Smith is a better and more reliable goalie than Fleury? Is this really even a debate?

 

[XX]

Are you really of the opinion that Smith is a better and more reliable goalie than Fleury? Is this really even a debate?

It's not. Fleury is a better teammate as well, by all accounts.

The combination of paying Smith his buyout + taking on Fleury might be too much to swing.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

Are you really of the opinion that Smith is a better and more reliable goalie than Fleury? Is this really even a debate?

It's not a debate. Goalkeeping can be debated by the numbers. Wins, save percentage, etc. I think that Fluery has it all over Smith for the past couple of years.

 

[Jormungandr]

Are you really of the opinion that Smith is a better and more reliable goalie than Fleury? Is this really even a debate?

I didn't say he was better. I watch a lot of flyers games and they play Pittsburgh a ton. Fleury lets in a lot of softies. A lot. He'd be ripped apart on this forum every bit as much as smith.

 

[hbk]

It's not. Fleury is a better teammate as well, by all accounts.

The combination of paying Smith his buyout + taking on Fleury might be too much to swing.

If Smith is out long-term again for what the 3rd year in a row do we even have a choice on a buyout? It sucks but if we ever want to have a chance to progress as an organization we need to move on.

If/when we move on it becomes a question of who is available and at what price. Fleury stands out as he has to be protected for expansion draft and the Penguins are not going to want to lose Murray. Bishop and Pavelac (not a big fan) are other options. Yes expensive. Not sure I want to go with a cheap alternative. Is Domingue ready or will he ever be ready?

 

[hbk]

I didn't say he was better. I watch a lot of flyers games and they play Pittsburgh a ton. Fleury lets in a lot of softies. A lot. He'd be ripped apart on this forum every bit as much as smith.

He's still better and more reliable than Smith. Yes, he lets in softies; especially against the Flyers and I cringe when I watch him in the playoffs. That being said he isn't permanently on the injured reserve list and he would stabilize our goaltending.

 

[Jormungandr]

It's not. Fleury is a better teammate as well, by all accounts.

The combination of paying Smith his buyout + taking on Fleury might be too much to swing.

A better teammate? I've never seen anything negative a teammate said about smith. It's actually quite the opposite. It's always positive. Especially from Doan. The only thing I ever read negative about smith is this "death stare" thing that has become a thing on this forum. Show me something to prove that it's actually anything more than a coyotes forum hfboards myth then maybe I'll jump on board.

 

[KG]

A better teammate? I've never seen anything negative a teammate said about smith. It's actually quite the opposite. It's always positive. Especially from Doan. The only thing I ever read negative about smith is this "death stare" thing that has become a thing on this forum. Show me something to prove that it's actually anything more than a coyotes forum hfboards myth then maybe I'll jump on board.

Well, he didn't get along with Riberio.

Not sure thats a negative

 

[SniperHF]

Food for thought: It's not like there were a ton of "Wow Bryz is such a horrible teammate" articles floating around up until Todd freaking Walsh of all people starting throwing a little shade his way a few months before he was outta here. Only once he was gone did all the info flow.

I'm sure Smith has a degree of earned respect that puts a blinder on other behavior from the remaining vets/coaching staff as well for past performances. Maybe they love him, I have no idea. At some point though you gotta give up hoping that returns over any long period of time.

Whatever though, sunk cost and we're not competing right now.

 

[XX]

A better teammate? I've never seen anything negative a teammate said about smith. It's actually quite the opposite. It's always positive. Especially from Doan. The only thing I ever read negative about smith is this "death stare" thing that has become a thing on this forum. Show me something to prove that it's actually anything more than a coyotes forum hfboards myth then maybe I'll jump on board.

Nothing will be said on record until Smith departs the franchise. Even then, players don't make it a habit of publicly calling out other players, even if it's deserved.

His behavior and demeanor on the ice is worse than Bryz ever was.

 

[BUX7PHX]

Nothing will be said on record until Smith departs the franchise. Even then, players don't make it a habit of publicly calling out other players, even if it's deserved.

His behavior and demeanor on the ice is worse than Bryz ever was.

I have never gotten the idea that Smith was disliked by members of his own team. My other thought is that if this was actually true, wouldn't the management have created a more conscious effort to find a backup goalie whom they would prefer to play over Smith?

His behavior and demeanor actually are like someone who actually wants to do well, and sometimes can't. Remember he also death stared Yandle when Yandle tried to clear the puck by banking it around the boards and nearly scored on Smith. In a way, how is that any different than if Smith glares at someone b/c they weren't positioned right? Especially so if this had been discussed as part of pre game or in game management? A missed assignment can mean a much harder shot to defend against, and based on the number of shots faced over the past few years, I am pretty sure that a lot of missed assignments have led to that. Goalies let in softies - that is his equivalent of a missed assignment, but soft goals are relatively rare, IMO. How many goals go in before a genuine "soft" goal occurs? 15? 20? 25? 30? Pretty sure he makes a few high quality saves to balance that out.

The idea that he is a cancer is laughable.

 

[Mosby]

My concern with MAF is age. He'll be 32 next season. Bishop would be 30 but way more expensive. Can't really think of any other goalies available because of expansion who would be a good add.



Also if we want to upgrade our goaltending if Smith is out for long we could scoop Condon off waivers, but LA will take him if they get first crack. Domingue/Condon is a better tandem than Domingue/Peters. Pens will waive Condon again once Murray is healthy.

 

[mouser]

My concern with MAF is age. He'll be 32 next season. Bishop would be 30 but way more expensive. Can't really think of any other goalies available because of expansion who would be a good add.



Also if we want to upgrade our goaltending if Smith is out for long we could scoop Condon off waivers, but LA will take him if they get first crack. Domingue/Condon is a better tandem than Domingue/Peters. Pens will waive Condon again once Murray is healthy.

Fwiw, the Penguins can probably trade Condon. Doubt any other team put in a waiver claim.

 

[islescoop]

Isles fan here. If Mike Smith can't go.. any interest in Halak or Greiss packaged with the older Strome? Isles have 3 goalies and one has to go.

 

[rt]

I much prefer Greiss to Smith. I think Greiss would be a MUCH more sensible option for this team. Unfortunately we're stuck with Smith.

 

[airbus220]

Why buy out one over-priced goalie to trade for another?

Yes, no need to buy him out and save only 1/3 of his salary. He can still play pretty good, just use him well and alternate him with Domingue. Less workload should reduce the risk for injuries, it would also be good for Louis.

 

[Mosby]

There is going to be a window where teams can make offers to Vegas. "Don't take this unprotected guy, and we'll give you a 3rd."

Is the reverse true? Can we tell George McPhee, "Take Mike Smith and we'll give you a 2nd"?

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Nothing will be said on record until Smith departs the franchise. Even then, players don't make it a habit of publicly calling out other players, even if it's deserved.

His behavior and demeanor on the ice is worse than Bryz ever was.

The only thing that will be said about Smith by his teammates, now and in the future, is what a great team guy he is.

Smith's biggest weakness is that he's a drama queen on the ice, both in his reactions to goals against and any contact whatsoever, and in his goalie technique. The glass-half-fullers will say that it's his passion coming through, and that's fine and probably true to an extent. He makes spectacular saves and then fails equally spectacularly.

But he's not a cancer. Whatever idiosyncrasies he might have are easily sponged away in the room in a way that Bryz, with his quirky sense of humor and his casual acquaintance with the English language, never could pull off.

 

[Mosby]

Smith has been sent back to Arizona to consult with the team docs.

Looks like it could be Louie and Peters for the rest of the trip.

 

[KG]

Anytime Smith plays wellike, it seems, he gets hurt

 

[Mosby]

During the Sportsnet broadcast tonight, John Shannon floated Arizona as a possible landing spot for MAF. Hmm.