The guy is out of sync in all facets of his game. He's not dominating the faceoff circle. He's not playing great on the PK. He kills any offense that the 4th line might generate. He fit his role well in the past but we have plenty of guys that can do what he does in addition to being offensive threats. Time to sit in the presser and fill in when needed.
The guy is out of sync in all facets of his game. He's not dominating the faceoff circle. He's not playing great on the PK. He kills any offense that the 4th line might generate. He fit his role well in the past but we have plenty of guys that can do what he does in addition to being offensive threats. Time to sit in the presser and fill in when needed.
Just what does he have to do at the dot to qualify as "dominating"? Apparently 56%+ on the entire season isn't enough ... the 88% against the Canucks isn't.
Just what does he have to do at the dot to qualify as "dominating"? Apparently 56%+ on the entire season isn't enough ... the 88% against the Canucks isn't.
Once again, if all he's bringing is faceoffs then he needs to sit or be gone. That's the point.
Once again, if all he's bringing is faceoffs then he needs to sit or be gone. That's the point.
So the point of him not dominating at the dot wasn't your point? Now the point is all he does is win faceoffs? What's next, he doesn't hit enough except that he's 3rd on the team in hits?
So much anger directed at a role player is hilarious.
So much anger directed at a role player is hilarious.[/QUOTE]
Yea cause he sucks and is worthless to us now. Dude come on, most of the posters here see it, most of the intelligent fan base sees it. Smithson is a waste of ice. He's been surpassed
So the point of him not dominating at the dot wasn't your point? Now the point is all he does is win faceoffs? What's next, he doesn't hit enough except that he's 3rd on the team in hits?
So much anger directed at a role player is hilarious.
So much defense of a role player is even more hilarious. If all a guy does is win faceoffs, what's the point of having him on your team. It's like saying a guy who only blocks shots is valuable. Tell me what he brings to the team at this point that warrants Halischuk sitting today? He didn't hardly play on the PK either so if he's not even playing on the PK, what does bring?
So much defense of a role player is even more hilarious. If all a guy does is win faceoffs, what's the point of having him on your team. It's like saying a guy who only blocks shots is valuable. Tell me what he brings to the team at this point that warrants Halischuk sitting today? He didn't hardly play on the PK either so if he's not even playing on the PK, what does bring?
As I've said repeatedly, he's a role player. (use the search function if you'd like to confirm that I've said it repeatedly)
Three kills so far in the Boston game .... 1:36 of short handed time. He's taking over 25% of the PK time. 1-2 at the dot .... 100% in the defensive zone.
He can lose over 40 consecutive draws and still have a higher FO% than Spaling, but winning the draw isn't important. Of the forwards, only Toots has more hits.
His skill sets are becoming more and more redundant, but, they aren't completely covered by those of other players yet.
As I've said repeatedly, he's a role player. (use the search function if you'd like to confirm that I've said it repeatedly)
Three kills so far in the Boston game .... 1:36 of short handed time. He's taking over 25% of the PK time. 1-2 at the dot .... 100% in the defensive zone.
He can lose over 40 consecutive draws and still have a higher FO% than Spaling, but winning the draw isn't important. Of the forwards, only Toots has more hits.
His skill sets are becoming more and more redundant, but, they aren't completely covered by those of other players yet.
Have faceoffs affected our win loss percentage over the years? No. Do we have guys that can fill his role? Yes. The thing everyone is concerned with from our forwards is scoring. Having in the lineup does not help whatever line he is on. He has no offensive ability. You talk about winning faceoffs and while that's a nice thing that he brings, what about all the times he can't control the puck on his stick from a simple pass and loses the puck? Are we going to find a way to defend that too? He loses the puck off his stick more than he wins faceoffs during a game. In that case we lose possession which is just as bad as winning or losing a faceoff.
How many forwards can play the PK? Legwand, Erat, Fisher, SK, Spaling, Hali, Bourque and even Tootoo in a pinch. That's 8 guys. That's more than enough.
There was one sequence in the second where he couldn't clear the puck out of the zone, 3 times. 3 times in one freaking sequence. One time, the puck went right to their guy at the point for a good scoring opportunity. Once again, winning faceoffs and hitting a few guys does not outweigh the bad things he's doing on the ice these days. Notice how much time he got in the third?
Yes, he's a role player. Do we need a one dimensional sort of guy on this team anymore. No. McGrattan is the exception since he has the ability to go toe to toe with other teams heavyweights.
And while we're at it, I've never been a fan of Smithson. He's been tolerated because we didn't have the pieces or the skills to replace him. We do now. If he never sees the ice again for the Preds I'd be more than happy about this. He's gotten older, slower, has no offensive skill, has no instincts for the game and is honestly here because of Trotz's love for his vets. At some point, hopefully sooner than later, he's gone.
I like Lays Potato Chips so that would do for me I just think Smithson hurts rather than helps the team. Everytime he is on the ice, he scares me.
don't say that... some defend him as a role player, pk specialist to the death.. I agree he has been passed up and has lost a step.. its his time to go.. whether its now or the offseason
Best way to drop him is trying to package him in a deal..but then again no self-respecting team would want him...so best to just waive him in the end or perma scratch. The problem being..Trotz will play him even if we have better players who are healthy...he's just killing us like a slow reacting poison.
Costly Turnovers (Big Problem)
Costly Penalties (Big Problem)
Can't Score (Slight Problem)
Can't Move the Puck (Medium Problem)
Can't Pass very well (Medium Problem)
Take what you will from this...without emphasis on the scoring problem..he's still got a ton of problems that are part of his "roleplaying" he's supposed to be doing during the PK. The kid can't even clear the zone right half the time and a lot of the time his attempts end up allowing them to set-up a nice scoring chance.
Penalties Penalties Penalties...why? If he's supposed to be a role-player then why is he taking so many penalties?
He's not just outlived his "use" he's detrimental to the team at this point. Name one time this year that we've all thought "Glad we had Smithson on the team for that one"? His role could be filled by a monkey on skates and our PK hasn't been good this year mainly because Smithson is on it. With the addition of Gill we will improve..with the removal of Smithson I dare say we'll climb into the top 10 for sure.
Yeah you're right. All I will say is I hope he plays better. Otherwise I won't mind if he gets less ice time. They can just have him in the faceoffs and then bench him right after he is done w/ the face offs. He needs to do a better job clearing the puck out of our end if he wants more ice time.
He wins faceoffs, he forechecks, he plays defense and kills penalties ... and does those well. That's his role. He would have to lose 43 consecutive draws for his percentage to drop to Spaling's FO%. He's not a scorer .. never has been, never will be but he has a skill set that is much needed when playing teams like the Canucks who usually dominate at the dot and are extremely dangerous on the power play.
I'm wondering about some nagging injury, because in two of those areas he just doesn't seem like the same player to me. In the penalty kill, Smitty used to play in a lot more aggressively than he does now. He used to try to make some chaos by occasional hitting and jumping into passing lanes. Now, he seems to be playing it ultraconservatively with very little pressure and only using positioning. On the forecheck, he used to do a good job of taking away the middle of the ice and angling the puck carrier. This year, he seem just a little out of position. Improvements in the forechecks of some of our younger players have hidden the fact that Smitty and Legwand have lost a step.
As I've said repeatedly, he's a role player. (use the search function if you'd like to confirm that I've said it repeatedly)
Three kills so far in the Boston game .... 1:36 of short handed time. He's taking over 25% of the PK time. 1-2 at the dot .... 100% in the defensive zone.
He can lose over 40 consecutive draws and still have a higher FO% than Spaling, but winning the draw isn't important. Of the forwards, only Toots has more hits.
His skill sets are becoming more and more redundant, but, they aren't completely covered by those of other players yet.
So that amounts to less than one possession per game with all the faceoffs he wins. How often does he lose the puck off his stick or hinder an offensive attack during a game? At least once a game so it evens out. Role players need to do more than one role. Faceoffs and PK are not enough for a player on this team to be able to do. He is out of sync and looks lost on the ice.
So that amounts to less than one possession per game with all the faceoffs he wins. How often does he lose the puck off his stick or hinder an offensive attack during a game? At least once a game so it evens out. Role players need to do more than one role. Faceoffs and PK are not enough for a player on this team to be able to do. He is out of sync and looks lost on the ice.
Officially Smithson has 5 more takeaways than giveaways ... Spaling has 18 more. Smithson has won 59 more faceoffs than he's lost ... Spaling just 19 more than he's lost. Just like most whipping boys .. what good he does is completely overlooked (especially when he does do anything offensively), but any perceived wrong is amplified to the level of high crimes.
Of the Preds forwards, Smithson has the highest PK quality of competition, most PK mins per game, his GA/60 shorthanded is better than Spaling, Legwand (only Erat and SK currently have fewer goals/60 SH TOI).
Funny how much attention a role player gets .... Smithson, Ellis and the great debate if he should be scratched.
Officially Smithson has 5 more takeaways than giveaways ... Spaling has 18 more. Smithson has won 59 more faceoffs than he's lost ... Spaling just 19 more than he's lost. Just like most whipping boys .. what good he does is completely overlooked (especially when he does do anything offensively), but any perceived wrong is amplified to the level of high crimes.
Of the Preds forwards, Smithson has the highest PK quality of competition, most PK mins per game, his GA/60 shorthanded is better than Spaling, Legwand (only Erat and SK currently have fewer goals/60 SH TOI).
Funny how much attention a role player gets .... Smithson, Ellis and the great debate if he should be scratched.
Do stats tell the entire story with Smithson? No. I'd rather him sit for what I perceive as errors offensively that cost us the puck. Of course he's not going to be credited with a giveaway when he dumps and chases. Towards the end of the second is a perfect example. 5 seconds left in the period, he's coming down the right wing side and just gives up the puck. He had two guys going to the net. Take the puck to the net or shoot the puck, instead, just dumps it in. Dallas could not have gone the other way and done anything with the puck. You have to know the time, situation and possibilities. He could've taken the puck to the net but instead dumps and pulls up. Sorry, he just stops any offensive threat we have and I'm tired of the stone hands.
Of the forwards, only Toots has more hits. 
I just think Smithson hurts rather than helps the team. Everytime he is on the ice, he scares me.
