GDB 20: Smid wings it
Jason Gregor
November 20 2008 12:04PM
You will see another new wrinkle tonight for the Oilers. For the first time in his NHL career, Ladislav Smid will suit up on offence. He will play with Brodziak and Pouliot on the fourth line.
Smid always plays with emotion. Does he make the right decision all of the time? No. But his effort is always there. His robust style is what the Oilers need on their fourth line, and Smid is a good enough skater that in theory he should be able to be effective on the forecheck.
But the other areas of the job will be difficult for him. I sat down with Smid after he fielded questions from the largest scrum of reporters he had seen in his young career.
Gregor: Sniper Smid, is that your name now that you are a forward? Smid: Yeah, pretty much... the guys will have to get used to the new name. Gregor: Do you remember the last time you scored a goal? Smid: No... Ahhh no... Well, well. No, it’s been too long. (Laughs) Gregor: Do you remember the last time you played forward? Smid: Third grade. I was about seven. That’s pretty impressive, eh! Gregor: Were you centre or winger? Smid: I was centre, top goal scorer on my team actually. Then they put me on defence, because my Dad played defence for the Czech Republic national team. Maybe if I was still a centreman, I would be a top scorer. You never know. (Laughs again). Gregor: You seem excited, but what is going to be the biggest challenge? Smid: I am excited, but still I’m very nervous like usual. Defensively there are lots of new things. I’m used to being in the corners and in front of the net. Now I have to cover their D, and they are the best in the league, so it will be different, but I have to deal with it and hopefully I will do well. Gregor: Your coach talked about players to compete every shift. You have shown that willingness as a D-man. Is your plan to just dump and chase and hopefully dish out some hits? Smid: Yes, that’s the idea that MacT had. I have to pressure their D and see what happens. Gregor: Did you practice tipping pucks or deflecting pucks in practice today? Smid: I’m really bad at that. I’m just going to stand in front of the net and hope it goes in. I don’t know how guys do it. It is a miracle to me if I can tip it. If it happens it is a miracle.
You have to like Smid’s honesty. You couldn’t wipe the smile off his face today. He just wants to play. He was asked if he thought about saying no to the idea when MacTavish approached him, “Are you crazy? This is the NHL, I just want to play.”
Later on when everyone was gone, Smid admitted to me that Detroit might not be the best team to get used to playing forward against. They are the best in the league and it will be a challenge.
Then I asked him, “When you go out, do you try and talk to the best looking girl or just an average one? Testing yourself against the best is always more rewarding.” He laughed in agreement. “That is very true. Hopefully I don’t get shot down tonight.”
Smid is one of the funnier guys to talk with. He doesn’t shy away from most questions, and he seems like he really enjoys being in the NHL. It will be interesting to see if he still enjoys it after going up against Lidstrom, Rafalski and the rest of the Detroit D tonight.
—Listen to Gregor weekdays from 3 to 6pm on TEAM 1260 or online at www.justagame.ca.
Why worry Wayne. They well win one, lose two from now till Christmas. Then go about .500 till Feburary, then Joey will put the A5-35 in their cans and they will play like a house of fire to make the play-offs on game 82. Are you new to being an oiler fan?
"MacT: I’m not even going to be subtle about it this time. I’m not going to grab a beer and jingle my keys. I’m past that. If you group of retards don’t score some goals I’m going to commit vehicular manslaughter. Which one of you mother truckers is going to be riding shot gun huh?"
Gilbert: Free ride? Can I bring my guitar hero and serenade you?
"Are you new to being an Oiler fan?"
Hells no HGs. December is traditionally "start being concerned" Month. January is "start suggesting trades, become absorbed with ideas of trades" month
Every month has a theme
September is "irrational exhuberance" month
COGS!
Nice goal
chicago will be in town in Dec. maybe Joel and Craig can go cruisin'.
YEAHHHHHHHHH
Decent goal
March is "house on fire hockey" Month
Nice to get a break - not much to get excited about thus far
My crappy internet feed is chopping up so bad I missed it.
Datsyuk has lazer corrected eyes. Is that legal? He probably has a Terminator like HUD inside of his head that can target the net.
"March is “house on fire hockey” Month"
Really?? Someone should have told me that last year. I thought it was punch an albino month. This march I was going bertuzzi Liam Reddex.
I think that chick's Kokum made that "Hemsky Knit" toque with no top
DIVE. Knee on knee DIVE.
He better come back looking like Terry Fox the way he went down.
"Garon spreads his legs WIDE!" He is enjoying this too much.
Are we allowed to make fun of Terry Fox yet? Has enough time passed or is it still too soon?
I was done grieving
Nice PK - STAY OUT OF THE F'N BOX!!!!
good grief. They're going to start putting pucks in off the Gretzky statue.
Tambo Angry. Tambo trade, fire, release, call up, send down, poo on player soon.
BM -
We weren't supposed to rip Terry Fox?
Signed, Terry Fox's Strut
HEy Bagged when does that bandwagon roll through the south side. I am drunk and ready to drive the mother.
There's room for everybody! We don't stop, so be prepared to tuck and roll when the Oilers win a game via shootout.
Anyone remember when we had stopjumping.ca?
WG, T. Fox was the originator of walking with a swagga. He was living the thug life long before 3 6 mafia.
HG, You may have to wait a little bit. With the way this game is going I'm going to have to hitch up a wedding and unfold some lawn chairs.
No tuck and roll for this guy... remember I am hammered. Doubt I will get off that wagon though, I havebeen calling for his head for a over a year now
You may be drunk but not as drunk as Rob Brown's stylist
Why does Rob Brown look like a villain from a Dick Tracy cartoon? God, he's sick looking!
No kidding Wayne, speaking of broads who need a punch in the face.
Gene Principe smiles like he knows something we don't.
Something dirty
I can't figure out why his hair plug surgeon only installed them on the front of his head.
When he was an Oiler my sister thought he was hot. I may have to text her and remind her of that.
Was Rob Brown an Oiler?
You must be drunk - lol
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=619
I have Zdeno Ciger's autograph.
Just sayin.
Instead of pockets, Principe insists on using his own ass to hold his keys, wallet, cellphone, hamster, flashlight, The Club®, and the rest of Rob Brown's hair plugs.
apparently the chick who cuts my hair screwed Grebs over a while back. she was drinking with him and her friend (banging the goat) and she told him to come in on Monday for a cut. He came in but that was her day off. The bleet of the goat could be heard for blocks. she didn't feel bad, thought it was funny.
true story!
I have a Brad Winchester autograph
I have a hockey stick autographed by the entire 94/94 Oilers.
And a pair of baggedmilks undies.
94/95.
Damn you sausage fingers!!!
I will be holding an undie autograph session sometime around Christmas. Stay tuned.
Oilers = Awful = Alcoholism = Fugo Chicks getting laid tonight...
See? There's good in everything.
Hey they need ass too. And 5 2's make a ten
Someone is getting sent down
I'm sending myself down to Springfield, I am minor leauge fan
St. Albert renounces your exisitance Rob Brown
As a resident of St. Albert I will circulate the petition.
Was that a sloth standing in front of the net or Penner
A sloth can skate faster, so, clearly Penner.
ON you had me excited. I thought you meant Sloth from the goonies. :(
He's had a hard time finding work you know.