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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Lovin the Irony (Posted 2008-07-11 10:29:17)
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 2008-07-10 21:18:08)
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 2008-07-10 13:33:52)
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.
james-p (Posted 2008-07-10 10:41:43)
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.
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-07-10 10:14:56)
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.
D for Power (Posted 2008-07-10 10:08:52)
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.
Hugo Ouellet (Posted 2008-07-10 09:33:54)
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 2008-07-10 02:33:41)
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!!
Eldrick (Posted 2008-07-10 01:48:14)
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?
Chris (Posted 2008-07-10 00:22:34)
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.
Dave Jones (Posted 2008-07-09 21:49:17)
Ok bostongm, but I won't "believe it" until they make it past the first or second round.
bostongm (Posted 2008-07-09 19:57:47)
Boston is not mediocre. Boston FINALLY has some very good youngsters to build the team around. How am i arrogant? Cause i took a shot at the Sens and their less than stellar D? Thats all i did. Take a pill. Boston hasnt done anything but we're on the right track. My team is going the right way while the Sens are going back-wards. I DO feel good about my team. Can i feel better about them? Of course i can. Boston did achieve 94 points despite massive injuries and we pushed the Habs to the brink while we were missing 2 of our top 6 forwards.(kobasew and Bergeron). Boston is on the rise. Believe it.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-07-09 19:41:39)
Hey Boston gm, what colour is the sky in your world? Your fired G.M. a genius? That's rich. How far has Boston gone since signing Chara? You need to give your head a shake. Boston is as mediocre a team as you'll find in the NHL, I don't know where you get off with your arrogance. What has Boston done lately?Lost in the first round. If I were a Boston fan I would be quietly waiting for my team to give me a reason to feel good about myself.
Matt Roberts (Posted 2008-07-09 18:27:18)
Why did the Leafs have to trade this guy for a bag of pucks and a couple gatorades all those years ago? Hehe, regardless, I don't think he will make that much of a difference in Ottawa. They are losers. Always have been. Always will be.
habs wont make the play-offs (Posted 2008-07-09 17:58:07)
Boston hasnt done squat in the last....few hundred years,but they're closer now than the Sens. They lose Chara and Redden...and they bring in Smith? I'm surprised the Sens arent planning the Cup parade right now..;). they also lost Stillman and some guy. Ottawa isnt going anywhere. Oh yeah...BTW.....whens the last time the Sens have actually WON the Cup? Choking in the finals doesnt count.
L B (Posted 2008-07-09 17:46:45)
Hey BostonGM, when's the last time the Bruins have been to the final or anywhere near it??
bostongm (Posted 2008-07-09 17:25:46)
Oh yeah....thanks for not picking Redden instead of Chara a couple years ago!!! HAHHAHAHAHA.How dod Redden turn out anyways?
bostogm (Posted 2008-07-09 17:22:39)
Thornton is a bum. He cant lead in the play-offs. He doesnt have the necessary fortitude for the play-offs. He shrinks into the fetal position in big games. I'm GLAD that No-Show-Joe Thornton is GONE. We got Sturm,Kobasew,Ference,Kessel,and Lucic BECAUSE we traded that waste of talent. We drafted Kessel and Lucic that year because we sucked that year. We flipped Stuart and Primeau for Kobasew and Ference. Thats FIVE decent/good players for ONE under-performing play-off disappearing act. My old fired ex-GM looks like a genius now,doesnt he? Hhahahhahahahahahaha. How have the sharks been doing in the play-offs with No-Shoe-Joe helping them? Thats what i thought. Smith will beat up on Chara? Hhahahahhaaha. fanatasies ARE allowed.
jono (Posted 2008-07-09 16:59:03)
dean i can tell your a str8 hater and boston boy be happy ottawa made u guys competitive again talk about a laughing stock before,trading away thorton da dumbest move ever,and good ol smith well beat up chara cause he a bum
Jeffrey Brideau (Posted 2008-07-09 16:33:59)
I don't fully agree with you on the whole Alferdson and Smith Captain issue. I think a complete change of scenery needs to happen in Ottawa and to do that you gotta put someone else in charge, enter Smith. I know it does'nt look all that good to take the "C" from a guy who has had it for a few years but look what has been snowballing over the past few years and last year was the be all and end all, in my opinion, of Alfredson as a Captain. He should have had more control over the players under him and been a better motivator, instead there are fights at pracitice and guys looking lazy on the ice, an all in all terrible season. Jason Smith is a proven junkyard dog in the NHL, a real hard ticket that wont take any crap from anyone, including his own teamates. Give him the "C" and let Alferdson learn a little from a proven Captain.
Dean (Posted 2008-07-09 16:25:26)
What? "In Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza, the Ottawa Senators have three of the best forwards in the NHL." How do you figure that? What have they done? Where have they gone? What have they won? Try nothing, not to the locker room with the cup, and not a cup! Get off the Ottawa boat! It's sinking and has been for a few years now. Jeeze!!!!
T.J. (Posted 2008-07-09 15:02:10)
As a Pens fan, I was dreading the day when Gator became a Flyer. He did what he had to do with the Flyers and did it well. Im sure all of those young guys learned a lot from him. That guy is tough as nails. Makes it that much easier for the Pens to beat the Flyers this year.
bostongm (Posted 2008-07-09 14:26:25)
Whats he going to do but get shot by pucks and get injured? Oh yeah...he'll yell at his players. If this guy really wants to help this team,he should retire and be the assistant coach and let the Sens bring in some real talent on the back end. He can still do his yelling behind the bench and he wont be a liability on the ice. Yes.....a - player IS a liability.
Ben (Posted 2008-07-09 14:13:45)
You are so wrong flyerfan, Ottawa has always had a great leader in Alfredson. We do however need better alternate captains and hopefully Smith gets the job and replaces redden.
Flyerfan (Posted 2008-07-09 13:10:29)
He's the leader type they need. There's no better choice unless they could have hired a Sutter as coach. Demote Alfredson to "A" and make Smith captain.
Gus (Posted 2008-07-09 12:46:56)
Well written. Sens filled a much needed void on both the back end and in the dressing room but time will tell if Gerber can step up as well.
Alicia (Posted 2008-07-09 12:45:03)
Ottawa fans will love Smith. He is such a warrior and a leader. I rarely ever saw him when he didn't have at least one black eye. He is so tough and played through the Flyers whole playoff run w/ two separated shoulders so that says warrior right there. I wish him luck in Ottawa just not against the Flyers :) He wasn't right for the Flyers because of his slowness and age and his price and plus the Flyers already have players like him in Richards, Cote, Hatcher, Hartnell, and more but he is definitely what Ottawa needs.
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