Please don't get mad at me for my lineup. I can't remember what game it was but recently this playoff Smith took the puck into the offensive zone as just passed it to someone on the Senators. They didn't score but they almost did. I know that's just one play but that's an example of what he's been doing this playoff. I thought that whoever traded for Smith would get him for a 6th, not a 2nd and a 3rd. Now he's almost played like an AHLer i think.

My point exactly. That was one play. Did you see all the times he advanced the puck out of the d-zone smoothly, broke up 2 on 1's, dished out big hits, created offensive chances, cleared the crease etc. He has been stellar barring a few mistakes. The player you are describing, at least to my and a lot of other people's eyes, is Nick Holden, who solely lost us both Game 2 against Montreal and Game 2 against Ottawa and as somehow been consistently worse then Marc Staal. Simply putting Klein or Clendening in for him with Staal would really propel the team to a higher level...

Let me go through what i think of the Rangers d-men.
McDonagh - Just a great player. One of the best defensemen in the league. Moves the puck, stops scoring chances, gets in the way of other players, etc. Great defenseman.
Holden - A 3rd pairing guy until this year. This year he's been a top 4 in my opinion. I think they might want to take him out of the lineup but just to make room for other guys. He's had a great year for him.
Staal - A good defenseman who doesn't play an offensive game but gets in the way of another guy to let a teammate take the puck and move it out of the zone. Good player.
Klein - Seriously i have no idea why they're scratching him. I see him as that guy who's secretly helping out his team (if he's playing).
Skjei - 3rd pairing guy now, but has top 2 potential.
Girardi - Good, top 4 puck moving defenseman who i think is very underrated. He has definitely had a good playoff though. So don't get mad at him for just that one bad play in game 2.
Clendening - 3rd pairing/healthy scratch guy, but nothing wrong with his play at all.
Kampfer - he's your 8th/9th guy.
Smith - 3rd pairing/healthy scratch. Always loses the puck. Yes, i agree, he moves the puck out of the defensive zone well, but then he moves it out and then gives it to someone on the other team.

That's all just my opinion though.

The fact that he thinks Nick Holden is a Top 4 Dmen and Smith is a healthy scratch. I really have a hard time he actually watches this sport. Im convinced you value players solely on their total points

I'm not saying Holden is a top 4 defenseman, i'm just saying he's played like one THIS YEAR. And i see Smith kind of like i see Jake Gardiner. Smith keeps losing the puck, and he won't stop.

You do realize that Holden can't skate, can't pass, has 0 puck awareness and chases the puck. he can't give up the puck bc he never has it in the defensive zone. There isn't one good quality about Holden bsesides he can be a 2nd PP guy bc he has a half decent shot.

THere is nothing about his game that says he has play4ed like a top 4 man

Don't get mad at this kid cause I bet his rookie mode NHL 17 GM team won every game so he must be a genius.

Not getting mad at him, just he posts so many contradictory things on this site. So you have to call him out. Im sure if you asked him he would say he would rather have Nick holden over Trouba

Ik lol I'm joking he's very annoying