Value of: Ty Smith

[Eggtimer]

I still think he has potential but he is one of those undersized guys on D that needs to put up points or he is useless. Reminds me of Mete with the Habs but he's actually producing more but not enough yet. Still time but those undersized guys on D who have skating/skill, need to be taken with a grain of salt.

I thnk he still might have potential to be better defensively and be more useful besides just a PP specialist and offensive Dman. His IQ is or at least was very good and had decent stick work and positioning , had good gap control and angles to the pick or defender. That was lost in translation somewhat this year but hopefully he can improve his overall game. It’s his skating / foot speed that needs to i prove then other aspects of his game should improve. Maybe needs to add some more muscle as well. Still a young whipper- snapper so who knows.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I thnk he still might have potential to be better defensively and be more useful besides just a PP specialist and offensive Dman. His IQ is or at least was very good and had decent stick work and positioning , had good gap control and angles to the pick or defender. That was lost in translation somewhat this year but hopefully he can improve his overall game. It’s his skating / foot speed that needs to i prove then other aspects of his game should improve. Maybe needs to add some more muscle as well. Still a young whipper- snapper so who knows.

His ability to neutralize along the walls and in front of the net will always be a challenge with his size. It's a huge part of a being a NHL defenseman. I can tolerate guys like this but you can only have a select few of them where they are producing offense for you. If they are not, they are useless.

Leafs still have hopes in Sandin but he clearly can and has been taken advantage of in his own end. It's one thing to be the Devils in rebuilding years but it's a completely different story with the Leafs who are trying to go on a run. Guys like this can cause key turnovers at the wrong time and cost you the game.

Habs just signed Harris who I feel has a similar game. Great skater, Great vision, smart but not physically strong enough to deal with the big boys in the NHL and there are a lot of them!

 

[My3Sons]

I still think he has potential but he is one of those undersized guys on D that needs to put up points or he is useless. Reminds me of Mete with the Habs but he's actually producing more but not enough yet. Still time but those undersized guys on D who have skating/skill, need to be taken with a grain of salt.

There was a time that people saw the league moving towards calling more obstruction and holding and stick calls that would have given more room to the smaller defender. I think the last couple of seasons have slowly allowed more clutching and holding and grabbing which makes it harder for undersized defenders. Even Makar and Girard git called out a bit in the playoffs and they are both excellent. I agree the NHL is a tough place for the smaller player who is not an elite skater.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I feel like one of the biggest problems for Smith has been, all of our RHS defensemen consider themselves offensive defensemen and expect their partner to most of the heavy lifting in their own end and Smith isn't equipped to handle that kind of responsibility.

I don't think they have to or should trade him, but if he's put in a package for a top 6 winger or legit goalie they'd be foolish to say no. He could end up being Will Butcher, but he could end up being a guy everyone laughs at us for giving up on too

 

[Habs Halifax]

There was a time that people saw the league moving towards calling more obstruction and holding and stick calls that would have given more room to the smaller defender. I think the last couple of seasons have slowly allowed more clutching and holding and grabbing which makes it harder for undersized defenders. Even Makar and Girard git called out a bit in the playoffs and they are both excellent. I agree the NHL is a tough place for the smaller player who is not an elite skater.

Skill and Skating is important and that will never change but the size/strength area of the game is also important. Size don't matter anymore type narrative was never really true when you look at the final 4 teams in each playoffs.

I have room for smaller guys but a team can only have so many of them. Got to limit it IMO and those guys needs to produce offense cause that is their game. If they are not, they are really useless or a liability at times.

Still time for Smith cause he is young and maturing/developing so we will see. He has to get pissed off and bust his ass off to prove the doubters wrong. Some do and some don't

 

[TBF1972]

I feel like one of the biggest problems for Smith has been, all of our RHS defensemen consider themselves offensive defensemen and expect their partner to most of the heavy lifting in their own end and Smith isn't equipped to handle that kind of responsibility.

I don't think they have to or should trade him, but if he's put in a package for a top 6 winger or legit goalie they'd be foolish to say no. He could end up being Will Butcher, but he could end up being a guy everyone laughs at us for giving up on too

once the devils signed hamilton, the one role smith was most valuable for in his rookie year, was taken away from him. with hamilton quarterbacking the pp1 smith lost a lot of appeal for the devils.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I dont think if all goes right for NJ that Smith is really needed but that doesnt mean they need to rush to trade him
he's just having a sophomore slump season.
Im sure as he plays more and learns the game at the NHL level he will only improve
let him play next season and continue his development.
I would never sell low on him or just a simple band-aid fix he has the ability to burn you later
NJ isnt really in a position imo to just let someone like Ty Smith go for cheap

 

[Smitty426]

I dont think if all goes right for NJ that Smith is really needed but that doesnt mean they need to rush to trade him
he's just having a sophomore slump season.
Im sure as he plays more and learns the game at the NHL level he will only improve
let him play next season and continue his development.
I would never sell low on him or just a simple band-aid fix he has the ability to burn you later
NJ isnt really in a position imo to just let someone like Ty Smith go for cheap

Slump is one thing. He looks like he just started playing hockey recently. I know thats an exageration but cmon! Sure not being as productive as last year is fine. He's making dumb, bone headed mistakes. He stayed an extra year in Jr, he's not new to playing D! Give him some rope but lets not thnk ALL the blunders are on his Soph year

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Slump is one thing. He looks like he just started playing hockey recently. I know thats an exageration but cmon! Sure not being as productive as last year is fine. He's making dumb, bone headed mistakes. He stayed an extra year in Jr, he's not new to playing D! Give him some rope but lets not thnk ALL the blunders are on his Soph year

The books out on him and players are exposing his weaknesses.
Its on him to learn from this season and come back
He's very young and as a Leafs fan I have seen my share of players not do well to be moved and they breakout
I think Smith will be fine even if he will no longer be in the long term view on the team with Hamilton and Luke Hughes
but no reason to move him just play him while Luke develops and move him if the price is right

 

[Oneiro]

I'd give him another year or at least until Thanksgiving to see if he can stabilize things over the summer. He's been stronger of late.

There were signs in his rookie season that there were issues but his fall off is so pronounced that I just think something is going on injury wise or personally (just a guess, no evidence).