Confirmed with Link: Rangers Sign Brendan Smith (4 years x $4.35M)

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Smith is solid, but IMO he's getting paid by the Rangers because of his play in the playoffs (and yes he played very well).

 

[RGY]

Smith is solid, but IMO he's getting paid by the Rangers because of his play in the playoffs (and yes he played very well).

We dont have a player like him. There is infinite value for having a guy who will protect the front your own net and not take **** from anyone

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

We dont have a player like him. There is infinite value for having a guy who will protect the front your own net and not take **** from anyone

I mean that's a valid point that Smith is willing to clear out the net.

 

[n8]

No trade is not a no move. You can expose players with no trades.

good to know. Burn all the NMC!!!

 

[Ola]

I am not a big fan, OTOH I understand Gorts not wanting to gamble too much with his blueline.

But Smith has never scored 20 pts in a NHL season, and he is a bit of an offensive minded D. He is hardly a wiz at moving the puck up ice. He is struggling on deep defense since he is a LHS on the right side, not great on the PK or late shifts to protect leads. It's a market price for a top UFA. But I recon we like his attitude more than anything else.

 

[Krams]

Dan Girardi and Marc Staal are relics of defensive dmen and are incapable of adapting to a changing game. Smith on the other hand is a perfect example of a defensive dman that is effective in today's NHL. Play him with a guy like Skjei and you have a pairing that can both drive offense and suppress it coming the other way. This is not an albatross cap hit for what he brings to the table, especially on the right side which is becoming more and more valuable nowadays.

 

[BBKers]

I am not a big fan, OTOH I understand Gorts not wanting to gamble too much with his blueline.

But Smith has never scored 20 pts in a NHL season, and he is a bit of an offensive minded D. He is hardly a wiz at moving the puck up ice. He is struggling on deep defense since he is a LHS on the right side, not great on the PK or late shifts to protect leads. It's a market price for a top UFA. But I recon we like his attitude more than anything else.

I think he can fill up some of these roles
But there is likely another move coming on D
Will be interesting to see what that is (no - I do not know)

 

[n8]

Because now there's only $19 million is space to work with.

maths.

 

[Thirty One]

We dont have a player like him. There is infinite value for having a guy who will protect the front your own net and not take **** from anyone

Infinite value.

 

[McD27]

what will McD get when it's his time?

smith is fine but we overpaid and maybe he knows we had to.

what would stralman get in today's market?

if we had only signed stralman and not boyle..wishful thinking

 

[Tawnos]

So why did Stepan get traded? McKenzie said it was due to the NTC. Does he not know what he's saying? You know better?

Smith is very overrated due to the other defensemen on the team. Just because he's not a train wreck doesn't mean it was a good signing, and I think our fans will start to realize this in a few years.

But then they can revisit that they liked this signing when nearly every non-Ranger fan thinks this is an overpayment.

It was due to the NTC, the fact that Stepan is showing some signs of decline (and, by the way, the team has access to far more testing capabilities than we do) and the fact that Gorton clearly wants to take the team in a different direction, stylistically. Never said the NTC wasn't part of the equation, but it wasn't just that.

 

[Ratelleitlikeitis]

Would you say Smith and Klein are comparable before KK's decline? Little bit of unexpected offence at times, but can skate and clear out.

 

[Krams]

Would you say Smith and Klein are comparable before KK's decline? Little bit of unexpected offence at times, but can skate and clear out.

Smith has always been consistently better than Klein at getting the puck out of his own zone.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I'll take Klein over Smith before Klein's injury. Better offensively, better defensively. Also right-handed.

 

[Tawnos]

I am not a big fan, OTOH I understand Gorts not wanting to gamble too much with his blueline.

But Smith has never scored 20 pts in a NHL season, and he is a bit of an offensive minded D. He is hardly a wiz at moving the puck up ice. He is struggling on deep defense since he is a LHS on the right side, not great on the PK or late shifts to protect leads. It's a market price for a top UFA. But I recon we like his attitude more than anything else.

No he isn't...

 

[Avery16]

Wings fans laughing because we signed "Girardi 2.0"

You're signing Girardi 1.0 on Saturday, have fun.

Yeah and probs for a cool million on a one year deal with NO NTC/NMC

 

[mrmovies779]

I am not a big fan, OTOH I understand Gorts not wanting to gamble too much with his blueline.

But Smith has never scored 20 pts in a NHL season, and he is a bit of an offensive minded D. He is hardly a wiz at moving the puck up ice. He is struggling on deep defense since he is a LHS on the right side, not great on the PK or late shifts to protect leads. It's a market price for a top UFA. But I recon we like his attitude more than anything else.

I read this and wonder if you have ever really seen him play before

 

[mrmovies779]

Dont mind this move at all,good term,good money,and he brings it every game.Also gives us something no one else on the blue line does-toughness with a nasty mean streak

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

This move really solidifies the second pairing. Smith will allow Skjei to take some more risks offensively.

Just my opinion but Skjei's confidence improved after being paired with Smith.

About $350k overpaid on a AAV basis but whatever. Now just have to add that #1 RD.

 

[chosen]

I'd have offered him $3.8m and told him to talk a walk if he wanted anything more than that. It's an overpayment for a guy who suppresses shots well in his role, but generates absolutely no offense.

I have a feeling this topic will be a very popular one to discuss in two-years.

The difference between the salaries here will play no role in how he is perceived by the fanbase. If he works out, fans will be happy. If he doesn't, fans will be unhappy.

 

[Levitate]

Smith was offensive minded in college. He has the ability to jump into the play a bit though, just doesn't often result in a lot.

He's a better skater than Klein ever was and he moves the puck better in his own end that Klein ever did.

 

[Thirty One]

Smith was offensive minded in college. He has the ability to jump into the play a bit though, just doesn't often result in a lot.

He's a better skater than Klein ever was and he moves the puck better in his own end that Klein ever did.

On the flip side, once they are in their own zone, Klein is better at defending.

 

[Tawnos]

Smith was offensive minded in college. He has the ability to jump into the play a bit though, just doesn't often result in a lot.

He's a better skater than Klein ever was and he moves the puck better in his own end that Klein ever did.

Which was 7 years ago and doesn't really inform the player he is today.

 

[Levitate]

On the flip side, once they are in their own zone, Klein is better at defending.

opinion or stats to back that up?

Smith is very good at suppressing shots when generally means he's very good at defending.

Klein could never move the puck all that well either

 

[Bob Richards]

Skjei-Smith forever!

Well, maybe not forever but Skjei-Smith for the foreseeable future as determined by the New York Rangers cap structure!