Two things.
1. Why is there so much talk about our #9 D-man? He had to play tonight and did fine all things considered. We get it, his game is far from complete, that’s why he’s 9th on the depth chart.
2. I can’t stand tgat the hyperbole around here literally makes me feel compelled to defend Smith, but it’s just so rediculous. For starters, we need to stop considering his full season stats as far as evaluating his place on the team moving forward and what the Flames should do with at the deadline. He was god awful to start the year, for sure cost us multiple games. That’s done, over, no getting those pints back. But this notion that he almost needs to b all world now to make up for the first part of his season is silly. It won’t happen and his stat line will forever be impacted by what he did in those games. But let’s look at his performance more recently, in his last 10, starts after it’s become clear Rittich is the number one. Far improved in all categories, much better than “worst goalie with 20 plus”, and from my perspective better than average back up goaltending. If Tre has a deal tgat could improve our goaltending duo, please by all means, but Smiths play of late certainly doesn’t suggest he should sell the farm to do it.
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