Megustaelhockey
"I like hockey" in Spanish
- Apr 29, 2011
- 23,505
- 17,657
I really like what the guy brings. He can play both sides which is very helpful. The Rangers need to do everything within reason to keep this guy.
I agree. Were there any rumors about the type of numbers Detroit offered him (if any) to stay there?
I want to say he turned down 3.5 million a year for 3 years?
I want to say he turned down 3.5 million a year for 3 years?
I want to say he turned down 3.5 million a year for 3 years?
They had just started negotiations and that was believed to be what they were driving towards. I don't know if it was player driven or team driven but the beat writers in Detroit threw that number out. So hard to say, they got a big enough offer from New York that they took it and moved on.
Happy to see Smitty playing well and in front of a fan-base that appreciates his game. He was one of my favorites over the years, sadly became a big whipping boy for a ton of Wings fans.
Don't think I'm ready to dive in on signing this guy just yet. He's only been here for 13 games, and has done nothing extraordinary. Nothing bad, but nothing great. Need more time. Let's see how the rest of the year goes and how the Playoffs go.
Don't think I'm ready to dive in on signing this guy just yet. He's only been here for 13 games, and has done nothing extraordinary. Nothing bad, but nothing great. Need more time. Let's see how the rest of the year goes and how the Playoffs go.
I think that he is exactly what he was in Detroit. A solid third pairing defenseman who can jump up and play the #4 role in a pinch but should not really be entrusted to play there for very long stretches of time.Don't think I'm ready to dive in on signing this guy just yet. He's only been here for 13 games, and has done nothing extraordinary. Nothing bad, but nothing great. Need more time. Let's see how the rest of the year goes and how the Playoffs go.
Don't think I'm ready to dive in on signing this guy just yet. He's only been here for 13 games, and has done nothing extraordinary. Nothing bad, but nothing great. Need more time. Let's see how the rest of the year goes and how the Playoffs go.
I like Smith but dont overpay or over commit on years. Ideally he is our 3rd pairing LH dman. Try to sign for 2-4 years. No 5 year deal.
He's a top 4 D-man at worst.
I think that is sort of the debate, some don't think he is a top 4 D, and even if he is, those top 4 D contracts get pretty expensive. So hypothetically say he is a #4 - #5, even those contracts get relatively expensive. Is that a good place to put the cap money, on a player who is a #4-#5?
On the Rangers since they are desperate maybe, but not sure that makes it a good contract or signing, or one that turns out where the players performance at least equals his cap hit.
I like Smith, he can skate, can move the puck a little, shows a backbone, but I'd have a difficult time coming up with a contract that I thought was "good" that he'd accept.
I think he'd be better as a LD, but even if they found a way out of the Staal deal, Smith still likely plays behind McD, Skjei.
On the right sure he is a top 4 on the Rangers, but if they ever fixed it? Does he play ahead of say Shattenkirk, and for an ideal example, the RD version of Skjei (Honka, Montour or similar) ?
The only way Smith is a 3rd pair RD, is if we sign Shattenkirk and somehow trade for a guy like Manson/Trouba. I would be perfectly fine with the defense looking like this:
McDonagh-Smith
Skjei-Shattenkirk
Staal-Clendening
I think that it is very dangerous to pay him as if he is a legit 2nd pairing defenseman, when that has not defined his career so far. Sure, anything can happen at 28. Stralman also had a latter career resurgence. But considering that Smith has not been thought of in that 2nd pair slotting for most of his career, it is a high risk bet.That is pretty expensive, include Girardi's buyout which is what I assume leads to those pairs and they are spending like ~25M or 1/3rd of the cap on that D core.
I think we see what the Rangers have on D and see ways to improve it by any means, it's not very good, but there should be some sort of idealism applied.
Smith playing top pair RD, I don't think that is ideal, nor Shattenkirk playing there. More ideal than Girardi, or McD, or Staal or whatever they throw in that spot, sure I see that too, but ideal in terms of what contender should have on D?