Jason Smith : A Steal for the Flyers?
Posted 3:57 PM ET | Comments 6
Jason Smith : A Steal for the Flyers?
July 7th 3:42 PM:
Last week, the Philadelphia Flyers traded Joni Pitkanen, Who is a young defenseman who racked up 43 points last season, and Geoff Sanderson, Who is considerably one of the fastest players in the NHL, He racked up 29 points. The Flyers acquired Joffrey Lupul, Who most Edmonton fans believe was a very bad acquisition for the Oilers, and Defenseman and Captain Jason Smith. Jason Smith can add grit and toughness along with leadership to any line-up, it was a big shock to see the Oilers trade away there captain, but in this case I guess it was a good call.
Jason Smith is big, strong and can hit very well, He only racked up 11 points, but it was the little things he does that made the Flyers so interested. The Flyers believe that Smith can come in and teach the rookies like Alexandre Picard for example, how to "Stay at home" and how to be a good captain.
Smith, 33, posted 11 points (2G,9A) and 103 penalty minutes in 82 regular season games for Edmonton last season. He led the team in blocked shots (228, second in the NHL) and hits (151). Smith, the Oilers’ captain, had led the Oilers in hits and blocked shots in each of the last five seasons that the statistics have been recorded by the NHL (1999-2000 through 2001-02 and 2005-06 through 2006-07). He was third on the team in penalty minutes with 103.
(From the Flyers Site)
Jason Smith
But was he worth it? Was he and Lupul worth the hard working Pitkanen and the ultra fast Sanderson? Oilers fans say yes, most Flyer fans say no. What do you say? But to see the answer, I guess we're gonna have to wait for the 2007-2008 season.
www.flyers.nhl.com
www.oilers.nhl.com
www.nhl.com
www.hockeybuzz.com
July 7th 3:42 PM:
Last week, the Philadelphia Flyers traded Joni Pitkanen, Who is a young defenseman who racked up 43 points last season, and Geoff Sanderson, Who is considerably one of the fastest players in the NHL, He racked up 29 points. The Flyers acquired Joffrey Lupul, Who most Edmonton fans believe was a very bad acquisition for the Oilers, and Defenseman and Captain Jason Smith. Jason Smith can add grit and toughness along with leadership to any line-up, it was a big shock to see the Oilers trade away there captain, but in this case I guess it was a good call.
Jason Smith is big, strong and can hit very well, He only racked up 11 points, but it was the little things he does that made the Flyers so interested. The Flyers believe that Smith can come in and teach the rookies like Alexandre Picard for example, how to "Stay at home" and how to be a good captain.
Smith, 33, posted 11 points (2G,9A) and 103 penalty minutes in 82 regular season games for Edmonton last season. He led the team in blocked shots (228, second in the NHL) and hits (151). Smith, the Oilers’ captain, had led the Oilers in hits and blocked shots in each of the last five seasons that the statistics have been recorded by the NHL (1999-2000 through 2001-02 and 2005-06 through 2006-07). He was third on the team in penalty minutes with 103.
(From the Flyers Site)
Jason Smith
But was he worth it? Was he and Lupul worth the hard working Pitkanen and the ultra fast Sanderson? Oilers fans say yes, most Flyer fans say no. What do you say? But to see the answer, I guess we're gonna have to wait for the 2007-2008 season.
www.flyers.nhl.com
www.oilers.nhl.com
www.nhl.com
www.hockeybuzz.com
Jason Smith should be the Flyers captain......you won't be sorry......If you don't want him...don't re-sign him...we will next off-season...
Smith is a shot blocking machine, he is physical, he's smart, he does all the little things you need a defensive defenseman to do...When I heard Smith was the other name coming back I was very happy with the trade.
Steal? Smith is not to far from being brought to pasture. Now the Flyers have 4 big slow pylons. Gauthier, Sith, Rathje and Hatcher. Improved the youth and forward set, but seemingly have neglected the defense yet again. I don't get why the Flyers got rid of Pitkanen.
Pitkanen was hard working? Did you see his lack of effort and heart last season? I've never seen someone let more pucks over the blue line during power plays than he did. Not to mention his inability to get back on defense. I'm glad he's gone, he regressed so much last year he should've been sent to the Phantoms. I'll never forget the time Picard had to step in and fight for Pitkanen. That says it all right there.
Pitkanen was hard working? Did you see his lack of effort and heart last season? I've never seen someone let more pucks over the blue line during power plays than he did. Not to mention his inability to get back on defense. I'm glad he's gone, he regressed so much last year he should've been sent to the Phantoms. I'll never forget the time Picard had to step in and fight for Pitkanen. That says it all right there.
As an Oiler fan i've seen the best of Smith and most recently the worst of Smith. He was simply a liability in our back end this past season. Albeit his toughness was still there and he was a well deserving Captian, but he was simply too slow and coughed up the puck way too many times. Just check out his plus/minus. BUT if the Flyers make the playoffs this year, that's when the aquisition of Smith will be a positive. The guy will block anything that moves and was an absolute monster for us during the cup run of '06.