Quote:
Originally Posted by Red John
That's twice now you trot out the "Oilers didn't value him so he must suck" line. Actually if the Oilers thought Smid was expendable, that probably means he's a really good defensive player. However that team assesses defensive ability, the opposite is usually true.
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I seriously doubt the Oilers management team actually believe their defensemen are strong. It's not like they have given much up for their existing players.
They have attempted to build their D core through their prospect pool, and cheap veteran free agent pickups, while trying to protect their valuable young forwards. I think they continue to find out that method can be very difficult. I don't think a lot of teams are offering quality top 4 defensemen for their scrap forwards (and I don't think I am going out on a limb in saying that).
In summary, I don't think their talent evaluation is necessarily to blame for their awful defines, but more their ability to develop their young players, selection to continue drafting forwards rather than real top defensemen prospects, and aversion to trading their forwards while their value is at a high to acquire a ready made top defensemen. If Smid had the ability to handle top 6 forwards it would show in the stats.
Defensemen are difficult to develop. It takes a steep price to acquire a defensemen from a team that has already gone through the peaks and valleys of a developed defensemen, hence why few are moved from year to year, and rather are locked up. The Oilers have tried to do it their own way, and failed on epic levels.
