Wilson & Smith

[codeman00]

Originally Posted by AtlantaWhaler

I know he was a rookie, but Smith showed last season that his confidence is fragile. He was great until December. After that missed net, there was weeks I forgot he was even on this team. Hopefully some experience gets him to forget the mistakes and keep up the good play.

I personally think that Smith's late season fall off was more a physical issue than a mental issue. I watched him a lot during the course of the year and he consistently was physically dominated, especially toward the end of the season. 1) The competition level was better at the end of the season and 2) Smith's body wasn't ready for a the length of a grueling NHL season. The coaches have stated #2 repeatedly, the last of which was Brent Peterson stating it at Sportsfest when I asked about Smith.

[Stranger]

Smith's dropoff is because he was a college player. He is used to a shorter season than the NHL. You'll find alot of college players who drop off after having a hot start. He'll have more consistency next year.

[AtlantaWhaler]

Hopefully, you guys are right. That missed net just seemed to be a big landmark that divided the good play from the invisible last year.

[mind_the_gap]

Originally Posted by AtlantaWhaler

I know he was a rookie, but Smith showed last season that his confidence is fragile. He was great until December. After that missed net, there was weeks I forgot he was even on this team. Hopefully some experience gets him to forget the mistakes and keep up the good play.

Experience fixes that...

[ThirdManIn]

Originally Posted by AtlantaWhaler

Hopefully, you guys are right. That missed net just seemed to be a big landmark that divided the good play from the invisible last year.

Before that missed net he had 14 points in 17 games. He had 10 points in the next 17 games, and then 7 in the next 17 games. He then had 5 points the rest of the season (21 games). It's also worth noting that he didn't have a point in the two games leading up to that game, and didn't have a point at all in the Nov 17th Toronto game in which he missed the net.

The big drop off didn't begin until well after that missed net. I think a mixture of not being physically prepared for the NHL season and inexperience causing his drop off is more likely than any psychological issue caused by his failed showboating.

[Top 6 Spaling]

I'm not worried about Smith. We know the kid has game, and consistency will come. If you look at the rate he suddenly got good at, it is very unlikely that developmental curve would just randomly cut off. He isn't done maturing as a player yet.

[Shea Weber]

SMITH IS A BALLER!

that is all.

[adsfan]

Originally Posted by Shea Weber

SMITH IS A BALLER!

that is all.

You should know, Shea!

[Top 6 Spaling]

I think, in the future, they could be great linemates. Smith is a shooter, Wilson is a powerforward, so all the need is a top pass on the line.

[Machinehead]

I think both will be very good 50 point players with more consistency, especially Smith.

Now some guys are just inconsistent. That's it. That's who they are and they always will be. With most guys however consistency comes with age and I hope that's the case here.

[Trade Legwand]

I hope they can both take that step forward that everyone here knows that both are capible of.