The Hockey News: Double OT: Double OT: Jason Smith will provide Sens with much-needed leadership

Double OT: Jason Smith will provide Sens with much-needed leadership

Jason Smith signed a two-year deal with the Senators Tuesday. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mike Brophy
2008-07-09 12:29:07

In Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza, the Ottawa Senators have three of the best forwards in the NHL.

You could make the case they rival Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa in terms of front-line talent.

But there has long been a question about the Senators’ leadership – or lack thereof.

Personally, I think Alfredsson is a fine leader who tries to set a good example by being a consistent foot soldier game in and game out. And he has never been afraid to state his opinion to the media.

But let’s be honest, the Senators were a team in disarray this season and it is abundantly clear Alfredsson needs some help in the leadership department.

Enter Jason Smith.

In signing the veteran defenseman to a two-year contract, GM Bryan Murray has guaranteed his dressing room will have a voice of authority and if my guessing is correct, a guy who won’t put up with any crap. For that, Smith is worth the total of $5.2 million he’ll receive in compensation.

Smith’s best playing days are behind him, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be an effective fourth or fifth defenseman. This season with the Flyers, he scored one goal and 10 points and was minus-4, averaging 17:56 minutes of playing time per game. Offense was never his forte, anyway. He has never scored more than seven goals or 20 points in a season.

He is, however, an excellent shot-blocker and is still a physical force who isn’t afraid to drop his gloves if the opportunity presents itself. He finished in a three-way tie for second on the Flyers with six bouts this season.

Mike Richards, who in all likelihood will replace Smith as the Flyers’ captain next season (or at least he should!), told The Hockey News during the season Smith was the best leader he has ever played with.

Smith won’t (and shouldn’t) usurp Alfredsson as the Senators’ captain, but will become one of the most influential alternate captains in the league.

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Murray acknowledges there are limitations to Smith’s game, a consistent first-pass out of the zone among them, but what he brings to the table in terms of leadership will more than make up for it.

And he added Smith will be a good influence on his team’s young defenders, showing them what it takes to be a successful pro.

“He’s the ultimate leadership type of player,” Murray said. “A good battler and a good shot-blocker. He doesn’t bring a points-game to our team, but that isn’t why we got him. It’s for his leadership and his sound defensive play. He got (to the NHL) by being a battler and he learned how to play the game right.”

As for the rest of Sens’ defense, even though Wade Redden and Mike Commodore have departed, it should still be in decent shape with Andrej Meszaros, Christoph Schubert, Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov and young Brian Lee.

If Smith can give Ottawa 15 to 17 minutes of consistent play a night and be the leader he was in Philadelphia and Edmonton (where he was also the captain), then Murray has himself an excellent acquisition.

Mike Brophy, the co-author of the book Walking with Legends, is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor on THN.com. His blog appears Mondays and his column, Double OT, appears Wednesday.

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COMMENTS (27)

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Lovin the Irony Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:43)

Where to start ? 1. Please think back to when Chara was traded. That was the start of the "new NHL" where speed dominated and size and arm reach were renderred useless. Chara was a virtual pylon in his last playoffs as a Sen and though he's got great size and reach, in the hyper-whistle blowing of the "new NHL" there was no useable place for him. 2. I don't think any Sens fan is pinning their Stanley Cup hopes on Smith, nor should a Bruin's fan pin their hopes on Ryder, but both aquisitions seem to further the purpose and mindset of their clubs. Pieces of the puzzle boys... pieces of the puzzle. 3. For anyone to say that "Ottawa has been snowballing for the past couple of years" is downright ignorant. Please remember - they were in the cup final just 2 years ago, which was the result of a steady 10 year increase in performance. Now they re-tool to get rid of the junk (ie Emery, Redden) Just as the Bruins have, as of late, began to make steady improvements after getting rid of their junk (Raycroft, Thorton)

Eldrick Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:36)

bostongm- isn't it tampering when a gm makes comments about other teams property--we can all appreciate your views about your Bruins but is there anyway you can get us readers some Head-On when your thoughts venture out of your own backyard?

bruce Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:28)

Smith's upside is his heart, soul and grit. He's a fearless shot blocker and an old school battler. His downside is not, as Brophy suggests, merely that he won't score much - it's much worse than that: he will consistently turn the puck over in his own end and he will never clear or bring the puck up the ice; consequently you should get ready to watch him block alot of shots because all the play will be in your end when he is on the ice. I really love and admire Smith, but unless he is paired with someone who is going to get the puck up the ice to your forwards, you better love defensive hockey becasue the play is from your blue line in.

D for Power Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:25)

bostongm, I agree that Boston is on the right track with its rebuilding and has some fine young players. However, you must be kidding when you count Kobasew as a legitimate top six forward. If he is a top six forward in Boston, then Boston needs an upgrade at forward.

Brian Kemp Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:25)

I don't see Smith making that big of a difference in Ottawa. He'll provide leadership and a locker room presence, but he is slowing down and is somewhat of a liability on the ice. Buying out Emery will make more of a difference. They screwed up huge letting Chara go, and it will take them a while to get over losing one of the best defensemen in the game.

james-p Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:25)

A lot of bold comments but more importantly off topic. Most of the comments belong in a general hockey forum where you guys & gals can exchange opinions. They're good comments but off topic. Now to get on topic; Jason Smith is one of the pieces the Sens need. It doesn't matter if he has the C or not; he will help in front of Gerber and in the dressing room the most. Many Sens took nights off last year; probably their biggest problem. That is where a Jason Smith helps. Do the Sens need more help? Yes, but that is a different topic.

Hugo Ouellet Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:24)

People are so laughable it's pathetic. 2 years later, everybody says the Sens should've kept Chara instead of Redden. Easy to say now, but back then this decisions made consensus, since Redden just had his carreer year and Char just stunk so much in the playoffs.

bostongm Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:22)

Briere stunk up the joint in the finals. This his 3rd year in the ECF's and he hasnt contributed. Thats alot more than some players though. Name one Joe Thornton. Philly has a hell-uv-a team and i have to say they're the favorite to go to the ECF. I have alot of respect for Philly. Especially Mike Richards. He's tha bomb to me. I wish he was playing for Boston. I have the upmost repect for Richards. Philly fans should be very happy with him on their roster. Prototypical-Canadian. He's AWESOME!!

Chris Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:21)

I think that getting Smith is what Ottawa is desperately needing,some grit.I Hope Spezza had a sore back in the playoffs because he wasn't impressive at all.Boston Gm I had Joe Thornton in my playoff pool when he played hurt & went pointless,but he looked alot better than Marleau last year...which isn't saying much.I do like what Boston is building.I think Cam Neely knows his hockey.I would have kept Chara over Reddon too.

Eldrick Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:21)

TJ- How much more- easier- do you need it for the Pens to have it against the Flyers? The EC Final was as close to a yawner as possible this last year. That series was never in doubt, not even for a minute. The Pens could have rotated their 3rd & 4th lines with a couple of lines from Wilkes-Barrie (or where ever the Pens affiliate derives) and it still goes 5 or 6 games. And with no real franchises forced to play the role of Carcass (Nashville last summer), Flyer Vulture is going hungry this summer. Did Holmgren get more than one agent to return a call?