Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
I don't think I'd lump this start with last year's finish together. He came back early to try and save a season but wasn't ready.
This year is this year though, and if it continues they'll quickly abandon the "save Smith" mantra for a "plug the leaking hole!" philosophy.
|
I sure hope they do, and I have all confidence they will. A really odd feeling to finally have TBQH.
It seemed like they rushed him at the time, but him finishing the season always seemed odd to me. If he was hampered by the injury, I thought that SJ was going to end the season for him. Mathematically, they were out after the LA game - but he still played (very well) against the Oilers to end the season. They already shut down Tkachuk, so it was pretty clear they were starting to hibernate.
Doesn't mean he didn't just play through it hoping to end the season as he did with Edmonton, but I'd assume if it was still bothering him enough for those results he'd have been shut down earlier.