2011 NHL Trade Deadline: Are the Nashville Predators considering a trade for Ladislav Smid?
by Chris Burton on Feb 20, 2011 12:08 PM EST
in Nashville Predators Analysis
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Most of the time, I don't feel comfortable reporting rumors, because they are just that - rumors. This particular one is somewhat different, however, considering the predominant source has been TSN. The player in question is Edmonton Oilers defenseman Ladislav Smid, who might fit some of Nashville's needs that we've laid out over the past couple of days. First, this report from Jonathan Willis of The Score:
There have been rumblings over the last few months that the Edmonton Oilers might be willing to send away defenceman Ladislav Smid, and over the last few days those rumblings have gotten very, very loud. Edmonton sports reporters Ryan Rishaug and Dan Tencer have both tied Smid to the Nashville Predators, and the team has had scouts at the last few Oilers games.
After the jump, the reports in question and whether or not Smid would be a good fit, and some video of David Poile's thinking as we approach the NHL Trade Deadline:
First, from Rishaug, TSN's Edmonton reporter:
Next, via Dan Tencer, who hosts the Oilers' radio broadcasts:
As you can see, these aren't your typical rumormongers. Rishaug and Tencer can probably be considered "in the know". Whether or not these particular rumors are accurate, of course, is another matter entirely, but the report bears watching.
At yesterday's Nashville SportsFest, Predators GM David Poile spoke about his approach to the Trade Deadline, and how the health of Francis Bouillon plays a role in whether they'll make another move:
As for Smid himself:
Ladislav Smid
#5 / Defenseman / Edmonton Oilers
6-3
226
Feb 01, 1986
Contract: $1.4M, RFA this summer
Assets
Flaws
Career Potential
Smid seems a little redundant, but could very well fit in on the Predators' blueline if Bouillon's recovery doesn't proceed quickly enough. The problem, as usual, is who he would bump out of the lineup and what it would take to acquire him. So use this post as a discussion starter - should the Nashville Predators attempt to acquire Ladislav Smid from the Oilers?
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No, unless......
Unless Bouillon can’t make it back from his concussion, that’s the only way I would look 2 add someoe0ne like Smid. But once again, after another substandard offensive showing by the Preds, we have another article on which Dman to pickup. If we miss the playoffs, which is quite possible, it will be due to not scoring enough goals like last night & against San Jose, not due to defense.
by Grizzledbear on Feb 20, 2011 12:53 PM EST via mobile reply actions
TROUBLE IS
we dont have the time to wait and see about the cube. we have a week. while our D has been good an overwhelming part of that is rinne. scoring would be great, but we are dangerously thin at D re: experience. we are an injury away from putting in players for the stretch run and hopefully the playoffs that havent laced them up in the nhl yet.
by predswilrule on Feb 20, 2011 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
I’m all for finding some useful Dman that could add some depth in case of injuries, but I don’t want to part with a high draft pick or top prospect to do so. If we trade a top asset to obtain someone, do it for someone who can get us out of the bottom 5 or 6 teams in the league in goal scoring!
by Grizzledbear on Feb 20, 2011 3:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
SMID
SHOULDNT BE ALL THAT EXPENSIVE OR I WOULD PASS
by predswilrule on Feb 20, 2011 5:13 PM EST up reply actions
Unlike Souray, Smid makes perfect sense in a Preds’ uniform – decent mobility, great size, solid defensive skills and a bit of grit. The Preds’ system is overflowing with offensive defensemen — surely one less prospect in that area won’t hurt the future of the team. He’s a RFA at the end of the year, too, giving them lots of options. I don’t know why they WOULDN’T try to make a deal for him.
Lifelong Tennessean, Flyers' fan for life
Question is, what would you be willing to give up for him? We threw away a 2nd round pick last year for a Dman we didn’t need (Grebeshkov), I’d hope we wouldn’t do that again.
by Grizzledbear on Feb 20, 2011 3:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Charles-Olivier Roussel, Roman Josi or Zach Budish. Maybe even Cal O’Reilly because with the addition of Fisher, do you need O’Reilly, too?
Lifelong Tennessean, Flyers' fan for life
Can’t trade O’Reilly while he’s still on IR. And if we’re gonna part with any of those other players you listed, it better be in a bigger deal than for just Smid.
by Grizzledbear on Feb 21, 2011 12:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Most of Poile's mic time
Devoted to brushing Fisher’s hair, verbally.
Even though every thing he said is true, regarding Fisher: tough, physical, net presence, what this team needs.
I would have added he is an effective counterpart to the soft, perimeter Erat, Legwand, Dumont. Sullivan cadre of forwards that seem to disappear during tough times.
Regarding Smid: he’s a solid defensive defenceman, but what this team needs is scoring. If Suter is hurt a while, then I would get a D man. But, if he’s not, we’ll be okay with the 6 we are currently playing.
O’brien showed his ‘hartnell’ like qualities last night. He did that time and time again in Vancouver. Here, though, he has played under control. He would be fine eating up extra minutes, I think. Not ideal footspeed, but he def likes to make life uncomfortable for the opposition in front of our net.
by DontfeedtheBelak on Feb 20, 2011 1:58 PM EST reply actions
SEE ABOVE
we only have a week to make the decision and the deal. its not like we can wait til april
by predswilrule on Feb 20, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
We need some D help
we are the 22nd worst team in the league at winning when leading after the 2nd period. If we want any kind of success in the playoffs, or to make the playoffs, we HAVE to address that.
Solution
score more goals. In the first, second, and third periods.
We can’t really give up goals at a lower rate, seeing as we are guaranteed to be a top three team in that regard by year’s end.
If we get a D, get one that will run the power play at a higher rate.
by DontfeedtheBelak on Feb 20, 2011 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
+1 and rec’d!
Our inability to score enough goals is the reason we’ve lost some games late this season. 4 SOG in the first period with 2 PP’s is the type of thing that loses games like last night, not our defensive pairings. If Poile is talking to Edmonton about anyone, I’d hope it’s for Penner.
by Grizzledbear on Feb 20, 2011 3:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
our team has 2 big flaws
The PP, and not holding onto leads late in the game. Smid could help 1 of those. The PP probably won’t get fixed until a staff change is made to bring in a coach who can run the PP.
by flyalder on Feb 20, 2011 3:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Smid is top 20 in Giveaways … I don’t care how bad your team is … IF you give away the puck at the same frequency that Klein gives it away, you’re not going to succeed in the playoffs or make the playoffs for that matter
by Dave_is_a_killer on Feb 20, 2011 2:49 PM EST reply actions
This is a whole different scenario if Suter misses more than a game or two. If he does, then a trade like this has to be made or we can say goodbye to the second round even before we normally do. A defense corps of Weber/Klein/Sulzer/O’Brien/Franson & Laakso or Johnson makes me want to cry.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
I agree
If Suter is hurt for more than just a few games (any news about that?),
Having Klein or O’brien as a #2 D is weak. We probably would win enought to still make the playoffs, but the ground we lose would cost us seeding, setting us up to be throttled by a better team.
by DontfeedtheBelak on Feb 20, 2011 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
no news yet
wouldn’t expect to hear anything till after practice tomorrow morning.
But I agree with you. Suter might be the most important skater on the team.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 20, 2011 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Our offense has been making me cry all season long. ;)
But again, what are you willing to part with to get a guy like Smid? The price is what makes a deal like that plausible or not.
by Grizzledbear on Feb 20, 2011 5:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Smid isn’t as good as Grebeshkov but it might take the same price – I’d send Nashville’s 2nd rounder so we’re left with NJD’s second.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 20, 2011 9:13 PM EST up reply actions
IMHO, we need to get someone better than Smid for a 2nd round pick. Maybe a bigger type deal that would send Penner & Smid here for some package of players/picks/2nd tier prospects would be the type of move we should look at…….fix 2 problem areas with one trade.
by Grizzledbear on Feb 20, 2011 9:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Holy Smid! You've got to be kidding me!
I’d rather go to Russia and try to get Grebeshikov back! Why do we keep spending #1 draft picks on defensemen if we have no intention of bringing them up? Ellis?, Laasko?, Blum? Anyone? Next thing you’ll see is that we need another 4th line defensive specialist! The best defense is a(ny) offense!
I agree also, Smid is just a lesser Klein clone. I would not give up a prospect like Blum, Josi, or Ellis (who have higher potential upsides). Grebeshkov was by far a much better puck moving defenseman. Smid does have the ability to play very well, but is very on and off. Maybe Edmonton will give him to us as a Ryan Jones trade reimbursement :)
We’re not talking about giving up a prospect of that caliber.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 20, 2011 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
Because they’re not ready. I have as big a man crush on Roman Josi as you’ll find but he’s not the guy we need to help us win a playoff round this year, which is what the Nashville Predators desperately need.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 20, 2011 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
Jones, Santorelli, Peverley
Would make a pretty nifty goal-scoring third or fourth line.
Its a good thing goals are <<>>> easy to come by.
Granted, they didn’t really give the indication of 15-20 goals when they were here.
by DontfeedtheBelak on Feb 20, 2011 6:48 PM EST reply actions
No way
I think Sultzer is playing well. Unless we are talking about replacing turnover Klein which is trading a known for a kinda who knows what to expect. Klein makes a lot of good plays but seems to turn the puck over more than anyone and especially in the wrong places.
hey hey hey now. as Chris Burton has said over and over again Klein is our 3rd best D guy no matter what happens in the actual games….
I'm sent here by the chosen one
by Creeping Death on Feb 20, 2011 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
no kidding....
Klein sucks and now were discussing a D man who has 8 pts? when we keeping losing this low scoring games? if Suter is out for a lengthier period of time, we need to pick up a D man that will bring both defense and offense. and someone we think works well with Weber. We would have been better off making the trade for Ian White.
We should wait and find real talent, not make a panic move….
by keepellisingoal on Feb 20, 2011 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
I think if Suter is out for an extended period, Sulzer will play with Weber.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 20, 2011 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
If you can legitimately prove to me who on the blueline other than 6 and 20 is better than Kevin Klein, I’m all ears. I don’t think you can. I understand that Klein and Hamhuis are fun to hate on because they make some egregious mistakes, but top-to-bottom, they’re much better than Bouillon, Franson, or O’Brien.
I think that a lot of the Klein hate stems from two things. 1) because he doesn’t specialize in any one thing, its easier to notice his mistakes. Franson scores, O’Brien fights, Bouillon hits. Klein? Exactly.
The other thing that may contribute to it is because when you watch Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, they’re nearly perfect. We’re spoiled by the best defensive pairing in the NHL.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 20, 2011 9:17 PM EST up reply actions
Agree 100%
I have yet to hear clear evidence that Klein sucks, other than people saying “Klein sucks”. He eats minutes, is a good skater, but he makes a few boneheaded plays that people remember more than the majority of well-played minutes he gives the PREDS.
by PREDSFan615 on Feb 20, 2011 9:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
and those well played minutes are very low key. usually no smashing hits, he doesnt glide w/ the puck like suter and he doesnt score or even get any chances on the PP so all you notice is the mistakes.
by predswilrule on Feb 20, 2011 10:46 PM EST up reply actions
It's easy to notice his mistakes
because he makes them all the time. The guy is like a guaranteed turnover on the ice. He leads the team in giveaways by a pretty healthy margin. And I don’t think “he doesn’t specialize in any one thing” in the sense he’s a “jack of all trades, master of none,” like Hamhuis. More like “jack of no trades, master of his domain.”
It’s pretty easy to make the case for Franson O’Brien, or even Sulzer being better than him.
It’s pretty easy to make the case for Franson O’Brien, or even Sulzer being better than him.
Then do it.
I would like to hear how Sulzer is better than Klien, since i’ve seen him make some bad turnovers and get out-muscled quite often, to the frequency of every game I’ve seen him play.
Or how Franson is better, since he hits like he thinks he is made of glass sometimes, despite his size.
O’Brien is actually not bad. He’s not great at getting the puck out, but he can get it to Franson well enough.
Just look at the numbers
Franson is a great offensive weapon, and the team does incredibly well, offensively, when he’s on the ice.
Klein’s line has performed better than ever with Sulzer on the ice. Sulzer can actually skate and has a shot.
I’m not saying Klein is horrible, but “bad turnovers and get out-muscled quite often,” as you described Sulzer, could just as easily describe Kleiner, without any external offensive attributes.
which numbers?
I’m horrible with advanced stats, so I’m willing to be proven wrong, but doesn’t Klein play against some pretty tough competition, unlike Franny?
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 21, 2011 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
a few numbers
9th on the team in takeaways
5th on the team in hits
1st in blocked shots (BTW i think real-time stats are all phooey anyway, just going with a trend you started)
1st in shorthanded TOI on one of the best Pks in the league
+/- +4 (sulzer is -5) Klien is only a +1 since boullions injury (when he was paired with sulzer)
and Klien has a better points per game than Sulzer
from behind the net.com Klien faces the 3rd highest quality of competition of Dmen. Klien has a -0.012. Sulzer is -0.037. and Franson comes in at 7th with -0.077
this has a been a look at the numbers.
Well since we agree the real-time stats are garbage
1. TOI is not an achievement
2. His +/- is a total fluke. Dirk covers it well here: http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2010/12/10/1868695/kevin-klein-nashvilles-best-worst-defenseman
3. Maybe while you were at behind the net, you noticed the Preds get outshot with Klein (and Bouillon) on the ice more so than any other defenseman, by a staggering margin: http://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_statistics.php?s=29&rs=t&f1=2010_s&f2=5v5&f4=D&f5=NSH&f7=40-&c=0+1+3+5+29+30+31+32+33+34#
addendum
I don’t hate Klein, but I just don’t want to call him “far and away third best defenseman.” He’s a third pairing guy and nothing he’s done to this point in his career makes me think otherwise.
idk about 3rd pairing
that is usually the pair that sees the easiest ice time. They are simply expected to not be a hindrance to the team, and possibly provide some offense(i.e. Franson’s quality of competition)
But i still think Klien is the 3rd best Dman on the team. (I’m also not sure about “far and away”, that phrase should only be used for Suter and Weber.) Klien takes on the other teams top lines every night, and does it better than any other Dman not nicknamed Batman and Superman.
Sulzer is alright, But he has to get stronger so he can stop being pushed off the boards or onto Rinne, especially if he wants Klein or Bouillon’s job.
1. TOI proves the the preds staff think he is worthy of it. and that he is a cornerstone of the PK
2. Klien has maintained a positive +/- thus far. if it were a fluke it would even out over the course of the year.
3. I did notice that Smithson and Spaling are down there as well. It’s almost as if the 4 of them are consistently put into a position where shots against would commonly outweigh shots for. Possibly an expected side effect of them being the go to shutdown guys.
2. No…We’re talking about team shooting % and the sample size, given Klein’s ice time, can be at maximum a third of a season, which is not big enough to suggest a real phenomenon.
3. Good shutdown defenseman post positive corsi numbers though (Hamhuis consistently did). Your point about forwards, though is something I’ve wondered myself and want to do research on…whether SA is more important that SF with a defensive forward on the ice (intuitively it is).
2. kind of confused here. Dirk said his +/- is a result of a unusually high shooting percentage with him on the ice. I’m saying that if it were a “fluke” we would, at least, start seeing it correct itself by now. Since it hasn’t, I don’t think it is a Fluke, but would be willing to wait and see where it ends up at the end of the year.
3.Hamhuis is better than Klien, but none of the lower 5 Dmen on the team now are. If you do that research see if you can find out how many of those shots are quality scoring chances or shots from the perimeter in an attempt to break through the Defense.
Here's some more numbers from the last 7 games.
These are as far back as I could go with the time I had, but during the last 7 games, Klein has had 8 giveaways, but nobody notices that Weber has had 7 giveaways, and Suter has had 6. Also, between those 7 games, #8 has blocked 19 shots and 26:27 in PK time. and how many PP goals have our opponents netted in that time?
by Only Fan In J.C. ? on Feb 21, 2011 1:18 AM EST up reply actions
But O'Brien gets lazy sometimes
and not to mention the game against Phoenix, but sometimes he does really irresponsible aggressive plays.
by Only Fan In J.C. ? on Feb 21, 2011 12:58 AM EST up reply actions
I don't know, man
He doesn’t get to play with our ‘better’ forwards, and he doesn’t get PP time at all. Sulzer, Franson, Bouillon, Weber, and Suter all are presented with more opportunity in the offensive zone.
Giveaways is a very subjective statistic, much like hits, I don’t put that much stock into it. When you over 20 minutes a night against Pavel Datsyuk, Rick Nash, and Jon Toews, you’re going to give the puck away.
I don’t think Klein is that great. He’s just better than defensemen 4-6 right now. Sulzer, to his credit, is really winning me over, though, I can almost see a case for re-signing him.
"[Weber] shoots like MacInnis, hits like Stevens." - Jeff Marek
by Chris Burton on Feb 21, 2011 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
No more defense
I, personally speaking, think it is time to have our young D-men step up and deliver in clutch. I know they haven’t developed at the NHL level, but still. We can’t just keep getting veteran D and let our minor leaguerers stay there.
"Who own da chiefs?!"
right. whats the point of having all this talent in the AHL if we never give them a shot
I'm sent here by the chosen one
by Creeping Death on Feb 21, 2011 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
timing
this just isn’t the best time to do it. before the All-Star break i would have agreed, but not now that every night is going to be much tougher. This just isn’t the time to give someone with 0 Nhl experience a spot and expect them to succeed.
It really tests their character and poise more than any training camp ever would.
--plus
I heard the Preds might be interested in Zherdev from the Flyers…
"Who own da chiefs?!"
suter injury
i just saw where he is going to be out for awhile. Now i think that if Blum is stronger then he might be the best option. But in training camp he proved he wasn’t strong enough for NHL action.
Why not just have a team of all D-men and be done with it?
Geez, last week it was Ian White and now this. To me, the question(s) should have been should we trade for Kris Versteeg or James Neal. As I have said before, we have d-men out the a$$. We may be 2nd in the league in defense, but we’re losing games because we’re 25th in offense. The 5 on 4 and 4 on 4 is horrible, as our 15.4 pp% and 0-5 record in overtime will attest. If we want to make the playoffs and advance past the first round we need to SCORE MORE GOALS! To do that, we must trade for offense. Also, I do not know the locker room, but if all things are equal there, I would never play Tootoo over Svatos when we’re so lacking in offense.
The truth is neither libelous nor slanderous.
Reason and logic instead of hope and faith.
by shoot the puck on Feb 21, 2011 10:54 PM EST reply actions
Wait, maybe Tootoo can play defense.
The truth is neither libelous nor slanderous.
Reason and logic instead of hope and faith.
by shoot the puck on Feb 21, 2011 10:56 PM EST reply actions
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