The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

You know, I was actually thinking about the possibility of Bryan Murray signing Jason Smith as the crop of free agents started to shrink. And I was actually thinking he would have been a great pick up to load up for the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs: a tough, character guy who gives 100% each shift. There's a reason why he wore the 'C' in Edmonton and Philadelphia.

I think he'll be a great person for rookie Brian Lee to be partnered with. Aside from their playing styles: Lee is (in theory) the better skilled puck-mover, while Smith is a more solid, physical stay-at-home defenceman. (I should also point out he's one of the league leaders in blocked shots). I really think he can mold Lee into a better all-round player, maybe even rubbing off a bit of his leadership abilities.

So I like this signing. But the Sens defence will have a lot of question marks: Will Lee step up like he's projected to? Will relative newcomer Lawrence Nycholat (on a one-way contract from Binghamton) be able to contribute? Will Andrej Meszaros rebound from a poor season? At least there's one thing Sens fans can say: Smith will make things a lot more difficult for the opposition.