UPDATE: Jason Smith retires; door open for Erik Karlsson?

People who say he isnt ready to take the next step clearly have not watched him play either.

He was a top 5 player at that WJC, I would say top 3. Hodgson was absolutly the best player in that tourny despite not getting the MVP. Falitov and Tavares were right up there with Karlsson as well. Prob a distance 5th was Goncharov for Russia who had a monster tourny.

The only excuse people find to say he "isnt ready" is his size. His size MIGHT be an issue, and thats a huge might based on how smart the kid is, how great of a skater he is, and his overall tallent. Stength and size are two completly differnet things.

wprager wrote:So what's all that talk you had last year, saying how in the NCAA he's playing against men. I saw him at the DC and Wiercioch, IMO, was pretty much the class of the defensemen at camp. Yeah, it's an opinion.

I see the only way he's not here next year is if he wants to get his degree.

He is playing with men, thats why he wont be going through his 4 full years. That doesnt mean he can make the jump instantly to the NHL and he wont. After this NCAA season he will get his feet wet in Bingo, its almost a certainty. How long he stays there is an issue but I would say he spends a season there like Lee did and might get a late season call up next year.

If Ottawa has Karlsson, Cowen, and Wiercoich in the lineup opening day next year, The Sens are in more trouble then anyone can possibly imagine. He might see some action, but he wont crack the lineup over Cowen baring injury.

BooBoo seems to be suggesting that Murray "pushed" Smith to retire... to save cap space etc...

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/09/02/10716121.html

and

http://blog.canoe.ca/offtheposts/2009/09/02/nice_of_jason_smith



I guess it was only a matter of time for the conspiracy theorists to come out and play.

shabbs wrote:BooBoo seems to be suggesting that Murray "pushed" Smith to retire... to save cap space etc...

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/09/02/10716121.html

and

http://blog.canoe.ca/offtheposts?author=212



I guess it was only a matter of time for the conspiracy theorists to come out and play.

I don't buy the conspiracy theory angle, I do remember one of the posters here saying that the injury Smith suffered is a career ender and it did not look very good. The body doesn't heal so well at 35 I imagine.

I don't buy it either, but BooBoo's fans are eating it up!

shabbs wrote:BooBoo seems to be suggesting that Murray "pushed" Smith to retire... to save cap space etc...

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/09/02/10716121.html

and

http://blog.canoe.ca/offtheposts/2009/09/02/nice_of_jason_smith



I guess it was only a matter of time for the conspiracy theorists to come out and play.

SensGirl was not pleased when she read that this morning. I believe she called him a fat idiot (that's the cleaned up version).

Let's say Murray did push him somewhat, I say "so?". Good on Murray to have the stones to do it and better on Smith to accept that he was done.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:BooBoo seems to be suggesting that Murray "pushed" Smith to retire... to save cap space etc...

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/09/02/10716121.html

and

http://blog.canoe.ca/offtheposts/2009/09/02/nice_of_jason_smith



I guess it was only a matter of time for the conspiracy theorists to come out and play.

SensGirl was not pleased when she read that this morning. I believe she called him a fat idiot (that's the cleaned up version).

makes me wonder why people actually buy this paper, I read it all online and it's a circus of a newspaper, hell, Penthouse has more credibility than Boo Boo.

Whatever, I dont Diddle care about speculation to be honest.

I love how Garrioch, in all his infinite non-partisanship as a reporter, drops this gem without substantiating it:

"Smith faced the real possibility of spending the year with the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton."

Diddle pathetic publication. Can't believe this piece of Dung "media outlet" is allowed to display their garbage product all over the city. What a Diddle joke...

While he is still 35 and maybe had a few years in him, I still think the way he played probably took a toll on his body. Garioch is an idiot who wants to sell stuff. Yes it seems too convenient that Smith retires now but at the same time you had to know something was up when Murray wasn't doing any side trades to free space. I'm sure it's been something on Smith's mind for a while

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm all for patience but for better prospects, two years in developmental leagues is plenty. The special ones don't even put in one year.

5 years to wait for a Cowen/Karlsson pairing is a bit excessive.

Oh, they should both be on the blue-line by the start of the 2010-2011 season. I just don't want them as a pairing until Cowen's had a chance to develop his offensive game.

MurderOnIce wrote:I think the sooner the better for Karlsson. He needs to get into the North American lifestyle and start grinding out an 82 game season. Hopefully he has the success that Meszaros had without the dropoff and inevitable contract whining...

Meszaros has probably more physical tools than Karlsson (if only because of size) but the mental angle isn't close IMO. Karlsson's more poised, confident, aggressive and determined than Meszaros probably ever will be.

If he does indeed play the year in Ottawa, that's what's going to help him survive, probably even more than his offensive talent.

SeawaySensFan wrote:I think he may be as good as Soupy in two years.

I think he'll be better defensively though (albeit perhaps not in 2 years). Campbell's a better skater, however.

asq2 wrote:
Oh, they should both be on the blue-line by the start of the 2010-2011 season. I just don't want them as a pairing until Cowen's had a chance to develop his offensive game.

+1 big time. Cowen will be a Sen next year and probably paired with Philly or A-Train.

asq2 wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I think he may be as good as Soupy in two years.

I think he'll be better defensively though (albeit perhaps not in 2 years). Campbell's a better skater, however.

Yeah, Soupy just popped into my head since Karlsson's skating keeps coming up in glowing terms. To me, Soupy is the best skater I have seen since I started caring about these things.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Let's say Murray did push him somewhat, I say "so?". Good on Murray to have the stones to do it and better on Smith to accept that he was done.

umm no. First of all he didn't. Thats "challenged." Murray is old school and doesn't Diddle around like that. I wasn't there but I guarantee this was Smith's decision. Why would Murray force him to retire when he could just trade him? Why would Murray hold onto him last year so he could honour him and his career, just to force him to retire. This is news to Garrioche because Garrioche isn't privy to any inside info. People in the know Diddle with him to see if he'll actually print the Dung they tell him. Thats all there is to this.

I don't know about you guys but I'm still waiting on Malkin to the Kings

PKC wrote:I love how Garrioch, in all his infinite non-partisanship as a reporter, drops this gem without substantiating it:

"Smith faced the real possibility of spending the year with the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton."

Diddle pathetic publication. Can't believe this piece of Dung "media outlet" is allowed to display their garbage product all over the city. What a Diddle joke...

I would love to see Murray go all 'Jimmy Fox' on Garrioch. That would be sweet. I could sleep into the cold embrace of death with a smile on my face...