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Calgary Flames: Ladislav Smid Ruled Out For 2016-17 Season

September 23, 2016, 11:32 AM ET [29 Comments]
Todd Cordell
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On Thursday Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving confirmed what many suspected: we will not see Ladislav Smid play hockey this season.



The Czech blue liner has been dealing with serious neck problems over the last couple years and they have obviously not gone away.

While you never want to see injuries derail a player's career, especially when they could end it, from a strictly on-ice perspective the Flames are a better team without Smid in the lineup.

Over the last three seasons Smid has played in 126 NHL games (all but 17 with the Flames). In those 126 games Smid has two goals, nine points and 73 shots so he has brought nothing to the table offensively.

Obviously that's not Smid's strength but his defensive play has left a lot to be desired as well.

With Smid on the ice at 5 v 5 the Flames have scored just 35.2% of the goals and controlled 42.2% of the shot attempts. Without Smid those numbers jump to 47% and 46.8% so the difference has been significant. Perhaps injuries have played a factor but regardless of how you look at it the Flames have struggled mightily with him on the ice.

Again, you never want to see any player suffer an injury of any kind - particularly one that could impact his every day life - but on the ice the Flames are a better team without him. The cap relief they could potentially get if and when he is placed on long-term injured reserve will be a big help as well.

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