You can say what you want about the D but a good coach doesn't put a fringe 4th line centre on to protect the lead with the goalie pulled.
- LeafMan

I really don't get what he sees in him.

He's a train wreck. No offensive skills whatever and Is a liability defensively.

Who cares if he wins like 1 more faceoff a game then the Goat. I haven't even checked the stats but with the eye test it looks like the Goat wins more faceoffs anyway.

Him and Marnincin are both sorry excuses for hockey players.

You can say what you want about the D but a good coach doesn't put a fringe 4th line centre on to protect the lead with the goalie pulled.
- LeafMan

True..

Leafs are playing politics with Smith/Goat.

Babs has to address this directly in the media. Bench Gards.

cause why would you want a 6' 4" 235lb guy who can take faceoffs - when you can have a 5' 9" 190lb guy who isn't appreciably better at anything....

I don't get this poop sometimes.

Ya ... I know this management group didn't draft the Goat. So F___ what. He hasn't done anything worse than Smith...and that fourth line has had some great games when they were together.

Now I get it on the defensive end of the situation... Babcock really doesn't have many choices there... but this Smith versus the Goat.... the only feasible explanation that they are going to resign Smith and expose him to the expansion draft.

Can someone please explain this to me?
- BorjeFan4Ever

Yes

And if Babs liked him, I'm thinking that won't last.

BEN SMITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cause why would you want a 6' 4" 235lb guy who can take faceoffs - when you can have a 5' 9" 190lb guy who isn't appreciably better at anything....

I don't get this poop sometimes.

Ya ... I know this management group didn't draft the Goat. So F___ what. He hasn't done anything worse than Smith...and that fourth line has had some great games when they were together.

Now I get it on the defensive end of the situation... Babcock really doesn't have many choices there... but this Smith versus the Goat.... the only feasible explanation that they are going to resign Smith and expose him to the expansion draft.

Can someone please explain this to me?
- BorjeFan4Ever

Yeah and I really Babcock saying something about how he thought the fourth line has been great lately when Goat was playing. Playing the long game with Smith for the expansion draft makes sense to me, otherwise I don't get it

(frank) Smith, it seems like he just plays spots on the ice and doesn't really hockey.

Bring back the Goat

I thought Smiths speed might make that line a little better.
- Garnie

Smith makes that line a liability

Martin the goat and Sosh were actually playing pretty well as a 4th line. Why (frank) something up like that?

Mcstarter
- Tumbleweed

Nope

He's still my McBackup at the moment

Yeah and I really Babcock saying something about how he thought the fourth line has been great lately when Goat was playing. Playing the long game with Smith for the expansion draft makes sense to me, otherwise I don't get it
- Zezel

Trade a 7th round pick for a plug who is exposable.

cause why would you want a 6' 4" 235lb guy who can take faceoffs - when you can have a 5' 9" 190lb guy who isn't appreciably better at anything....

I don't get this poop sometimes.

Ya ... I know this management group didn't draft the Goat. So F___ what. He hasn't done anything worse than Smith...and that fourth line has had some great games when they were together.

Now I get it on the defensive end of the situation... Babcock really doesn't have many choices there... but this Smith versus the Goat.... the only feasible explanation that they are going to resign Smith and expose him to the expansion draft.

Can someone please explain this to me?
- BorjeFan4Ever

I sincerely think it has to do with the expansion draft. They need Smith to chew up some of the required games played for the forward position. Same with Marincin with the defence. They need these players to hit a certain number of games or they have to expose a Bozak or Komarov, who have trade value.

True..

Leafs are playing politics with Smith/Goat.

Babs has to address this directly in the media. Bench Gards.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

clearly the solution is to bench Gardiner... and reinsert Marincin.

clearly the solution is to bench Gardiner... and reinsert Marincin.
- BorjeFan4Ever

the solution is more ben smith

much much more ben smith!!

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
now
Frederik Andersen has an .888 save percentage since the start of January. That's the other side of firewagon hockey.
- Fruitcakenipple

It is true that he's been below average lately. The team's always been bad defensively but Andersen usually bails them out.

Smith makes that line a liability

Martin the goat and Sosh were actually playing pretty well as a 4th line. Why (frank) something up like that?
- Santo_44

Goat needs to get stronger on faceoffs.

As much as smith sucks, goat can't be letting one timers and missed coverages on draw losses lead to immediate goals.

He fixes that, he'll be back.

Smith makes that line a liability

Martin the goat and Sosh were actually playing pretty well as a 4th line. Why (frank) something up like that?
- Santo_44

Not really - 4th line #'s sucked with both.

But I'd rather Gauthier there after watching him tonight.

I sincerely think it has to do with the expansion draft. They need Smith to chew up some of the required games played for the forward position. Same with Marincin with the defence. They need these players to hit a certain number of games or they have to expose a Bozak or Komarov, who have trade value.
- BetterCallSaul

Okay... I can buy (I don't agree with it but) the expansion draft idea... but why not simply put Brooks Laich in there. The guy must be dying to play... he would have a chance to get claimed by the Vegas and buy him a few more years of career. That wouldn't be a cap problem for the Leafs in any way.

Anything, literally anyone would contribute more than Smith.

the solution is more ben smith

much much more ben smith!!
- twiztedmike

It is true that he's been below average lately. The team's always been bad defensively but Andersen usually bails them out.
- daeth

I don't see it being Andersen's fault.

5 guys on the ice and Ladd standing by himself 2 ft from the crease

Not really - 4th line #'s sucked with both.

But I'd rather Gauthier there after watching him tonight.
- Garnie

I beg to differ... I thought the fourth line with Gauthier - after his first few games - really played quite well.

Ahem... Smith Tank... ?











I'll show myself out.

Not really - 4th line #'s sucked with both.

But I'd rather Gauthier there after watching him tonight.
- Garnie

I'm not sure what you expect out of a 4th line.

But with the Goat the 4th line was good by 4th line standards. Wasn't liable defensively and cycled the puck well.

Goat needs to get stronger on faceoffs.

As much as smith sucks, goat can't be letting one timers and missed coverages on draw losses lead to immediate goals.

He fixes that, he'll be back.
- Tumbleweed

this is not a fair assessment of the Goat. Yes he had one particularly heinous faceoff loss that lead to a goal in his first or second game after begin called up.... but other than that I can't really think of any horrible losses.. .his role on the PK was part of the best PK record that they have had as a team in years.

Ahem... Smith Tank... ?











I'll show myself out.
- BetterCallSaul

just punch yourself in the balls - hard.

I beg to differ... I thought the fourth line with Gauthier - after his first few games - really played quite well.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I'm not going to argue about it

I don't think either are world beaters

I'd say our D were more at fault for the loss then Ben Smith and as I said above I'd rather the Goat too

I don't see it being Andersen's fault.

5 guys on the ice and Ladd standing by himself 2 ft from the crease
- Garnie

whoa whoa whoa, i said their defense is bad and andersen usually bails them out. that's the opposite of blaming him. his recent below average play combined with that defense is what is causing this massive tire fire but if he had any help at all he wouldn't have to carry them every game.

this is not a fair assessment of the Goat. Yes he had one particularly heinous faceoff loss that lead to a goal in his first or second game after begin called up.... but other than that I can't really think of any horrible losses.. .his role on the PK was part of the best PK record that they have had as a team in years.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Benn owned him Dallas.