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

[gump116]

I'm a big Smith fan but I really do view him as a good 3rd pairing guy. Ironically he is probably the 3rd best dman on our team currently. In an ideal situation we have Smith and Clendo as our 3rd pairing next season with McD and Brady playing ahead of Smith on the left side.

Pretty much what I'm hoping for. Ideally trade Klein and buyout Girardi. Sign Shattenkirk and Smith. Gives us something like:

McD-Shattenkirk
Staal-Skjei
Smith-Clendening
Graves/Holden

 

[Raspewtin]

Why do we view Smith as a 3rd pair D?

 

[TheTakedown]

Why do we view Smith as a 3rd pair D?

Mostly because he is LD and he's not as good as both McD and Skjei...

but with Smith being here, as a guy who can play RD, I see no reason why our D next year shouldn't be, assuming Girardi buyout:

McDonagh-Shattenkirk
Skjei-Smith
Staal/Holden-Clendening
Staal/Holden

Staal and Holden combined provide a) Depth in the event that Staal is traded, and b) two very adequate stopgaps that allow Graves to come up at his own pace. Once Graves is ready, you move Staal, use Holden as your spare.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Staal shouldn't be getting more minutes than Smith.

 

[Zil]

Staal shouldn't be getting more minutes than Smith.

Staal shouldn't be getting minutes.

 

[darko]

Smith is a legit top-4 d-man. We now have 3 of them in McD/Skjei/Smith.

I don't get this 3rd pairing talk.

 

[jay from jersey]

nah

Smith is a legit top-4 d-man. We now have 3 of them in McD/Skjei/Smith.

I don't get this 3rd pairing talk.

I think he can fill in nicely, but thru the rigors of a full season, he is best slated on 3rd pairing as a really good #5 D who is physical and can skate. MY Fantasy scenario is that GMJG can trade staal trade or buyout Girardi and have a D of

McDonagh--Trouba (3)/ Faulk(4.8)

Skjei--Shattenkirk(6yr 6mill)

Graves--Smith (3.1 per)

Clendening/Gilmour

Hank
Raanta

do it gorts

 

[Miamipuck]

Smith is a legit top-4 d-man. We now have 3 of them in McD/Skjei/Smith.

I don't get this 3rd pairing talk.

I completely agree but assuming Skjei and McD, Smith can't be penciled in above those 2 as of now. If he's playing the right side than hell yes, he's better than a 3rd pair guy.

Skill wise, he's definitely better than a 3rd. pairing dman, at least in my opinion, roster wise that's the hold up.

 

[Mac n Gs]

If Nick Holden can play 2nd pairing minutes all season on his off side, then so can Brendan Smith, who's easily better than Nick Holden.

 

[darko]

I completely agree but assuming Skjei and McD, Smith can't be penciled in above those 2 as of now. If he's playing the right side than hell yes, he's a 3rd pair guy.

Skill wise, he's definitely better than a 3rd. pairing dman, at least in my opinion, roster wise that's the hold up.

Smith needs to play the right side.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Smith, while being LH, plays the right side. I really liked him while paired with McDonagh.

 

[Miamipuck]

Smith needs to play the right side.

Sorry for the error in my other post let me clarify: We are in agreement.

I meant if he plays the right side he is definitely better than third pairing both on the depth chart and skill wise. On the left, he's 3rd pair via the depth chart, skill wise certainly better but barring injury would never get there. He should definitely play the right side.

I will edit that post....

 

[darko]

Sorry for the error in my other post let me clarify: We are in agreement.

I meant if he plays the right side he is definitely better than third pairing both on the depth chart and skill wise. On the left, he's 3rd pair via the depth chart, skill wise certainly better but barring injury would never get there. He should definitely play the right side.

I will edit that post....

All good man.

We desperately need d-man to play the right side and because Smith can i predominantly see him as RHD.

 

[True Blue]

If Nick Holden can play 2nd pairing minutes all season on his off side, then so can Brendan Smith, who's easily better than Nick Holden.

"Can" and "should" are two entirely different things.

 

[True Blue]

I think he can fill in nicely, but thru the rigors of a full season, he is best slated on 3rd pairing as a really good #5 D who is physical and can skate.

Just curious, when do we get to see that aspect?

 

[Off Sides]

If Nick Holden can play 2nd pairing minutes all season on his off side, then so can Brendan Smith, who's easily better than Nick Holden.

That is sort of what I am trying to convey, it's not that Holden should have ever played top 4 all season, he did because they had to play him above where he should be played. So even if Smith is better, which I'd agree he is at least more stable, it may not mean he should play top 4 all season.

The Rangers are going to fix their RD side with a huge contract to Shattenkirk, and then play what would be better off a 3rd pair guy right behind him on the 2nd pair.

So two players who are going to get minutes and roles they've never held before for any full seasons, at the ages of 28-29, and they are going to excel in doing so, at a combined ~10-11M cap hit, ~14M if one includes a Girardi buyout, Does that not seem overly optimistic?

That would be better than what they have, most things would, but should either or both player not be able to handle it, then what? There is no RD version of Skjei possibly coming up to mitigate that and if there was he'd eventually deserve the 2nd pair minutes that the Rangers are already allocating to Smith who is carrying a top 4 cap hit.

 

[csk]

Hey guys, I'm just wondering if you think this guy will be resigned?

Additional question: does he PK?

 

[GordonGecko]

Hey guys, I'm just wondering if you think this guy will be resigned?

Additional question: does he PK?

His market value to the team seems to be going down with every game

 

[True Blue]

His market value to the team seems to be going down with every game

And I am still waiting to see the physical edge he is supposed to bring.

 

[TGWL]

He hasn't done anything to justify a raise next year. If he's looking for a lot more money he can walk. Right now he's not playing like a good top 4, but neither are most Rangers D-men.

 

[NickyFotiu]

And I am still waiting to see the physical edge he is supposed to bring.

He has shown some periodically. He is more physical than most our defense especially in front of our net. He is similar to Klein when we first got Klein. A solid 3rd pairing Dman who can move up if needed.

 

[True Blue]

He has shown some periodically. He is more physical than most our defense especially in front of our net.

Was really hoping to see that "edge".

He is similar to Klein when we first got Klein. A solid 3rd pairing Dman who can move up if needed.

The trade is looking like another Eric Staal trade. Except instead of sending away 2 second round picks for a third line center, the Rangers gave away a 2nd and a 3rd round pick for a 3rd pairing defenseman.

 

[Raspewtin]

He hasn't done anything to justify a raise next year. If he's looking for a lot more money he can walk. Right now he's not playing like a good top 4, but neither are most Rangers D-men.

I was unaware deciding on a raise should be entirely based on a sample size of 17 games.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Was really hoping to see that "edge".

The trade is looking like another Eric Staal trade. Except instead of sending away 2 second round picks for a third line center, the Rangers gave away a 2nd and a 3rd round pick for a 3rd pairing defenseman.

I do not agree with that. I didn't like the Staal trade but I think a 2nd round pick was near Smiths value. I look at the 3rd round pick as a trading deadline premium paid to try out a player before "buying" him.

 

[Trxjw]

Seems like Wings fans really had him pegged. Underwhelming to say the least.