New Jersey Devils veteran defenseman Brendan Smith opens up about his role with the team and helping younger defensemen.
Veteran defenseman Brendan Smith signed a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 13, 2022. He could not hide his excitement during his introductory media availability when asked about his new club and role on the team.
"For myself, I can kind of fill that area of a physical veteran with a little bit of a voice and maybe help these guys grow in an area to take that next step. I think that will be a lot of fun. I found myself doing that before when I was with the (New York) Rangers and some of the young guys with the (Carolina) Hurricanes, so I'm looking forward to it."
The Devils did take the next step and made it to the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 34-year-old became an important voice in the Devils' locker room as he helped his young teammates progress.
It's been an interesting situation for Smith, who is essentially training his replacements. During his exit interview, play-by-play announcer Bill Spaulding asked him what that is like.
"I wrestled with this back when I was with the Rangers. I had some sleepless nights thinking about it and understanding what I was doing because, at that moment, I was basically helping guys take my job."
Smith was referring to Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, and K'Andre Miller. The three now make up New York's top four blueliners, along with Jacob Trouba.
"It was tough to kind of handle because I knew that Fox, Lindgren, and Miller were itching to come through that door, but they needed a little bit of help to get through that door. I could have been selfish, and maybe I might still be in New York; I don't know if I took a different route."
"I look at myself, and I think I made the right decision helping them and getting them to where they are. I'm not going to take full credit, but I'll take a little tidbit out of that," Smith said.
In 2021 Fox won the Norris Trophy as the league's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position." He and Lindgren are the team's top defensive pair.
"I got some messages after I left, and they were like, 'Thank you for the help.' That means a lot to me. That means more than those sleepless nights and how hard it was to wrestle with that. I know what I did was the right thing. From that moment, I transitioned it to how I play, and I will continue to do that with this group."
Even though Smith found himself as a healthy scratch at points during his first season in New Jersey and only contributed five points, he was extremely valuable to his teammates. Just ask 22-year-old defenseman, Kevin Bahl.
"That last playoff game I was watching with (Smith), and I got a lot of insight," Bahl said during his exit interview. "You have to listen to a guy who's played that many years. I was listening and thinking – I don't even think like that; that's a great point. Just hearing him talk the whole game, this guy sounds like a professor up here. I'm listening to a lecture on the game."
If there is one thing I have learned from my interactions with Smith, it is that he pays it forward and is someone a general manager and coach wants in their locker room. He concluded his 12th season in the league and is content with his NHL journey to this point.
"I'm happy with how everything's gone. I don't have regrets, and I don't think anybody should," he said. "There's no point in that. Keep looking to the future, trying to get better, and keep molding yourself and helping others, and that's kind of what I preach."