[Signing] Oilers sign Mike Smith to multi-year deal (2yrs, $2.2 mil AAV)

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Have to think the oilers and smith have a handshake deal that he will be “injured” for the entire last year of this contract. He gets his money for that last year, the oilers get him on LTIR and the cap space next year. It’s crazy to think he could get two years out of any team without that kind of agreement. Then again, E=NG


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

With it being a 35+ contract, there isn't any benefit to the oilers. They will have the cap hit regardless. Incentive is on Smith to play so he can collect that last year.

[Skyceman]

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Robbob

With it being a 35+ contract, there isn't any benefit to the oilers. They will have the cap hit regardless. Incentive is on Smith to play so he can collect that last year.

Well then it just as everyone thought… what a dumb signing for Edmonton.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Have to think the oilers and smith have a handshake deal that he will be “injured” for the entire last year of this contract. He gets his money for that last year, the oilers get him on LTIR and the cap space next year. It’s crazy to think he could get two years out of any team without that kind of agreement. Then again, E=NG


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, they cannot just go ahead and do this. Contrary to the thoughts of seemingly many in these parts, teams cannot simply place any player they want on LTIR, and set their own schedule for recovery. Players on LTIR have to actually be injured, and their recovery is something that actually has to be overseen by actual physicians. More to the point, I seriously doubt that any NHL player—who has spent his entire life in obsessive competition to be the best in the world at what he does—is going to simply kick his feet up and say, "Sure, boss. I will just sit back and watch while another player slots into my position to do my job."

Now think about everything you know about stick-smashing, death-staring Mike Smith, and tell me how likely you think this is to happen.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Well, they cannot just go ahead and do this. Contrary to the thoughts of seemingly many in these parts, teams cannot simply place any player they want on LTIR, and set their own schedule for recovery. Players on LTIR have to actually be injured, and their recovery is something that actually has to be overseen by actual physicians. More to the point, I seriously doubt that any NHL player—who has spent his entire life in obsessive competition to be the best in the world at what he does—is going to simply kick his feet up and say, "Sure, boss. I will just kick my feet up and watch while another player slots into my position to do my job."

Now think about everything you know about stick-smashing, death-staring Mike Smith, and tell me how likely you think this is to happen.

He’s an often-injured goalie that’s 40 years old. Guaranteed he will have countless nagging injuries that can be claimed to flair up. When you look at how often players under contract are now just placed on LTIR instead of retiring, you can understand why people think the system is being manipulated. Example: Marian Hossa.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by stemit14

He’s an often-injured goalie that’s 40 years old. Guaranteed he will have countless nagging injuries that can be claimed to flair up. When you look at how often players under contract are now just placed on LTIR instead of retiring, you can understand why people think the system is being manipulated. Example: Marian Hossa.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right, but then stop to consider the last sentence in my post:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

...Now think about everything you know about stick-smashing, death-staring Mike Smith, and tell me how likely you think this is to happen.

39-year-old Mike Smith still sulks like a kindergartener whenever he is on the bench as opposed to the ice. I am fairly convinced that he is going to play until someone forces him not to, and that is something that cannot happen via LTIR.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

Very good deal for a backup who can take over as a starter.

I'll add that given Koskinen's terrible contract and struggles compared to Smith last year, this is actually a contract for their starting goalie next year

[Philly06Cup]

Koskinen is terrible. Mike Smith showed he can still play, and this is a good contract for the Oilers given his stats last year. Weird how fans here are celebrating this contract.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

Koskinen is terrible. Mike Smith showed he can still play, and this is a good contract for the Oilers given his stats last year. Weird how fans here are celebrating this contract.

This is true. Because they're hampered by the Koskinen contract, having a guy sign for cheap and play above his AAV is really the only viable option.

But people are celebrating because this is two more years of the Oil having Mike Smith as their goalie. I think it's fair to say he's not very good, last year was an anomaly, he will be worse this year, and on top of that they just lost his best defensive defenseman. Even in a good year, he still screwed up when it mattered. Not that he was alone, but again... it was 4-1. That's the kind of aptitude for choking you like to see in a rival franchise.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

Koskinen is terrible. Mike Smith showed he can still play, and this is a good contract for the Oilers given his stats last year. Weird how fans here are celebrating this contract.

Honest question: why do people believe Mike Smith will be the goalie from last year? Why isn't he the goalie from the two years prior to that?

Every time a goalie has a good year there's suddenly a belief that that's the goalie they'll be next year. History suggests a bigger sample plus aging curve is a better predictor than the last 32 games they played.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Honest question: why do people believe Mike Smith will be the goalie from last year? Why isn't he the goalie from the two years prior to that?

Every time a goalie has a good year there's suddenly a belief that that's the goalie they'll be next year. History suggests a bigger sample plus aging curve is a better predictor than the last 32 games they played.

For perspective: last year Mike Smith posted an eye-popping 0.923 SP—the second highest of his entire career, and the highest since 2012. Since then he has waffled between seasons of 0.898–0.916.

I think it is abundantly fair to expect that he will not continue to play at the same level in his 39- and 40-year-old seasons.

[Flamesfan05]

When I am unhappy, I think of Mike Smith for the Oilers. That makes me feel better.

[direwolf]

Haha, stupid Oilers!

[midniteowl]

[GhostCookie]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

For perspective: last year Mike Smith posted an eye-popping 0.923 SP—the second highest of his entire career, and the highest since 2012. Since then he has waffled between seasons of 0.898–0.916.

I think it is abundantly fair to expect that he will not continue to play at the same level in his 39- and 40-year-old seasons.

I like Mike Smith, I didn't dislike him as a flame, and he can still hit high levels of play and steal games for his team. But they downgraded their defense, which wasn't exactly world class to begin with, and I agree with you that it's just not likely that he continues to put up numbers near career highs going forward.

I know as a backup he sounds like a solid deal, but like so many others have pointed out, he is not one of those goalies that age gracefully and then mentor their replacement, he's going to demand being the starter until the day he's no longer under contract. And even if the team doesn't give in, a sulking pouty backup goalie isn't good for a team.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I thought this was crass and disrespectful.

But I am still laughing that they gave Smith 2 years so who am I to judge?

[sureLoss]

Signing is official

https://twitter.com/user/status/1418256191151435777

[TheScorpion]

2.2m, even better.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

Where’d you find this clip of Donald doing a Mike Smith save impression?

[Aarongavey]

Glad they gave Smith an extra 200K over the previous rumoured contract. Every little bit helps.