Waived: Brendan Smith (Update: CLEARED)

[Filthy Dangles]

I don't understand why people aren't connecting the dots that are so ****ing obvious.

Gorton and AV are on. the. same. page.

He's going to be the coach through this rebuild.

This organization is truly a joke. Top to bottom.

Yeah, I get that Smith has been bad, but this reeks of "my coach doesn't like this guy, so out he goes."

The inmate runs the asylum.

Coach Vigneault, GMAV, President Vigneault.

This isn't "muh AV is running the show and does't like Smith", this is the team further conceding the season to get a look at a guy like Pionk.

 

[GAGLine]

If he gets claimed I guess that’s fine cause they get out of the contract

I’d rather him than Staal long term though

As others have said, in another system he would be better

Staal has been significantly better than Smith this year. We might actually be able to trade him at some point.

 

[smoneil]

Many people didn't see it at the time, or didn't want to see it, but the evidence was there when AV was somehow still employed after the second round.

I'm usually not one to pin an entire series loss on anyone but the players, but AV literally handed Ottawa that series. He single-handedly won it for them.

I've been saying it since late 2015. Out of AV's system, Girardi even looks like a respectable 4/5 on a nightly basis.

 

[Ori]

I hope someone claims him Buffalo or someone else that`s 4 mil $ salary gone.

 

[Machinehead]

I've been saying it since late 2015. Out of AV's system, Girardi even looks like a respectable 4/5 on a nightly basis.

Well Girardi is about to shatter career best GF% numbers, so it isn't just the system - he's just having a crazy year.

But yeah, he's better, and the fact that Girardi is better in any respect at all is an indictment on this coach.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Prepping to take on a bad contract at the deadline?

My thought exactly.

Perhaps a deal that Gorton is considering requires that he take on a bad contract to sweeten the return.

 

[Off Sides]

So if someone claims him, we are done with his contract.

If not, he goes to the minors and can be recalled whenever, but we are still paying his contract.

Is that correct?

They do not have to send him to the minors, although that would clear that ~950K in cap space.

Waiving him here I believe is to do two things, allow some team to maybe take the chance and claim him.

It also sends Smith the signal if he does not improve this off-season he is on the outs. If they want to send a stronger message then yes they will likely send him to the minors.

 

[Machinehead]

This isn't "muh AV is running the show and does't like Smith", this is the team further conceding the season to get a look at a guy like Pionk.

I'll believe that if AV is gone in September

 

[Krams]

He'll be back come training camp next year, hopefully with a new coach and something to prove.

 

[nyr2k2]

FWIW, I was on board with the deal we gave Smith. I also think under different circumstances he'd be a better contributor.

 

[smoneil]

No. Players can't be bought out during the season. One of three things will happen:

1) Smith will be claimed by another team
2) Smith will clear waivers and remain with the team
3) Smith will clear waivers and be sent down to Hartford

Or

4) Smith will clear waivers and refuse to report to Hartford. Could be a mutual termination kind of thing. Smith always did up his game at this time of year for the stretch. I wonder if he would rather pick his location and have a shot at Stanley...

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I'll believe that if AV is gone in September

Let's talk about right now. You really think a coaching change can right the ship with this current group of players? I mean both points 1) We need a coaching change and 2) The current core and team can't succeed even with a coaching change can both be simultaneously true.

 

[nyr2k2]

Or

4) Smith will clear waivers and refuse to report to Hartford. Could be a mutual termination kind of thing. Smith always did up his game at this time of year for the stretch. I wonder if he would rather pick his location and have a shot at Stanley...

After the way this year has gone it's hard to see him getting $14M guaranteed or whatever we owe him after this season. So it would be an enormous risk on his part.

 

[RGY]

Disappointing season. I expected much more from him. He did this to himself though. Sealed his fate last night with that horrendous turnover.

 

[Levitate]

I've been saying it since late 2015. Out of AV's system, Girardi even looks like a respectable 4/5 on a nightly basis.

Yes AV's system is ridiculously hard on defensemen, it's insane. They're constantly guessing at where they need to be and when they get the puck, half the time there's no support because the forwards also are guessing at where they need to be.

That said, Smith seemed like he signed that contract and then thought he needed to be out there making big plays every game instead of playing the simple and effective game that got him the contract in the first place. Last night was a prime example...time and time again he'd try to make the hard play instead of the simple one. Passes in his own zone? try for the hard pass through a maze of players instead of moving it to his open partner. What was the goal he turned the puck over on? Carrying it around the offensive zone and trying to deke around a defender near the blueline instead of either dumping it in deep or at least eating the check and not losing the puck.

Always trying to make the hard play for some reason

But yeah this is a bad look for the Rangers, lots of stuff they hoped would pan out sure didn't pan out this season

 

[Machinehead]

Let's talk about right now. You really think a coaching change can right the ship with this current group of players? I mean both points 1) We need a coaching change and 2) The current core and team can't succeed even with a coaching change can both be simultaneously true.

The house might need to be cleaned up or it might need to be completely rebuilt, but you put the f***ing blazing inferno out before you assess the damage.

 

[Lays]

Prepping to take on a bad contract at the deadline?

Orpik or Martin makes sense. I'd do it and get even more assets, if the Rangers play their cards right we can get a shit ton of picks+prospects and turn this around quick

 

[NYR Viper]

This is very surprising.

 

[Mac n Gs]

FWIW, I was on board with the deal we gave Smith. I also think under different circumstances he'd be a better contributor.

Completely agree.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Or

4) Smith will clear waivers and refuse to report to Hartford. Could be a mutual termination kind of thing. Smith always did up his game at this time of year for the stretch. I wonder if he would rather pick his location and have a shot at Stanley...

If it's a mutual termination, are we still responsible for the cap hit or is it forfeited?

 

[TheDirtyH]

Shame it takes waiving Smith to give Pionk a look. Like, Kampfer is still on the roster...

 

[Trxjw]

Orpik or Martin makes sense. I'd do it and get even more assets, if the Rangers play their cards right we can get a **** ton of picks+prospects and turn this around quick

I was actually wondering last night if they'd take Orpik to get Burakovsky.

 

[Lays]

I was actually wondering last night if they'd take Orpik to get Burakovsky.

Burakovsky isn't good, I have no interest
I'd rather have Washingtons 1st
I wouldn't do it but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened

 

[Crease]

Surprising, in a good way. All signs point to Gorton making some massive changes to the organization. Here we go.

 

[Trxjw]

Burakovsky isn't good, I have no interest
I'd rather have Washingtons 1st

Eh, I disagree but we'll see.