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Speculation: Player Discussion: Will Smith
- Thread starter Shark Finn
- Start date
YUPPY 2 7 10 11
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Tw1ster
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19 year old rookie with bad turnover, probably the first time that’s ever happened. Also I know it’s worse in real time but this clip makes it look like Rutta lifted his stick instead of receiving the pass
I have my doubts.
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Honestly that stuff doesn't bother me nearly as much as when one of our defensemen is near our own blue line with an easy opportunity to get the puck out and they flub the pass or dump attempt and we get stuck in our own end another minute because they can't skate the puck out or make a decent pass. If he was trying to get it to Kunin and Warsofsky felt he needed to make the point more forcefully, so be it. If he was trying to get it to Rutta and just missed the pass, I can count plenty of passes in every game by plenty of Sharks that miss their targets that badly.
CHALUPA
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YUPPY 2 7 10 11
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The wasn't intended for Rutta, It was for Kunin. I hope Smith fix these blind passes. Celebrini does it fine but Smith is not at Celebrini 's level so Smith needs to more be careful.
karltonian
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I think the reason Smith gets punished more for bad reads and decisionmaking is that literally is his game at this time. The only thing that he can do in the NHL over other lower lineup players is read the play and make the right play almost all the time. It's been a notable feature of his game since the start, and right now he brings nothing else.
Can't hit, can't defend, can't win a puck, can't break pucks out or force them in. Gotta at least make the right reads and attempt the right plays.
Can't hit, can't defend, can't win a puck, can't break pucks out or force them in. Gotta at least make the right reads and attempt the right plays.
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I would even argue that Celebrini doesn't do it fine. He's a bit too cavalier with the blind passes and it results in him having poor puck possession stats and the worst passing% on the team.
That said, you don't want him to swing too hard the other way. Keep the aggressiveness and creativity, just increase your value of puck possession a little more. The good news is he has the skill and hockey mind to improve here from 18 onwards.
This is why they don't work great together. Some impressive passes, but too many giveaways, and Smith isn't capable of winning too many puck battles in any zone to regain possession. They are dangerous on the rush, of course, but not great in puck possession.
Add 15 pounds and a bit more compete for Smith, and this could change next season. But he's gonna have to become a bit more of an effort player than he's ever been. I'm hopeful he will figure it out.
