Ladislav Smid: One Hit to the Body

Ladislav Smid gets hurt a lot. These aren't small injuries and no one questions his toughness. However, when your resume includes concussions, a broken hand, a neck injury, arm injury, knees, legs, shoulder it isn't a stretch to suggest that the hits will keep on coming. When looking at Ladislav Smid, injuries are a major consideration.

• Boxcars: 51gp, 1-8-9
• Shots: 36
• Plus Minus: +5
• Corsi (Rel): -2.2 (3rd among D's)
• GF/GA ON: 36-31
• 5x5/60: 0.50 (3rd best among D's)
• 5x4/60: 14.40 (best among D's)
• Quality of Competition: easiest among D's
• Quality of Teammates: best among D's
• Offensive Zone Start FO %: 46.8% (3rd easiest among D's)
• Cap Hit: $1,300,000

1. What do these numbers tell us? Smid played in the best possible circumstances (Lubo as his partner, easy minutes in terms of opposition and a reasonable zone start) and his numbers reflect it. One would hope for more offense, although playing with Lubo meant a lot of playing guard while the brilliant one ad-libbed his way to California. Smid had a good season, that's a nice Corsi on this club and his plus minus is just this side of impossible based on the team he played for in 2009-10.
2. How could they be better? His limited offensive abilities were identified early by Kyle Woodlief at Redline before the draft, but the rest of the world felt he'd deliver more than he's shown as an NHL player. If this was 1975 they'd call him a "stay-at-home" defenseman, meaning Smid is somewhat one dimensional and if he can't play tougher minutes then his value is marginal.
3. He's good enough for the 2nd pairing. On this team, yes. But if you're the Edmonton Oilers and this young man is rfa after this season that means a payhike and I don't know that there's a lot of value for a defensive defenseman you don't trust to play the tough minutes.
4. You're making too big a deal of these injuries. Over the last 3 seasons, Smid has played in 71% of the Oilers games. He's missed 15, 20 and 31 games by season. But it is also the style he plays (Smid doesn't protect himself very well) and the position (defense is a ridiculous position to play).
5. You just don't like him. Not true, but I do have trouble seeing where he'll help a team win games. Last season Smid played with Lubo under ideal circumstances. Put simply, he was on the ice with a guy who was constantly sending the puck in the right direction but Smid had little or nothing to do with it. He does carry the puck well but his decision making when in possession of the puck is quite poor and is not developing.
6. How will the Oilers handle him this season? It is extremely likely he'll play tougher minutes next season, and if the club pairs him with a capable veteran Smid may be able to help in a complementary way.
7. How important is he to the organization? If Smid can play top 4 minutes effectively at around $1M he'll be a valuable player. He needs to impact the game more in all three zones to be a legit top 4D.

By the Numbers

• 08-09 5x5 per 60m: 0.80
• 09-10 5x5 per 60m: 0.50

By the Numbers

• 08-09 5x4 per 60m: nil
• 09-10 5x4 per 60m: 14.40

Projected Role in 2009-10: Top 4D for the Edmonton Oilers