Smid thinks he is ready. UPD: Hopes to be cleared for mid October

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Name one other 6/7 D-man making 3.5M

On a lottery team in 2013-14 Smid was #6 behind Brodie-Gio-Wideman-Russell and Chris freakin' Butler.

This not me putting him at #6 ... It is Bob Hartley and the Calgary coaching staff.

I meant every team has a bad contract or two they have to deal with. I have faith in BT that he will manage the team in such a way that a guy like Smid won't cause him to lose players he wants to keep.

[savardandjokinen]

After my practice at winsport today, I was walking out and there was smid on the ice with just a coach, skated well, hands a bit choppy but they always kinda were, no game situation so hard to evaluate but based on what I saw I think he was pretty good out there

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Name one other 6/7 D-man making 3.5M

On a lottery team in 2013-14 Smid was #6 behind Brodie-Gio-Wideman-Russell and Chris freakin' Butler.

This not me putting him at #6 ... It is Bob Hartley and the Calgary coaching staff.

Lottery team but still a pretty strong D core...and how was he behind Butler? they were partners right?

[Locke]

I'm actually kind of excited for an Expansion Draft.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Lottery team but still a pretty strong D core...and how was he behind Butler? they were partners right?

The pairings were Gio - Brodie, Russell - Butler, Smid - Wideman. But considering how much of a whipping boy Butler turned himself into, I would hardly expect anyone to consider Butler ahead of Smid at any point in time regardless of the pairings Hartley used. Just ricardo placing things out of context to make a point again.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'm actually kind of excited for an Expansion Draft.

Me too, I can't wait to see a breaking news thread from sureloss;

"Clerical error in Edmonton leaves Conner McDavid unprotected, claimed by Las Vegas. Poo stained sweat pants everywhere."

[foshizzle11]

^^^^ jayswin, that has to be one of the funniest sentences I have ever read on this forum. Thank you for making me spit out coffee onto my keyboard.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'm actually kind of excited for an Expansion Draft.

I wonder who, besides jhunt223, will fall victim to the expansion draft.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

I wonder who, besides jhunt223, will fall victim to the expansion draft.

Ooh, well played. Take your thanks!

[hockey.modern]

Brad Trelving on Smid recovery
http://flames.nhl.com/club/podcastpl...d=35&iid=51889

- He's looking really good
- He thinks Smid won't be ready for contact at training camp
- Positive report from the doctors

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Brad Trelving on Smid recovery
http://flames.nhl.com/club/podcastpl...d=35&iid=51889

- He's looking really good
- He thinks Smid won't be ready for contact at training camp
- Positive report from the doctors

This is kind of a big deal, no? If he's not ready for contact then he's most likely not on the opening day lineup. Is Smid overconfident or Treliving overly cautious?

[Vinny01]

Engellend was great after Gio went down last year. I will always remember him fighting 2 dirty Nucks at the same time. That contract always looked bad and looks really bad wpconsidering we have Smid on the books as well.

I loved the Smid trad pe at the time. Getting a big physical 28 year old stay at home Dman is what we needed at the time. Oiler fans were crushed which made it better. In classic Oiler fashion he came in as an overhyped player. Smid is certainly at best a bottom pairing Dman and with he and Engellend chewing up $6.4M in cap the next 2 years as 6/7 Dmen and a guy like Wotherspoon knocking on the door I am hoping Trelivng can work his magic and get rid of one or both of them before next summer

[Locke]

I dont know if this is the right place for it, but I'm endeavoring not to criticize Engelland too much this season.

I liked him when we got him but then he was underwhelming, but once Gio went down is when I realized that we need guys like Engelland to win.

I remember in the playoffs when he was on the ice for what seemed like 2 minutes because of icing after icing and he just battled through the whole thing.

He can step into a top 4 role for 20-30 games and be comfortable as well as bring the grit and physicality and you need that in order to win.

[Poe969]

100% agree. I think we need to have a guy like Engelland in the lineup. He can play those minutes we need him to fill in when he has to and he's a capable #6 guy on the team. He also adds strength and toughness to the lineup. I'd prefer having him in the lineup but who does he get paired with? It depends on chemistry I guess but it would be great to have him with one of Hamilton or Brodie (whoever doesn't play with Gio).

Smid seems like a great guy and all but if he isn't ready for training camp, we're still going to be fine. We actually have too many defenders which is awesome!

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Poe969

100% agree. I think we need to have a guy like Engelland in the lineup. He can play those minutes we need him to fill in when he has to and he's a capable #6 guy on the team. He also adds strength and toughness to the lineup. I'd prefer having him in the lineup but who does he get paired with? It depends on chemistry I guess but it would be great to have him with one of Hamilton or Brodie (whoever doesn't play with Gio).

Smid seems like a great guy and all but if he isn't ready for training camp, we're still going to be fine. We actually have too many defenders which is awesome!

I think the consensus is that Engo is better than Smiddy. In my mind, that means our top six are pretty cut and dry. The pairings themselves will be very interesting to say the least, but our best six D-men are Gio, Brodie, Dougie, Wides, Russell & Engelland.

Gio-Dougie
Russell-Wideman
Brodie -Engelland

Drools. But I digress.

The #7 and #8 and depth D-men are the question marks. Smiddy is too expensive to be a #7, so I foresee him getting moved. You can get a pick for him - he is still NHL capable.

I've said in previous threads as well, I would be ecstatic if Schlemko would be willing to be #7 and BT gives him a deal. He'd be a great guy to work with the kids in Stockton, and he'd be reliable enough for callups, and I daresay shootouts.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont know if this is the right place for it, but I'm endeavoring not to criticize Engelland too much this season.

I liked him when we got him but then he was underwhelming, but once Gio went down is when I realized that we need guys like Engelland to win.

I remember in the playoffs when he was on the ice for what seemed like 2 minutes because of icing after icing and he just battled through the whole thing.

He can step into a top 4 role for 20-30 games and be comfortable as well as bring the grit and physicality and you need that in order to win.

Obligatory.

I love this pic so much. It looks like he's rag dolling one Canuck and bitch-slapping another one while he's yelling some obscenity at them LOL. Love it.

Spoiler!

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I think the consensus is that Engo is better than Smiddy. In my mind, that means our top six are pretty cut and dry. The pairings themselves will be very interesting to say the least, but our best six D-men are Gio, Brodie, Dougie, Wides, Russell & Engelland.

Gio-Dougie
Russell-Wideman
Brodie -Engelland

Drools. But I digress.

The #7 and #8 and depth D-men are the question marks. Smiddy is too expensive to be a #7, so I foresee him getting moved. You can get a pick for him - he is still NHL capable.

I've said in previous threads as well, I would be ecstatic if Schlemko would be willing to be #7 and BT gives him a deal. He'd be a great guy to work with the kids in Stockton, and he'd be reliable enough for callups, and I daresay shootouts.

I couldn't agree more with....well everything you're saying. I think that's how the pairings end up and I think they all do well. Smid should be moved when he's healthy just because it doesn't make sense to have him as a 7. Unless there is another injury, there really isn't a need for him. As for Schlemko, I wouldn't mind if he was signed to mentor kids and possibly step in if he has to. I think we have a couple of younger guys that I'd like to see step in before both Smid and Schlemko. Morrison probably intrigues me the most out of kids who are the closest.

I think a deal will have to be made during training camp, hopefully BT can take full advantage of another GM and make another amazing deal.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I think the consensus is that Engo is better than Smiddy. In my mind, that means our top six are pretty cut and dry. The pairings themselves will be very interesting to say the least, but our best six D-men are Gio, Brodie, Dougie, Wides, Russell & Engelland.

Gio-Dougie
Russell-Wideman
Brodie -Engelland

Drools. But I digress.

The #7 and #8 and depth D-men are the question marks. Smiddy is too expensive to be a #7, so I foresee him getting moved. You can get a pick for him - he is still NHL capable.

I've said in previous threads as well, I would be ecstatic if Schlemko would be willing to be #7 and BT gives him a deal. He'd be a great guy to work with the kids in Stockton, and he'd be reliable enough for callups, and I daresay shootouts.

Brodie is going to play with Giordano, Hamilton or Wideman, or at least I hope he will. He is too great of a player to saddle him with a slug like Engelland unless out of absolute necessity. I would think Russell would be a much better partner for Engo, especially against lower competition.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Obligatory.

I love this pic so much. It looks like he's rag dolling one Canuck and bitch-slapping another one while he's yelling some obscenity at them LOL. Love it.

Spoiler!

Best twitter comment after the altercation:

Engelland fights 2 guys at the same time then looks like he should be on the cover of GQ

[Poe969]

Brodie and Engelland weren't that terrible, at least not in my eyes. I think they'll give everyone a try together but I think the Wideman - Russell pairing is just too good to split up. If Gio has great chemistry with Hamilton, they may pair together but I could also see Hamilton and Brodie pairing together and becoming our future 1-1 (they're both going to be #1 guys) top pairing. I think Gio would probably elevate Engelland's game a lot too.

Watch, just to screw with us BT will somehow manage to deal Mayson Raymond for Seth Jones or something.