The Detroit Red Wings turned in arguably their most complete performance of the season yesterday against the Florida Panthers, earning a 4-1 victory and breaking an eight-game losing skid.
And one of the main elements that played into the win was the performance of gritty forward Givani Smith, who had been recently recalled from the team’s taxi squad.
And now he’s going right back.
UPDATE: Forwards Givani Smith and Mathias Brome have been assigned to the #RedWings taxi squad.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 8, 2021
What on earth?
With a goal, an assist and a fight, Smith earned his first career Gordie Howe hat trick and was the driving catalyst behind the win. A forward who not only plays tough every shift but can post points? Why would a team not want to see more?
With a clear demonstration of what he can bring to an NHL roster, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have earned at least a respite from being returned to the taxi squad.
Smith’s teammates were full of praise of his performance following yesterday’s win:
“It was a great example of what he brings to the team,” Fabbri said. “He has had a great mentality coming in and doing what is needed. He did a little bit of everything with a hit, a goal and an assist. That’s what we need out of him.”
With Smith’s return to the taxi squad, one can assume it clears the way for underachieving forward Anthony Mantha to return to the lineup on Tuesday. Mantha was a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game.
Simply put, there’s no reason why Smith shouldn’t be a regular on Detroit’s roster. In one game, he’s already brought far more intensity than the overpaid Frans Nielsen, who routinely looks like a ghost on most nights.
Can anyone think of a reason why Smith shouldn’t be a regular on the Red Wings roster? Because I sure can’t.
– – Quotes via Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press Link – –
Smith has earned at the minimum a long look and should be on the roster. Frans should be in reserve for sure. If they want to bring Mantha back to see if he is good up and ready it should be Frans that goes. But I think Smith was going to the taxi squad before this game. Taxi squad is not like the minors so it is like a deep bench.
My guess is he is first on line to come back and that happens shortly.
Replace blashill. I think that’s a must