Brendan Smith

[number9 3,297]

I have zero problem with parting with Smith in a significant trade... even if it's for an overpaid loser like Dion, assuming they eat salary

[RedWingReign 5]

I disagree with the naysayers. Besides the obvious highlights that they might show (including that atrocious decision making from the bench), Smith has played a decent season. He has shown many flashes of his Badger self, creating scoring chances on the rush (the reason we drafted him) and has played well defensively, doing the intangibles that don't show up on the score sheet, but its ludicrous to think he would just slide into the NHL and keep playing the same way he did in college. I'd hate for him to go, I think his upside potential is great. Have we become SO impatient with players that we want them moved after a single season? Sounds a lot like Tank Nation 4 hours North of Detroit.

As per what happens in this playoff run to the cup, I think Smith sitting out of the lineup pairings during practice should help him to refocus on the severity of his actions at this level, especially that late in a season and in the playoffs. Trust in Babs and Kenny, they have gotten us this far, haven't they?

(First time poster, long time lurker BTW)

[joesuffP 1,746]

Yeah he had a decent season for a 5/6 dman but at this point you expect a little more out of him. Look at Dekeseyer's growth

[wings7 62]

I disagree with the naysayers. Besides the obvious highlights that they might show (including that atrocious decision making from the bench), Smith has played a decent season. He has shown many flashes of his Badger self, creating scoring chances on the rush (the reason we drafted him) and has played well defensively, doing the intangibles that don't show up on the score sheet, but its ludicrous to think he would just slide into the NHL and keep playing the same way he did in college. I'd hate for him to go, I think his upside potential is great. Have we become SO impatient with players that we want them moved after a single season? Sounds a lot like Tank Nation 4 hours North of Detroit.

As per what happens in this playoff run to the cup, I think Smith sitting out of the lineup pairings during practice should help him to refocus on the severity of his actions at this level, especially that late in a season and in the playoffs. Trust in Babs and Kenny, they have gotten us this far, haven't they?

(First time poster, long time lurker BTW)

His season was about as bad as it could be. Not sure what you were watching.

[canadian wings fan 305]

^The sad thing is those aren't Kindls numbers...

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

His season was about as bad as it could be. Not sure what you were watching.

That's laying it on a bit thick. He really didn't have that bad of a year.

And showing his stats shows very little. 4 goals was 3rd for our Defence behind Kronwall and Kindl. As for his +/- (-2) : half our team ended up as minus players and 9 players had larger minuses.

Yes, he made a really stupid mistake and hasn't been great, but people are just piling on now. If the thread keeps going he'll end up at Lebda levels of distain.

[kickazz 5,459]

I disagree with the naysayers. Besides the obvious highlights that they might show (including that atrocious decision making from the bench), Smith has played a decent season. He has shown many flashes of his Badger self, creating scoring chances on the rush (the reason we drafted him) and has played well defensively, doing the intangibles that don't show up on the score sheet, but its ludicrous to think he would just slide into the NHL and keep playing the same way he did in college. I'd hate for him to go, I think his upside potential is great. Have we become SO impatient with players that we want them moved after a single season? Sounds a lot like Tank Nation 4 hours North of Detroit.

As per what happens in this playoff run to the cup, I think Smith sitting out of the lineup pairings during practice should help him to refocus on the severity of his actions at this level, especially that late in a season and in the playoffs. Trust in Babs and Kenny, they have gotten us this far, haven't they?

(First time poster, long time lurker BTW)

Again. That "potential" that people have been speaking of.. How long do we wait for it to have an effect? He'll be a 27 year old sometime next season.. 25/26 is when you enter your prime which lasts till around 31 or so. Okay lets give in to the fact that he's a defensemen and will have more longevity. Even then, how long do we wait around for him to develop? Datsyuk and Zetterberg are aging and are the last of our superstars. Nyquist and Tatar are performing well and are great assets and bringing us the results we need. Why can't Smith? Mind you Tats and Nyquist are a bit younger too. I don't think waiting around for Smith to turn into some breakout defensemen he was expected to be is in our best interest. Package him off and bring someone that can contribute to the veterans last few years left here in Detroit.

That's laying it on a bit thick. He really didn't have that bad of a year.

And showing his stats shows very little. 4 goals was 3rd for our Defence behind Kronwall and Kindl. As for his +/- (-2) : half our team ended up as minus players and 9 players had larger minuses.

Yes, he made a really stupid mistake and hasn't been great, but people are just piling on now. If the thread keeps going he'll end up at Lebda levels of distain.

For the standards he was brought in for, he had a poor season. He's supposed to be an offensive defenseman and he hasnt really done much of that. Hell 38 year old Zidlickey was a bigger impact in the few games he played here than Smith was.

Edited April 14, 2015 by kickazz

[krsmith17 7,191]

Well said RedWingsReign. Finally someone with a level head on the Smith situation. I haven't wanted to comment in here because the hate the kid is getting is beyond ridiculous and everyone knows how I feel about Smith. But I will say one thing, Smith has had a decent season with quite a few miscues along the way. He is still learning to play solid defense at the NHL level and I'm sure it will come. He's made mistakes over the past few weeks (since the slide) but so have every other defenseman on the team. It's just that Smith's f*** ups get much more focus because, well he's the new LGW whipping boy... The play while he was sitting on the bench, sure it was stupid, but it was a split second decision (obviously the wrong one) that could have happened to anyone. But alas it didn't, it was our whipping boy, so let's make a thread about how stupid / brain dead he is... and how he will never amount to anything... and how we should trade him for anything to any team that is willing to take this sieve...

In saying all that, I don't hate the decision to scratch him last game, and I don't think it would be the worst decision to scratch him for game one against Tampa to get his head on straight. And although I don't think that is confirmed yet, I do think it's likely that he will be the odd man out next game. But make no mistake, we will see Smith in at some point this series, and he will be ready to go.

[amato 3,210]

Give the kid a break. Obviously he's not an idiot. Put up huge numbers in college and in AHL. Seems to play best when he plays a ton of minutes.

It's just too bad that the wings play their best when he doesn't..

Let's just build a time machine and go back to '07 & have Kenny draft pk subban instead

Edited April 14, 2015 by amato

[Ekmanc 586]

It's just too bad that the wings play their best when he doesn't..

Let's just build a time machine and go back to '07 & have Kenny draft pk subban instead

It's kinda crazy how unbelievably much better we would look right now if he had.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Well said RedWingsReign. Finally someone with a level head on the Smith situation. I haven't wanted to comment in here because the hate the kid is getting is beyond ridiculous and everyone knows how I feel about Smith. But I will say one thing, Smith has had a decent season with quite a few miscues along the way. He is still learning to play solid defense at the NHL level and I'm sure it will come. He's made mistakes over the past few weeks (since the slide) but so have every other defenseman on the team. It's just that Smith's f*** ups get much more focus because, well he's the new LGW whipping boy... The play while he was sitting on the bench, sure it was stupid, but it was a split second decision (obviously the wrong one) that could have happened to anyone. But alas it didn't, it was our whipping boy, so let's make a thread about how stupid / brain dead he is... and how he will never amount to anything... and how we should trade him for anything to any team that is willing to take this sieve...

In saying all that, I don't hate the decision to scratch him last game, and I don't think it would be the worst decision to scratch him for game one against Tampa to get his head on straight. And although I don't think that is confirmed yet, I do think it's likely that he will be the odd man out next game. But make no mistake, we will see Smith in at some point this series, and he will be ready to go.

- He's still learning - OK. How does that help Detroit, though? Smith is 26-years-old and still seems to have issues making an outlet pass. How long should the team give him? They've got players who have played in the AHL this season, guys who can play as a #5 on this team and probably have a higher ceiling. At the very least, they will make less mistakes with the puck. One of them is most likely subbing in for him in game one.

- Smith does get a lot of focus, but doesn't Ericsson, too? There's a reason these guys get attention - they make these glaring errors and all eyes are on them. Ericsson finished the last 5-8 games on a high note, Smith did not. Remember when Detroit sign KQ in the offseason? The guy was under the microscope from the outset of the season, but he played better than expected. If Smith would have played better than expected, I would be cutting him some slack, but he's still making the same mistakes he did when he first entered the NHL.

- He won't under Mike Babcock. Consider everything that's happened this season and how Babs has used Smith - basically, he hasn't. He used Danny DeKeyser over Smith on the PP because he doesn't trust Brendan's judgement or ability to man the point. I think Smith has the physical tools to be better than he is, but he just can't get it together mentally. I'm not going to bash the guy for mistake he made at 17 or 18-years-old, but I do think he's got some maturity issues. That translates to a less-than-stellar relationship with his coach. Even if Babcock is just trying to teach him a lesson right now, Smith is going to have claw his way out of the dog house.

Edited April 14, 2015 by Jesusberg

[matt198913 932]

Career 195 games 2.3 seasons of hockey. Plus minus 0. 10 goals and 37 assists. Usually its 3 seasons before a dman gets it. I said this earlier this year. Give him another year, you will see improvement. Major improvement.

[number9 3,297]

Career 195 games 2.3 seasons of hockey. Plus minus 0. 10 goals and 37 assists. Usually its 3 seasons before a dman gets it. I said this earlier this year. Give him another year, you will see improvement. Major improvement.

3 seasons? Says who? Do you have any examples?

Smith is Kindl 2.0, sorry if that's a tough pill to swallow

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

I am impartial to Smith and don't really care if he's on the team next year or not. However, I don't think he's been given the proper chance to succeed, Babcock is giving him the Weiss treatment and not playing him to his strengths. No point in pointing out his offensive stats when he doesn't get any PP time.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I just find it funny how people think that Marchenko and Ouellet are such huge upgrades over Smith. Most every single player plays above their head when they first enter the league, it's only a matter of time before one or both of these guys become the new LGW whipping boy. Marchenko is a fairly steady stay at home defenseman so his game will definitely translate a lot better than Smith's offensive style, which is why I don't mind that Marchenko has gotten the nod for game one. Ouellet on the other hand, is not in any way an upgrade over Smith. Smith is going through a rough patch here, but the amount of hate on these boards is crazy, but whatever, some things will never change...

Smith has absolutely no issue making outlet passes, that's actually one of his strong suits, his issue is he doesn't react great under pressure. If he is headed into the corner to pick up the puck with his back against the onrushing player, he is vulnerable to making a turnover, if a player passes it in his skates, he has a difficult time making a play, it will likely become a turnover. Smith can pass the puck up ice as well as anyone on the team, he can rush the puck better than any defender on the team, if he can cut down on his turnovers (I'm sure he will as they have cut in half since last season...) he will be a solid number 4/5 in this league for sure.

Anyway, that's all I'm going to say on this, I have my opinion and I'm up against the masses since his current f*** up is fresh in everyone's head.. So I'll continue to be patient, like I'm sure management will, and he will eventually develop into the player I believe he is capable of becoming...

[number9 3,297]

I just find it funny how people think that Marchenko and Ouellet are such huge upgrades over Smith. Most every single player plays above their head when they first enter the league, it's only a matter of time before one or both of these guys become the new LGW whipping boy. Marchenko is a fairly steady stay at home defenseman so his game will definitely translate a lot better than Smith's offensive style, which is why I don't mind that Marchenko has gotten the nod for game one. Ouellet on the other hand, is not in any way an upgrade over Smith. Smith is going through a rough patch here, but the amount of hate on these boards is crazy, but whatever, some things will never change...

Smith has absolutely no issue making outlet passes, that's actually one of his strong suits, his issue is he doesn't react great under pressure. If he is headed into the corner to pick up the puck with his back against the onrushing player, he is vulnerable to making a turnover, if a player passes it in his skates, he has a difficult time making a play, it will likely become a turnover. Smith can pass the puck up ice as well as anyone on the team, he can rush the puck better than any defender on the team, if he can cut down on his turnovers (I'm sure he will as they have cut in half since last season...) he will be a solid number 4/5 in this league for sure.

Anyway, that's all I'm going to say on this, I have my opinion and I'm up against the masses since his current f*** up is fresh in everyone's head.. So I'll continue to be patient, like I'm sure management will, and he will eventually develop into the player I believe he is capable of becoming...

We don't need a left handed 4/5 Dman who is average at D and doesn't score.

[arag 308]

Kenny will send Smith to Boston. Bruins need to replace Chara very soon.

[kipwinger 8,521]

We don't need a left handed 4/5 Dman who is average at D and doesn't score.

Average at defense huh?

I see you're in a generous mood today bud.

[krsmith17 7,191]

Do you hear that Xavier, "We don't need you"...

Alexey on the other hand, "You are our savior, because you are above average at D, below average at O and RIGHT HANDED!!!"

[number9 3,297]

Do you hear that Xavier, "We don't need you"...

Alexey on the other hand, "You are our savior, because you are above average at D, below average at O and RIGHT HANDED!!!"

Smith is going on 27. The sun is setting on his youthful grace period. Comparing him to XO and Marchenko is amusing to say the least.

A proper comparison would be Kindl

[kipwinger 8,521]

I wouldn't get too cocky on the Smith/Marchenko topic if I were you. It would take about two minutes to track down numerous statements you made about how "Marchenko will never start over Smith", "There's no chance Smith gets scratched for a rookie", "Marchenko isn't better than Smith in any way", etc.

Your boy lost his job to a rookie. He's just not that good. Get over it.

[nawein 324]

Well said RedWingsReign. Finally someone with a level head on the Smith situation. I haven't wanted to comment in here because the hate the kid is getting is beyond ridiculous and everyone knows how I feel about Smith. But I will say one thing, Smith has had a decent season with quite a few miscues along the way. He is still learning to play solid defense at the NHL level and I'm sure it will come. He's made mistakes over the past few weeks (since the slide) but so have every other defenseman on the team. It's just that Smith's f*** ups get much more focus because, well he's the new LGW whipping boy... The play while he was sitting on the bench, sure it was stupid, but it was a split second decision (obviously the wrong one) that could have happened to anyone. But alas it didn't, it was our whipping boy, so let's make a thread about how stupid / brain dead he is... and how he will never amount to anything... and how we should trade him for anything to any team that is willing to take this sieve...

In saying all that, I don't hate the decision to scratch him last game, and I don't think it would be the worst decision to scratch him for game one against Tampa to get his head on straight. And although I don't think that is confirmed yet, I do think it's likely that he will be the odd man out next game. But make no mistake, we will see Smith in at some point this series, and he will be ready to go.

Here's the thing. For your first point, it couldn't have and hasn't happened to anyone. Zetterberg has never reached out into the play while on the bench to play the puck. Kronwall, DK, Cleary, Tatar, Andersson, or anyone else either for that matter. It wasn't a split second decision that could have happened to anyone because every other NHL player I've ever seen isn't stupid enough to think "Oh, I'm on the bench. Oh look a flying puck! I should try to grab it." It's a play a 6 year old makes. It's the equivalent of a defensive football player running off the sidelines midplay to make a tackle and thinking he'll get away with it. There's no words to describe it. It wouldn't happen to anyone else because other hockey players have the ability to think and follow the rules. And yes, the thread was made about Smith because it's not the first time he's done something utterly asinine. It's becoming a repetitive problem and it's no longer excusable.

For your second two points that I bolded, I have actually been saying these things since I watched him play in GR several years ago. I gave him a small benefit of the doubt but he made 6 or 7 terrible reads and two of them ended up in the back of his net. I watched him a couple more times after that and that's been my position ever since. His play at the NHL level has only confirmed it.

Also I'll say this. The ability to think the game is the most important ability a prospect can have. It's not so much about physical ability or talent because those can be taught and developed. It's about ability to make the right read and react and have it be instinctive and fast. It's why Ericsson never developed into a top 2 dman despite his physical stature. It's why Ouellet will be better than Sproul. It's why DeKeyser is better than Smith. Given their physical attributes it's no doubt that Smith should be the stronger, faster, more athletic player than DeKeyser, Ouellet or Marchenko but Dekeyser and Ouellet and probably Marchenko will all be better because they have the mental side of the game that can't be taught. Smith doesn't have it. He never has and he probably never will. "A good player plays where the puck is, a great player plays where the puck is going to be." Smith usually plays where the puck was, because he probably just turned it over.

[number9 3,297]

Average at defense huh?

I see you're in a generous mood today bud.

The only one being generous to someone here is the smith fanboys to Riley's brother

[wings7 62]

Most of you guys make more excuses for Smith than Smith makes for himself. Which is crazy.

Look at his numbers. SUPER LOW.

Look at his passes in our zone. SUPER SLOW.

Look at his turnovers. SUPER BIG.

He just made a decision in a game to basically try and cheat and steal a live puck. A play most of, if not all of us have never seen before. And he was confused? Confused about what exactly?

If Kindl isn't allowed to play, neither should Smith. If you can't see that they are very similar, than you are not watching fairly or closely enough.

[kipwinger 8,521]

The only one being generous to someone here is the smith fanboys to Riley's brother

He's just not being used correctly, that's all. He's an offensive defenseman. Babs needs to play to those strengths by using him as such. I mean, how good would he be if he got the most offensive zone starts, and least defensive responsibility of anyone on the team?

Oh wait. He already does.

Yikes.

Edited April 14, 2015 by kipwinger