Ottawa Senators TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

NEELY wrote:I think Smith has been fine, like a lot of other players once he gets one he will get a bunch. He's playing hard, doing his job for the most part, and the team is winning. When that happens, you don't really complain or ask for much more. No issue's with how Smith is playing for the most part but it would be nice if he could put one in the net, no question.

He scored one goal last March. One goal last February. One goal last January.

You are talking about a 3rd round draft pick who's job it is to shut down the other teams top lines. Through this winning streak he has been doing it and doing it well. Expecting 10 plus goals from him each year is probably a stretch.

To start the year last season he was fantastic but probably a more of a fluke than the norm. Smith will probably be a consistent 10 goal, 30 point guy that plays a lot of tough minutes and makes life hell for the other team. That's why he was drafted, that's how he was developed, and that's how he is being played.

Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.

tim1_2 wrote:Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.

Exactly. Smith's job is to be responsible on that line, let the other two grind it out in the corners and hammer the D, and make sure he's the one that isn't caught out of position because the other 2 absolutely will be at some points.

DD/Smith/Neil is going to be the Sens 4th line for a few years if everyone is healthy and if they chip in with a goal on occasion it's a bonus. Not many 4th lines in the NHL can plays 12-15 mins a night and not cost their team one little bit. There's a ton of value in that alone.

He's been okay, nothing overly special. He needs to chip in offensively though, especially now.

He never needs to chip in offensively. It'd be nice though.

An example of a guy that needs to chip in is Turris. Or The Alfie. Or Regin.

tim1_2 wrote:He never needs to chip in offensively. It'd be nice though.

An example of a guy that needs to chip in is Turris. Or The Alfie. Or Regin.

Yup. Smith has to make the other teams life hell and take the focus off of the top players. You said it perfectly. Turris needs to score, Regin needs to score. Zibanejad needs to score. Smith needs to make teams hate him and shut down the other teams top lines.

tim1_2 wrote:Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.

I don't agree with the bolded part.
The first line's job is to score goals and if they defend from time to time is it supposed to be a bonus?

Every single player on the team is supposed to chip in offensively. Top 6 are supposed to score consistently, does not mean the bottom 6 are not supposed to. They are not the go to guys, they are not expected to carry the load offensively, but they still have to score at least from time to time, if we are aspiring to be a contender.
Not that Smith is not playing well, I actually like his game this year better than last year. But he needs to score from time to time plain and simple.

LeKing wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.

I don't agree with the bolded part.
The first line's job is to score goals and if they defend from time to time is it supposed to be a bonus?

Every single player on the team is supposed to chip in offensively. Top 6 are supposed to score consistently, does not mean the bottom 6 are not supposed to. They are not the go to guys, they are not expected to carry the load offensively, but they still have to score at least from time to time, if we are aspiring to be a contender.
Not that Smith is not playing well, I actually like his game this year better than last year. But he needs to score from time to time plain and simple.

If Smith goes the rest of the year without a goal, do you think he winds up being benched at some point? Nope. Not his job to score, they don't expect him to. He'll likely chip in a few points, but Mac isn't going to bench him if he doesn't.

LeKing wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.

I don't agree with the bolded part.
The first line's job is to score goals and if they defend from time to time is it supposed to be a bonus?

Every single player on the team is supposed to chip in offensively. Top 6 are supposed to score consistently, does not mean the bottom 6 are not supposed to. They are not the go to guys, they are not expected to carry the load offensively, but they still have to score at least from time to time, if we are aspiring to be a contender.
Not that Smith is not playing well, I actually like his game this year better than last year. But he needs to score from time to time plain and simple.

I think the point being is Smith is doing what is asked and scoring is a secondary concern. There isn't a person in the world that doesn't believe that puck will go in for him sooner or later... DD has 2 goals and he is playing next to Smith which is a direct reflection of Smith. His line is chipping in, that's what you want, not Smith in particular.

From the Murray interview...we have 17 of our own draft picks playing for us right now.

tim1_2 wrote:

LeKing wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.

I don't agree with the bolded part.
The first line's job is to score goals and if they defend from time to time is it supposed to be a bonus?

Every single player on the team is supposed to chip in offensively. Top 6 are supposed to score consistently, does not mean the bottom 6 are not supposed to. They are not the go to guys, they are not expected to carry the load offensively, but they still have to score at least from time to time, if we are aspiring to be a contender.
Not that Smith is not playing well, I actually like his game this year better than last year. But he needs to score from time to time plain and simple.

If Smith goes the rest of the year without a goal, do you think he winds up being benched at some point? Nope. Not his job to score, they don't expect him to. He'll likely chip in a few points, but Mac isn't going to bench him if he doesn't.

Your expectations of Zack Smith are pretty low I guess. If I want my team to be a Stanley Cup contender my 3rd line center will score minimum 10 goals a year.
Or maybe like Neely said when we're ready to conted Smith will be the 4th line center and I'd agree with that.

Smith is a good player. He's not scoring but that's not his job. His line is contributing. He'll get on the board eventually, he has some skills.

I remember BM saying that teams call him about Smith's availability all the time so he's definately a keeper.

We're going to need a new owner soon:

http://business.financialpost.com/2011/10/06/melnyk-moves-forward-with-nasal-spray-orgasm-drug/

NEELY wrote:

LeKing wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.

I don't agree with the bolded part.
The first line's job is to score goals and if they defend from time to time is it supposed to be a bonus?

Every single player on the team is supposed to chip in offensively. Top 6 are supposed to score consistently, does not mean the bottom 6 are not supposed to. They are not the go to guys, they are not expected to carry the load offensively, but they still have to score at least from time to time, if we are aspiring to be a contender.
Not that Smith is not playing well, I actually like his game this year better than last year. But he needs to score from time to time plain and simple.

I think the point being is Smith is doing what is asked and scoring is a secondary concern. There isn't a person in the world that doesn't believe that puck will go in for him sooner or later... DD has 2 goals and he is playing next to Smith which is a direct reflection of Smith. His line is chipping in, that's what you want, not Smith in particular.

Yeah fair enough.

LeKing wrote:
Your expectations of Zack Smith are pretty low I guess. If I want my team to be a Stanley Cup contender my 3rd line center will score minimum 10 goals a year.
Or maybe like Neely said when we're ready to conted Smith will be the 4th line center and I'd agree with that.

My expectations aren't low, I just don't include offensive production in what I expect from him (like it matters what I expect, lol). I would take the Zack Smith I have this year over any previous version of Zack Smith. He is playing very well defensively, and not taking dumb penalties. Prime example was when he squared up with Kadri on Saturday night. The old Zack Smith would've popped him one and taken a dumb penalty. New and improved Smith just made him look like a fool.

Smith is a perfect 4th line centre. He is capable of playing the 3rd line role too, but in more of a defensive capacity than offensive.

tim1_2 wrote:We're going to need a new owner soon:

http://business.financialpost.com/2011/10/06/melnyk-moves-forward-with-nasal-spray-orgasm-drug/

That's a pretty old article. Did the drug actually get approval?

NEELY wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:We're going to need a new owner soon:

http://business.financialpost.com/2011/10/06/melnyk-moves-forward-with-nasal-spray-orgasm-drug/

That's a pretty old article. Did the drug actually get approval?

I have no idea. It was the first time I saw it, I think. He's going to bankrupt himself if he doesn't drink himself to death first.