It brings me much schadenfreude to see Cutter down there at <0.5ppg.
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In the meantime, feel free to join our Discord ServerIt brings me much schadenfreude to see Cutter down there at <0.5ppg.
Thats only since january 1st. He has been pretty consistent since early december, late november.That’s actually pretty wild considering his start.
no doubt. As a major 'Smith to AHL' supporter, I am in shock at the level of improvement. I am not sure Ive ever seen a player take the kind of strides he has within a season. He went from being physically dominated, turnover machine who was minus a ton and clearly did not belong... to a bona fide top liner, point per game producer who plays a complete game.I'm not going to post this in the main board Calder thread, because that place is a hive of villainy, but I kind of think Will Smith has looked like the best rookie in the league for the past month. Doubt he sustains it, and zero chance he's better than Macklin over the course of their careers, but Will has been unreal. Really nice to see after the slow start and all the doubt early on.
I've been hoping Smith ultimately turns into something like Scheifele. He's likely never going to be worth much defensively, but if Celebrini can be our two-way, all-situations 1C, Smith can feast as a point-per-game 2C and power play anchor. That's my hope, anyway.While I agree with the „improvement“-part of the above post, let’s not get carried away. Smith is not even close to being a stellar two-way forward. Heck, I don’t even know if he will ever be a (decent) two-way forward. Yes, he has improved his d habits and play in the d zone quite a lot. But the base line (first 20 games or so) was „clearly worst defensive forward in the whole league“
I have been watching his play in his own zone. Hes making much better decisions, whether thats pitchforking pucks up and out when there is no clear outlet to dumping pucks deeps instead of trying to make neutral zone jukes. His stick positioning for blocking passes and disrupting opposition D has improved a lot and he is breaking up plays backchecking far more. His skating off the puck is also vastly improved.While I agree with the „improvement“-part of the above post, let’s not get carried away. Smith is not even close to being a stellar two-way forward. Heck, I don’t even know if he will ever be a (decent) two-way forward. Yes, he has improved his d habits and play in the d zone quite a lot. But the base line (first 20 games or so) was „clearly worst defensive forward in the whole league“
Edit: His stat-line since that Boston game:
19 GP, 7G, 13 A, +7
hes already playing that role as a 19 year old (at least for a few more days.) If the last two months are any indication, we are just scratching the surface.I've been hoping Smith ultimately turns into something like Scheifele. He's likely never going to be worth much defensively, but if Celebrini can be our two-way, all-situations 1C, Smith can feast as a point-per-game 2C and power play anchor. That's my hope, anyway.
I have been watching his play in his own zone. Hes making much better decisions, whether thats pitchforking pucks up and out when there is no clear outlet to dumping pucks deeps instead of trying to make neutral zone jukes. His stick positioning for blocking passes and disrupting opposition D has improved a lot and he is breaking up plays backchecking far more. His skating off the puck is also vastly improved.
He's playing wing, so his defensive play is never gunna be as clear as a center's. His responsibilities are much higher in the zone, but his job centers around getting pucks out from along the boards, being a good outlet option himself, and then making smart plays through the neutral zone and avoiding turnovers. its also about not forcing plays that just arent there and lading to high turnovers and chances against. Hes improved on all those metrices by leaps and bounds.
I would say, in the last two months, he has already reached 'decent' defensive status. Maybe 'stellar' went a bit far, but I don't see bad things happening too often when he is on the ice in any zone.
Smith has been excellent, and I agree that he is not a legit Calder contender, but why is being a "stellar 2-way forward" part of the criteria for Calder consideration when Buston as Hodge calls him is a turnstile defensively despite being, you know, a defenseman?While I agree with the „improvement“-part of the above post, let’s not get carried away. Smith is not even close to being a stellar two-way forward. Heck, I don’t even know if he will ever be a (decent) two-way forward. Yes, he has improved his d habits and play in the d zone quite a lot. But the base line (first 20 games or so) was „clearly worst defensive forward in the whole league“
Edit: His stat-line since that Boston game:
19 GP, 7G, 13 A, +7
Because Hutson is a top-10 offensive defenseman in the league and a top-5 PPQB. That's how he provides value despite being sheltered and very bad defensively. If Smith were scoring at a 90 point pace, no one would complain about his defense.Smith has been excellent, and I agree that he is not a legit Calder contender, but why is being a "stellar 2-way forward" part of the criteria for Calder consideration when Buston as Hodge calls him is a turnstile defensively despite being, you know, a defenseman?
If a player scores six goals a game, but never even enters his own zone unless he's forced to by the refs (for icing, say), he's be the most valuable player who ever lived despite having less defensive value than any player in history.Smith has been excellent, and I agree that he is not a legit Calder contender, but why is being a "stellar 2-way forward" part of the criteria for Calder consideration when Buston as Hodge calls him is a turnstile defensively despite being, you know, a defenseman?
While this is true talking about the past value a player has accumulated it is not true when talking future value.If a player scores six goals a game, but never even enters his own zone unless he's forced to by the refs (for icing, say), he's be the most valuable player who ever lived despite having less defensive value than any player in history.
Value is about total impact. If you put up a ton of value one way, and are atrocious the other way, you can be more valuable than someone who is good both ways.
Scoring six goals every game is an impossible hypothetical anyway (which I use intentionally to illustrate the point), and the Calder is an award for past performance.While this is true talking about the past value a player has accumulated it is not true when talking future value.
Scoring 6 goals while never entering the zone on your own is not repeatable whereas driving play is much more repeatable.
Jux playing with house money now. You wanted 80 points combined? we are at 84. If Cele and Smith even finish at a.5pt per game pace they would eclipse a 100. Lets flirt with 110 points.Because Hutson is a top-10 offensive defenseman in the league and a top-5 PPQB. That's how he provides value despite being sheltered and very bad defensively. If Smith were scoring at a 90 point pace, no one would complain about his defense.
But it is pretty cool that Smith hit my "I would be happy with this" full season point total in only 59 games. So I'm not finding much to complain about.
He was literally absent on defense early in the year. Now he's at least in plays.I think Smiths defensive play to start the year was so god awful bad that any marginal improvement has made him look a ton better. But a ton better is still not average given how bad it was to start.
oddly enough it works for him at this point, at least he can get back in the play if he doesn't inevitably get destroyed physicallyPoints aside, I'm not sure I've ever seen an almost 20 year old so scared of physical contact. They really need to get him more engaged + in the gym in the offseason.
Sooo many, Gretzky, Janney, Oates, Marleau, Havlat, J Toews, Lafontaine, P Turgeon, Yashin, Lebeau, Kurri.........Points aside, I'm not sure I've ever seen an almost 20 year old so scared of physical contact. They really need to get him more engaged + in the gym in the offseason.
Sooo many, Gretzky, Janney, Oates, Marleau, Havlat, J Toews, Lafontaine, P Turgeon, Yashin, Lebeau, Kurri.........
For that user, ‘scared of physical contact’ only means throwing hits.I wouldn’t say Marleau was afraid of contact, I just don’t think anyone could catch him to hit him.
Smith is just tiny (strength-wise) compared to a regular NHLer, so there’s no reason to try and engage when you’re just going to get thrown on your ass. He’s been much better with his stick, positioning, etc…