After protecting Givani Smith in the expansion draft and signing him to a two-year extension in the off-season, it’s clear that Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings believe there is a possible future for him in the organization. This season, there’s a chance his future with the team is solidified – if he takes some major steps in his development.
Age: 23
RW Forward
Third Season on the Red Wings
Stats Snapshot:
Goals: 1
Assists: 3
CF%: 45.6
Pts/60: 1.4
ixG: 1.24
GAR: 0
(Advanced Stats Courtesy of Evolving-Hockey)
Last Season With the Red Wings
Last season, Smith spent a majority of his time with the Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring nine goals and six assists in 25 games. However, Smith did get some chances to illustrate his skills at the NHL level as injuries piled up in Detroit at the end of the season; he played 16 games in Detroit this year, scoring a goal and three assist.
Smith looked very comfortable in a fourth line role with the Red Wings, limiting offensive mistakes, possessing solid defensive skills and most notably, a physical play style that keeps opponents in check. All of these skills were on full display against the Florida Panthers last season, where Smith earned a goal, an assists and a fight – a “Gordie Howe hat trick”.
Best Case Scenario
Smith carves put a role for himself as a top-tier fourth liner, shutting down opposing offenses while still generating a solid amount of offense. In the absence of Luke Glendening and Darren Helm, Smith steps up as the leader of the penalty kill.
More importantly, he helps bring an edge to the team that has been missing for quite some time. No longer will Jamie Benn leave unscathed after knocking out the team captain for the season. The team begins to look out for each other, getting scrappy in contentious situations, increasing physicality when the game pressure is turned up.
Worst Case Scenario
Smith can’t seem to break through to the main roster and spends a majority of his year in Grand Rapids. He has an alright season with the Griffins, but it’s never consistent enough to truly progress. Essentially, his development stalls out and minimal gains are made. Smith fails to make an impression as plenty of other prospects begin to close in on roster spots. The door to a future with the Wings closes.
The Prediction Part
Smith finally breaks the roster, but he isn’t quite given an extensive role. While he might spend a bit of time in Grand Rapids, a majority of the year he’s either a member of the fourth line or a healthy scratch waiting for an opportunity to illustrate his growth as an NHLer. The coaching staff will give him an extended look on the penalty kill, as his skills mesh pretty well in pk situations. Overall, Smith doesn’t quite have a breakout year, but he continues on a consistent trajectory. Certainly improving, but not quite certain as a member Detroit’s future.
Possibility of Being a Trade Deadline Target: None
There isn’t really a chance that Smith ends up on the trading block. He was on Detroit’s protection list in the expansion draft last season, which means the organization believes Smith has some sort of future with the organization. It’s not yet clear if it’ll be short term or long term, but he has two years to prove it. Even if he has a really rough start to the year, expect Yzerman to give Smith another shot in his last contract year.
The Bottom Line
This season, Smith has the chance to finally break into the main roster for good – but he’ll get one more shot next year if he falls short. However, the forward prospect pool is starting to get a bit crowded, so at least some form of development is pretty important to get a head start. While this year might not be as pivotal for Smith as it is for others in the organization, a solid year of progress would go a long way in proving his role in the long term plans in Detroit.