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

[GordonGecko]

You know who was really good at faceoffs last year?

Brandon Pirri.

I'm surprised you didn't go with league leading Tanner Glass, master of 100% faceoff wins
http://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage?show_all=1

 

[silverfish]

I'm surprised you didn't go with league leading Tanner Glass, master of 100% faceoff wins
http://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage?show_all=1

Sample size!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Didn't want to embarrass you

Again, I still think it's ludicrous to say he's as bad offensively as Staal. I know he hasn't historically put up offense at the NHL level, but I'll give the guy some credit for coming in here and putting up 8 in 30. I'm not even expecting him to put up 30 points, I'll take 20 and leave it. What he does on defense far outweighs what we need from him offensively.

Now back to the main point, I'm still wondering how you can actually think he's as bad offensively as someone who literally had numerous plays just die on their stick at the left point because they couldn't handle a simple pass, how many shots he just fired aimlessly at the net that had no chance of going in, and how he can barely pass since his vision is damaged. Staal had 10 points this year and 0 in the playoffs. There aren't many defenseman who are currently as bad offensively as Marc Staal (and no, Smith isn't one). Staal's only saving grace right now is that he can defend one-on-ones still decently enough and can PK. This isn't pre-injury Staal we're talking about who actually appeared to have some decent offensive potential.

Because I don't consider offense to be who can skate the puck out of the zone and pass it out of the zone, as well. Thats important, but not what I'd consider offense. To me, offense is points, creating quality scoring chances. Smith does not put up points. If this was just a one season thing where he had good underlying stats, we could maybe say it was just an unlucky offensive season, but this has been his whole career. He has absolutely no offense in his game. Doesn't make him a bad player, but as bad as Staal is offensively, and I completely agree that we are talking about one of the worst offensively players in the NHL, Smith has not proven to be much better offensively, despite people wanting him to be. He has to prove it, he's had a long NHL career, and hasn't.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You "differ" on the topic because one person (not you) understands it.

You are always right, and everyone else is always wrong.

This is a message board, but I guess some people feel that they will "win" a discussion.

 

[Irishguy42]

https://www.nhl.com/news/brendan-sm...o-terms-on-contract/c-290188150?tid=281072352

Seems like Smith really enjoys being with the Rangers. To say that he looked at other teams offers and kept coming back to the Rangers pretty much says it all.

Can't blame him. Detroit sucked and will continue to suck.

Seems like playing on a team that actually does well gave him a boost of confidence, which affected his play.

And he is playing with a great friend in McDonagh. And he really enjoyed playing with Skjei...as did we all.

Good stuff.

 

[Larrybiv]

3.8 is the vicinity I was hoping for, as well. Hope this doesn't blow up in our face.

How in the heck can a 4.375 x 4 blow up in our face in comparison to a 6x6 or whatever Dan or Marc were getting? It's only 4 years......it's those extra 2 that hurt really bad......or at least in most cases.

I think it's a GREAT deal, a player that played well (and in the PO's) tough as nails (which is basically devoid on this team) and LOVES playing here.

What else can you want? I like him and he is a much needed player on this team.
Worth every penny.

 

[Larrybiv]

Maybe a bit overpaid, but nothing disastrous. We're talking maybe $250k. Not that big of a deal in the long-run.

The deal is only 4 years, which is nice. He's still fairly young at 28 now. Don't see a problem here.

What he brings is part of what this team needs--good defense and some snarl. He can play all over the top-6. He had good chemistry with Skjei to boot. It gives us options.

McDonagh - Smith
Skjei - Holden/Bereglazov/Pionk
Staal - DeAngelo

Really, that top-6 could work and Staal's contract is the only ugly one. I wonder if this means that the organization is committing to DeAngelo as our answer to the PMD problem.

I hope this doesn't mean we're standing pat, though. We could still use help on the right side.

EDIT: Why an NTC? I'd offer an NTC if he gave us a deal, otherwise...

Maybe he was asking 4.75, but we couldn't do that.....so we threw in the "limited" part. No one wants to get traded to some of the "lower tier" teams.

 

[Larrybiv]

I love HF, man, I really do.

Everything people were worried about with Stepan is legitimately brushed away for Smith and this is a 'great signing'

This place <3

Throwing every stat there is out the window......if you want to compare losing one with gaining one.......this team needs to be TUFFER!

Stepan's time was done here.......just like Cally. Can't allow this team to grow OLD and STALE. Avoid that at all costs. Has Stepan EVER hit an opposing player?
Weak and soft, horrible on PP, horrible shot, just one move with shootout, but was a helluva "thinker", and made great outlet bank passes that cannot be duplicated by anyone else, except Zuccha. I'm happy he is gone, but will miss him just a little.

 

[Larrybiv]

Knowledge is power.

No. The "correct usage" of knowledge is power.

 

[Larrybiv]

Same people complaining over nonsense

Good signing

Easier to get responses. Almost equivalent to this "click bait" people out there. Anything to get attention.

 

[Matz03]

I didn't like the original trade that got him here, but glad we got a test drive before committing to a 4 year deal. He fits the system, plays both sides well, and isn't much older than the core. The picks didn't go to waste the time. It was really fun watching him and Skjei play together and complement each other. Hopefully we can get someone to complement McDonagh as well.

 

[Larrybiv]

GIRARDI AND HOLDEN played over him last season. Do you really want to bet

That was last year......AV has learned his lesson......uhhhh wait.

AV will have 6 months to figure it out? Uhhhh wait again.

AV now has Ruff to "strongly suggest" playing Smitty in top 4 role.

Take your pick.

 

[Larrybiv]

Would have liked him at 4 mill but more important was the years to me. Im willing to pay the extra 300k as long as its not a 5 year deal.

Hey Nicky......if HF is complaining NOW, about this......what happens if we re-sign him when his contract expires? OMG! This place will blow up!

 

[Larrybiv]

I think he wants him too, but isn't trying to show his hand. I also think he can live with missing out on Shattenkirk if he gets a 6 year, $7M+ kind of deal.

I think it might also depend on "which team" is also in the running for him.

I think the Caps liked what he brought......not sure about the Caps cap.
If the Pens are trying to get him......do we allow that to happen? Jeez I shudder.

What about the Debbie's or Islanders? Plenty of cap room for them.
Oh yeah and let's not forget about the Jackets, they could use him.

Carolina not so much as they supposedly are stacked there.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Throwing every stat there is out the window......if you want to compare losing one with gaining one.......this team needs to be TUFFER!

Stepan's time was done here.......just like Cally. Can't allow this team to grow OLD and STALE. Avoid that at all costs. Has Stepan EVER hit an opposing player?
Weak and soft, horrible on PP, horrible shot, just one move with shootout, but was a helluva "thinker", and made great outlet bank passes that cannot be duplicated by anyone else, except Zuccha. I'm happy he is gone, but will miss him just a little.

Just saying things doesn't mean they're right

 

[Larrybiv]

People get so hung up on how to build a winning team, and it's less about the how, and more about the who anyway. The best chance this team has had to win the 'Cup since the last time they won it was by magically selecting Lundqvist in the 7th round. I mean seriously, did anyone plan for that? Was getting a Hall of Fame bound goaltender part of a "rebuild" or "strategy" no, it was dumb luck with a small amount of foresight by one scout.

There is no right way to build a winning team, and the only wrong way to do it is by giving out bad contracts to guys who don't deserve them because they "bled blue" or whatever other superfluous ******** you want to try and quantify mediocre players who try really hard with. The bottom line is there's a lot of luck involved in winning, and the only thing you can hope for is that the GM puts the team in the best position to win when the opportunity is there.

One could play devil's advocate and say......that if we hadn't gotten lucky with Hank and picked the similar loser player that we usually do........we "could have" had top 5 picks for years 2005-2007 or 8, we did a 180 when we grabbed him and no legit rebuild.

 

[Larrybiv]

Absolutely one of the silliest things I've ever read on these boards and there's been a lot of silly statements. How can possession have no impact???

One might say if you have Girardi and Staal on the ice for 20 minutes a game to give it right back.

 

[Larrybiv]

Frankly I find it amazing that anyone growing up & watching the team during the 97-04 Rangers era is even a fan. Hardcore ones at that.

I was 26 when that dark era started & it was beyond bad. Unwatchable. Like Machinehead so eloquently stated, it was torture watching us get embarrassed on Fox every Saturday afternoon until it continued on ABC. One of the few highlights over that time was seeing Cloutier beat up Soderstrom.

Not sure what was worse, the terrible play on the ice or the incompetence of the front office. Bad trades, bad signings, & awful drafts one after another for 10 years. It got to the point where I lost interest in the team & the NHL for 5-6 years. I'm surprised I came back as a fan after the cancelled season. Which leads me back to my original point of how amazing it is that a bunch of you guys who weren't lucky enough to see us win the cup & grew up during that 97-04 run became diehard fans. Kudos.

However, anyone who thinks we should tank & doesn't mind 2-3-4 lost seasons is missing the point. Those 4 seasons turn into 23 years really quickly. They turned into 54 years for another generation just as fast. Next year isn't guaranteed for any of us, especially for guys in their 70s & 80s who still bleed blue. Food for thought.

Thanks Boris.....kudos to you, I am similar (56) and similar thoughts. You forgot just one thing......when the garden announcer (Joe Tolleson?) stated 1 minute remaining in the game......to a thunderous roar! What a relief of bad hockey.

 

[Larrybiv]

Just saying things doesn't mean they're right

Not saying I am "right", per sé.......but I am pretty sure the majority would agree, and even if no one does.....Mr. Gorton saw to it.

 

[Machinehead]

You are always right, and everyone else is always wrong.

This is a message board, but I guess some people feel that they will "win" a discussion.

I always win. I'm undefeated like Gordon Bombay in the courtroom.

 

[aufheben]

https://www.nhl.com/news/brendan-sm...o-terms-on-contract/c-290188150?tid=281072352

Seems like Smith really enjoys being with the Rangers. To say that he looked at other teams offers and kept coming back to the Rangers pretty much says it all.

Can't blame him. Detroit sucked and will continue to suck.

Seems like playing on a team that actually does well gave him a boost of confidence, which affected his play.

And he is playing with a great friend in McDonagh. And he really enjoyed playing with Skjei...as did we all.

Good stuff.

Probably a little less nerve-racking looking back to the bench and seeing AV chewing gum instead of Babcock scanning the ice for unsuspecting field mice.

 

[KOVALEV022473]

https://www.nhl.com/news/brendan-sm...o-terms-on-contract/c-290188150?tid=281072352

Seems like Smith really enjoys being with the Rangers. To say that he looked at other teams offers and kept coming back to the Rangers pretty much says it all.

Can't blame him. Detroit sucked and will continue to suck.

Seems like playing on a team that actually does well gave him a boost of confidence, which affected his play.

And he is playing with a great friend in McDonagh. And he really enjoyed playing with Skjei...as did we all.

Good stuff.

Nice! Can someone link the article where Avery spoke about all the additional perks and how well the organization treats its players, please?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Nice! Can someone link the article where Avery spoke about all the additional perks and how well the organization treats its players, please?

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/the-new-avery-rule/


To me, this is one of the best articles ever on TPB

When I was with the New York Rangers  who are the cream of the crop in looking after their guys  here’s how it went. If we had a road game, we were chauffeured to the airport in a town car, or, if we were hitting the road after a home game, we were driven to the airport on a luxurious bus with plush leather seats and snacks and drinks (same as in the town car). The team paid.

At the airport, we boarded a chartered jet. No ticket needed. The flight attendants knew us, so they’d have my ice tea with two sugars waiting when I settled into a roomy leather seat. If I wanted champagne, I got champagne. I also got fed three fine meals with multiple courses if the trip was long enough. They also provided various snacks and sandwiches we could throw in our bags for later. All on the house.

Once we arrived in the road trip city, we were driven to our five-star hotel. In the morning, we’d have a sumptuous breakfast of pancakes, waffles, omelettes, Eggs Benedict, bacon and sausage, cereals and fruit, whatever we liked. Again, all paid for.

After the morning skate, we’d return to the hotel for lunch  a massive buffet with prime rib, salmon and pastas, an awesome salad bar, and a superb a la carte menu to order from as well. Then we’d nap. After the game, the training staff ordered us pizza and pasta as we got ready to fly to the next city. And then we ate and drank again on the plane, though some killjoy coaches would ban booze if the team lost. That’s motivation for quite a few guys!

So what about that $96 per diem? Never had to touch it.

 

[KOVALEV022473]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/the-new-avery-rule/


To me, this is one of the best articles ever on TPB

Thanks, AK!!

This is a large part of the attractiveness of this organization and it's refreshing to read a behind the scenes perspective at the way they operate.

 

[dstoffa]

People get so hung up on how to build a winning team, and it's less about the how, and more about the who anyway. The best chance this team has had to win the 'Cup since the last time they won it was by magically selecting Lundqvist in the 7th round. I mean seriously, did anyone plan for that? Was getting a Hall of Fame bound goaltender part of a "rebuild" or "strategy" no, it was dumb luck with a small amount of foresight by one scout.

And the Assistant GM trumping the Director of Scouting at the time...

http://nypost.com/2014/06/02/the-incredible-saga-of-how-rangers-lucked-upon-lundqvist/