Proposal: 2013 Offseason: UFAs, Trades, and Potential Buyouts | Part II

[Vaclav Varada]

Agreed, people on here just don't understand bottom 6 talent & their importance & potential with experience. If they ever put Smith on LW in the top 6 he has the potential to be another Andrew Ladd. I remember saying that Ladd should be in the top 6 yrs ago when Ladd was in Chicago & people here called him a bottom six scrub. Now he is the captain in Winnipeg & is a legitimate top 6 powerforward.

Smith has no where near the hockey sense that Andrew Ladd has. Smith is actually close to being {Mod Edit} hockey wise. I havent seen many dumber players then Smith. He constantly gives the puck away in terrible spots. He doesn't know when to play it smart and when to try something fancy.

 

[PatrickEaves]

I hate corsi so much

I still much prefer it to Fenwick.

 

[Vaclav Varada]

I still much prefer it to Fenwick.

I'd rather neither exist tbh. It was way easier before.

 

[aragorn]

Smith has no where near the hockey sense that Andrew Ladd has. Smith is actually close to being {Mod Edit} hockey wise. I havent seen many dumber players then Smith. He constantly gives the puck away in terrible spots. He doesn't know when to play it smart and when to try something fancy.

You have no idea what you are talking about considering the high praise Maclean gave Smith after the season, I`ll take his word over yours. While you may see that there are many others who see it much differently than you do. He had 37 pts last yr & did very well again this season contibuting in many ways other than putting up pts. He has been great on the PK, faceoffs, hits, block shots & fights. Hopefully, he is around Ottawa a lot longer than the soft tiny perimeter players that so many on here drool over.

 

[Vaclav Varada]

You have no idea what you are talking about considering the high praise Maclean gave Smith after the season. While you may see that there are many others who see it much differently than you do. He had 37 pts last yr & did very well again this season contibuting in many ways other than putting up pts. He has been great on the PK, faceoffs, hits, block shots & fights. Hopefully, he is around Ottawa a lot longer than the soft tiny perimeter players that so many on here drool over.

I think his 14 goal season was an anomaly. He gives me 0 reason to think he'll be back at that pace any time soon.

I stick by my comment. He's a dumb, dumb hockey player.

btw, he had 26 points, not 37.

 

[DJB]

Smith is locked in as our 4th line centre next season which is a fantastic spot for him to be in.

 

[Sensinitis]

I remember when people wrote 2 instead of 3 and 3 instead of 4 in that sentence

I don't because you would have to be delusional to think he would ever be a 2nd center.

 

[Vaclav Varada]

Smith is locked in as our 4th line centre next season which is a fantastic spot for him to be in.

4th line is a good spot for him, but I also wouldn't be mad if he were traded.

 

[DJB]

4th line is a good spot for him, but I also wouldn't be mad if he were traded.

Spezza
Turris
Zib
Smith

I like those as our 4 down the middle.

The other thing is too, I really like his toughness that he provides. Solid middleweight not afraid to fight or take the body. I do miss his kamakaze style hits he used to throw when he was a rookie. I loved his aggressiveness even if it cost us some penalties. Obviously coaches have tamed him a bit.

 

[Vaclav Varada]

Spezza
Turris
Zib
Smith

I like those as our 4 down the middle.

The other thing is too, I really like his toughness that he provides. Solid middleweight not afraid to fight or take the body. I do miss his kamakaze style hits he used to throw when he was a rookie. I loved his aggressiveness even if it cost us some penalties. Obviously coaches have tamed him a bit.

He's pretty replaceable imo. Under no circumstance is he untouchable. Pageau may not be as big as ZSmith, but I trust him a hell of a lot more in the D and neutral zone in terms of decisions making.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Watch for MacLean to try Smith on the wing because of his great backchecking. However, MacLean really likes him at C but I don't think he will at the expense of Pageau. Pag is much more lethal down the middle and could prove to be just as good defensively.

 

[TrueGrit]

Watch for MacLean to try Smith on the wing because of his great backchecking. However, MacLean really likes him at C but I don't think he will at the expense of Pageau. Pag is much more lethal down the middle and could prove to be just as good defensively.

He's our only LH centre as is.

 

[YNWA14]

I don't because you would have to be delusional to think he would ever be a 2nd center.

Yet he looked great when playing on the top line this year. He did everything asked of him and people still want him gone. Smith is underappreciated for sure.

 

[WhiteLight*]

Smith - Spezza - Michalek
Greening - Turris - Alfredsson
Conacher - Zibanejad - Silfverberg
Condra - Pageau - Neil
Kassian - O'Brien

Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Gryba
Phillips - Wiercioch
Benoit

Anderson
Lehner





Are people OK with this (the players, not necessarily the lines)? Or is an upgrade absolutely needed?

I think it's fine just like that. Makes for a boring off-season but I'm fine with that roster.

 

[DJB]

He's pretty replaceable imo. Under no circumstance is he untouchable. Pageau may not be as big as ZSmith, but I trust him a hell of a lot more in the D and neutral zone in terms of decisions making.

Certainly not untouchable, but I see the value he brings to the team that other players don't.

Yet he looked great when playing on the top line this year. He did everything asked of him and people still want him gone. Smith is underappreciated for sure.

Filled in nicely at times, but for him to be effective he needs to play simple and 4th line seems best for him.

 

[Sensinitis]

Smith - Spezza - Michalek
Greening - Turris - Alfredsson
Conacher - Zibanejad - Silfverberg
Condra - Pageau - Neil
Kassian - O'Brien

Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Gryba
Phillips - Wiercioch
Benoit

Anderson
Lehner





Are people OK with this (the players, not necessarily the lines)? Or is an upgrade absolutely needed?

I think it's fine just like that. Makes for a boring off-season but I'm fine with that roster.

I don't think it's about the roster being fine or not. It's about making it better. As it is, we're worse or even to last season with the loss of Gonchar. Adding a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman completely changes this team. More depth, more scoring, more wins.

 

[BonkTastic]

Smith - Spezza - Michalek
Greening - Turris - Alfredsson
Conacher - Zibanejad - Silfverberg
Condra - Pageau - Neil
Kassian - O'Brien

Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Gryba
Phillips - Wiercioch
Benoit

Anderson
Lehner





Are people OK with this (the players, not necessarily the lines)? Or is an upgrade absolutely needed?

I think it's fine just like that. Makes for a boring off-season but I'm fine with that roster.

I know you said "the players, not the lines", but I need to point out that I am definitely not, not, NOT OK with Zach Smith on our top line.

I was dying inside just seeing it there, on the screen, regardless of the disclaimer that followed it. It was eating away at me, I needed to say SOMETHING.

If Zach Smith is ever a top-6 guy for us (for more than just a brief stint as an injury fill-in), it will mean one of two things:
1) Modern Science has developed a way to alter DNA in such a way that it would greatly enhance an athlete's skill, or
2) We are in trouble.

 

[DJB]

Spezza
Turris
Zib
Smith

I like those as our 4 down the middle.

Just to go back to this comment, I suppose Pageau could be used as the 4th centre, with Smith on the left side of him since Pageau is right handed.


Michalek - Spezza - Stone/FA/Trade
Greening - Turris - Alfredsson
Conacher - Zibanejad - Silfverberg
Smith - Pageau - Neil

Kassian

 

[BonkTastic]

So what is our official Center Depth Chart look like right now?

Spezza
Turris
Zibanejad
Smith
Pageau
Hoffman
O'Brien


... we've got 7 Centers who are NHL players at the moment. Something is going to have to give. O'Brien seems like the obvious name to find a new home (Is he even worth a late pick? Or is he "Daugavins-Valuable" - no trade value, but someone would pick him up on waivers?)

 

[Sensinitis]

Hoffman is a winger. Maybe you've mistaken him with Da Costa.

 

[WhiteLight*]

I don't think it's about the roster being fine or not. It's about making it better. As it is, we're worse or even to last season with the loss of Gonchar. Adding a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman completely changes this team. More depth, more scoring, more wins.

Not worse than last year because Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek, Cowen and Anderson will play.


The improvement will come with time. That roster is still young, and some more prospects are coming. Yes it could use another top liner but breaking the bank for 1 player I'm not sure if I'm up for that

I know you said "the players, not the lines", but I need to point out that I am definitely not, not, NOT OK with Zach Smith on our top line.

I was dying inside just seeing it there, on the screen, regardless of the disclaimer that followed it. It was eating away at me, I needed to say SOMETHING.

If Zach Smith is ever a top-6 guy for us (for more than just a brief stint as an injury fill-in), it will mean one of two things:
1) Modern Science has developed a way to alter DNA in such a way that it would greatly enhance an athlete's skill, or
2) We are in trouble.

lol

I'll say two things.

1-Smith was at his very best with skilled players last season. He has an underrated skill level and can hang with those guys. Placing him with another low IQ guy like Neil is not ideal imo.

2-I wanted to keep Pageau at centre and Condra with him. Therefore Smith was pushed to top 9 LW. I thought Spezza is the best of the top 3 centres that would be able to use Smith's size and skills to actually make him produce. All about chemistry.


But yes Smith on line 1 does not look pretty.

 

[WhiteLight*]

Hopefully Smith can have a Greening effect on that Smith - Spezza - Michalek line.


Just too many centres. But good teams like BOS, SJS, DET and LAK have lots of centres

 

[Sensinitis]

Not worse than last year because Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek, Cowen and Anderson will play.


The improvement will come with time. That roster is still young, and some more prospects are coming. Yes it could use another top liner but breaking the bank for 1 player I'm not sure if I'm up for that

"Breaking the bank" we wouldn't be getting Malkin. A player like the ones that have already been mentioned, a proven player, would help this team.

The waiting game you speak of is probably the approach I would take too, but this might be Alfie's last year(if he even plays) and I would definitely not refuse acquiring a top-six forward and D to give the team the best chance possible. Not more than 2 players though because it could potentially affect team chemistry.

 

[Icelevel]

agree smith is a great 4th liner. keep him there.

 

[BonkTastic]

Hoffman is a winger. Maybe you've mistaken him with Da Costa.

Well, Hoffman is technically a natural center who we have used on the wing, but yes, you are correct that I also missed DaCosta.