New Jersey Devils: 3 Positives from Win Over Sabres to Build Upon

3. Brendan Smith earned respect with scuffle and winger role

Brendan Smith has taken a lot of heat this season for his hand in the Devils’ struggling defense. He’s seen a regular starting role on the blueline this season but has recently been moved to left wing. Switching positions is difficult, but Smith is handling it well. In his second consecutive game as a winger on Saturday night, Smith shined for more reasons than one.

First, he earned respect by dropping the gloves with Connor Clifton, the Sabres defenseman responsible for Nico Hischier missing 11 games. Smith took Clifton down to the ice with 1:30 remaining in the first period and the Devils up 4-0. Devils fans cheered for Smith’s defense of his captain. Message sent.

Smith has flipped the script in his role filling in as a forward. He earned his first assist of the season on a goal by Tyler Toffoli. He won puck battles and contributed to getting the puck to the offensive zone. Is he better as a forward than a defenseman? He shouldn’t necessarily stay at forward forever, but he should at the moment with Timo Meier, Curtis Lazar, and Tomas Nosek out. Erik Haula is also questionable after exiting the game with an injury. Right now, Smith is more valuable as a forward than a defenseman.

The Devils look to keep things rolling in a divisional matchup against the New York Islanders on Tuesday at The Rock.