Regardless of how many chances Smith has in the faceoff dot does not make him better at faceoffs than Spaling at THIS very moment. You're also saying with practice he'll get better? See Legwand. 12 years in the league hasn't made him that much better. He has improved but he's not over 50% for his career. Stats do not lie. If Trotz and the staff felt that Smith was good at faceoffs, why isn't he taking them? Why did the acquire Gaustad? Too many things point to this being a weakness at this point in time with Smith in the dot. You can spin it any way you want. I could spin it that Legwand is the greatest thing since sliced bread but it would be pointless to do so. All players have strengths and weaknesses. Right now, Smith is not good in the dot, plain and simple.
You want to argue Smith "shouldn't" sit, then when challenged with the statement of fact that Spals is better on the dot than Smith you wanna argue you're not sure when he's taken a faceoff? and that he "might" get better with more practice? Well, gee whiz - maybe we should let him take the defensive zone faceoffs against Det and see how he does?
When you say he's better than Hals and are asked how their scoring compares you say Smith has gotten more assists - forgetting that Hals has pretty much skated with guys like Smithson all year and Smith with the skill guys. They've scored basically the same number of goals, and Hals is without question a stronger defensive player - and that's the role of a 3rd or 4th liner - to chip in on O and be good on D. Oh, and Hals kills penalties, too. So, sure Smith sets up guys better than Hals - how much is that gonna' help if he's skating with Gausted and Bourque and Yip? Again, it's about roles and balancing the lines.
No one on the board is crazy enough to argue the Smith doesn't have better overall SKILL than Hals, Toots, etc. But, today - he is not the best player to contribute in the role that all of those folks are asked to play. If he'd quit doing the things rookies do - like forgetting their defensive assignments - his O might outweigh his D and faceoff deficiency. But he's not proved that yet, and he's likely - just like Colin did - to find himself sitting out much, if not all, of the POs if he can't show Trotz he can stop doing boneheaded things.
You can let jo blow take a faceoff in the other teams zone it doesn't do much good if your team cannot keep possession. I would rather have Fisher and Goose take a faceoff if it came to it. It seems people think every player on the Predators should be faceoff and d specialist. Funny how people scream for offense but then say a player sucks in his rookie year because he is 44% in the faceoff dot and is not Legwand on Defense.
Halischuk has played on the same lines as Smith and has several years of ice time.
So the line excuse is invalid.
only someone with a chip on their shoulder would take my use of the word "benched" as perjorative.
I used the term benched as descriptive... you know, interchangable with "scratched"..
you are reading too much meaning into a word...
Im just wondering why you are so protective of Smith??
I read into your word of "benched" in the exact context you put it so you can back track all you want to.
Fact is he was not in the lineup for a couple of games and the reasoning could be my opinion or yours. I proved my point that he plays just as well as others on the 3rd and 4th line.
I am not a Klein hater but i am not going to sit back on here and not to react to others who think he is a 2nd line D-man and refuse to admit the mistakes he makes.
The same goes for Smith. I am going to give my opinion when people like you are on here saying he is being "benched" because he sucks, does not produce, and should be replaced with players who are no better than he is.
Last edited by ThirdManIn: 03-14-2012 at 11:32 AM.
Reason: flaming/edited quote
Regardless of how many chances Smith has in the faceoff dot does not make him better at faceoffs than Spaling at THIS very moment. You're also saying with practice he'll get better? See Legwand. 12 years in the league hasn't made him that much better. He has improved but he's not over 50% for his career. Stats do not lie. If Trotz and the staff felt that Smith was good at faceoffs, why isn't he taking them? Why did the acquire Gaustad? Too many things point to this being a weakness at this point in time with Smith in the dot. You can spin it any way you want. I could spin it that Legwand is the greatest thing since sliced bread but it would be pointless to do so. All players have strengths and weaknesses. Right now, Smith is not good in the dot, plain and simple.
This is not about me spinning anything the faceoff dot was brought up because it is others excuse on why Spaling is better than Smith. Like i spin it you can spin it as well. With the same amount of faceoffs you, me, nor anyone else can give the %.
All players have weakness.
You do not know why Smith doesn't take more faceoffs. It could be because the lineup fits better with him as a winger or because his defense is not up to par so it would be more logical to have him at a wing spot where the defensive responsibility is less. Fact is with the percentages he could have the same face off percentage as Spaling with the same amount of chances.
oh really??
lets do a little math..
Spaling 51.6% x 772 = 398/772
Smith 44.8% x 346 = 155/346
398-155=243
772-346=426
243/426= 57.0%
so you are saying that smith would suddenly go from 44% to a consistent 57% winner in his next 426 faceoffs???
just be honest.... Spaling has the skillset needed to be a 3rd/4th line center.
Smith is better suited to a "scoring" line, especially if he's going to play center.
the problem is Smith is not better than Legwand, Fisher, Erat, the Kostitsyn brothers, or Wilson, so he doesnt have a slot on the type of line he's most suited for, right now...
as such, that will aftect his playing time
its nothing to be upset about... he's a rookie... as he gets better, he will get more time on the higher lines...
so you are saying that smith would suddenly go from 44% to a consistent 57% winner in his next 426 faceoffs???
just be honest.... Spaling has the skillset needed to be a 3rd/4th line center.
Smith is better suited to a "scoring" line, especially if he's going to play center.
the problem is Smith is not better than Legwand, Fisher, Erat, the Kostitsyn brothers, or Wilson, so he doesnt have a slot on the type of line he's most suited for, right now...
as such, that will aftect his playing time
its nothing to be upset about... he's a rookie... as he gets better, he will get more time on the higher lines...
Your math in no way can determine with the same amount of faceoffs which player would be better. At this time with the numbers Spaling is better. Sure Smith is better suited on a scoring line. Fisher, Erat, K's are better but i am not so sure if he had the same line mates as Legwand and Wilson that he would not be better offensively. Wilson is no better than Smith on Defense and IMO Smith has more talent than Wilson.
Im not upset just responding back with my thoughts.
Lets be sure to bench Smith because he shows a lot of promise but does not produce. Good job Smith on someone from the team finally scoring on a breakaway. Also nice back checking on D you made some nice defensive plays tonight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PredsV82
Imagine that... a young player gets benched and responds by stepping up his game...
sounds like a brilliant coaching move, as it seems to have helped both Smith and Wilson...
with the talent we have on this team now, nobody is "owed" a spot in the lineup every night... and knowing that there is competition for the slot they are in should be just the thing to keep those players hungry and working hard every shift, which is exactly what we need heading down the stretch...
just to be clear VFL... here's your origninal post, and my response...
it was YOU who said Smith was being "benched" (againg, YOUR word, not mine)for not producing... not me...
This personal attack crap has got to end. I'm tired of telling people. Infractions are going to start.
You are all familiar with the flaming rule, and, if you're not, then you are behind the curve. It's not our responsibility to educate anyone here, and I plan to stop trying at this point.
I want to see McGrattan vs. Parros Round 3 so I hope he gets at least 1 more [March 18th].
I think if trotz believes the Ducks will try to start something he might dress mcgrattan that night but the problem is Trotz already is having to rotate scratches and that would leave possibly 3 good young forwards scratched
I think if trotz believes the Ducks will try to start something he might dress mcgrattan that night but the problem is Trotz already is having to rotate scratches and that would leave possibly 3 good young forwards scratched
I think that'd be okay for only a single night, although I don't think Yip bring too much to the table
