Having already invested a host of premium draft picks in the building of a dynamic young forward corps, the Ducks did well to select Ladislav Smid, a talented Czech blueliner with the ninth overall pick in 2004.
Smid stepped into the Portland Pirate lineup on Opening Night and has been the Bucs' best blueliner, that is, when he can stay in the lineup. A rash of nagging injuries to the shoulder, wrist, and a concussion have limited his playing time. A Holiday stint with the Czech World Junior team, his third WJC tourney, made him unavailable for another two week span.
Remarkably heady for a 20-year old defenseman, Smid rarely gets caught out of position and has a knack for making the smart play, keeping matters as simple as possible. The transition from European hockey has gone smoothly, indeed.
"It's (the AHL) a little bit different from the Czech league," Smid said. It's a tougher league, here, but I like it. I must learn this style of hockey. It's good for me, I think. Because it's a smaller rink, I think the hockey is faster. There are a lot of hits, but I must learn the tough play. It's very important for me."
No less important will be his physical development. Some added muscle would give his game an extra dimension.
"He's a bone rack," said Burke. "His challenge is that he's got to gain some weight. He's tall enough (6-3), but he only weights 190 pounds. He's got to play at 210. His challenge is to put on some weight in the off season. But his hockey skills and his hockey sense are already at the NHL level."
- Dan Hickling
