First Review! Mr. Smith as they call him...(Long Read)

Mike freaking Smith. The Verona, Ontario native is not only a superb goaltender for the Arizona Coyotes, but he is also a killer net minder in Chel. Mimicking his professional career start with the Dallas Stars back in the '06 season, Mike Smith began his reign between my pipes with a shutout victory, and in competitive seasons no less.

Ratings: OVR 9.2 - HIGH 9.0, LOW 9.5, QIK 9.5, POS 10, RBC 8.5

Just to provide a little context as to what kind of a team is in front of him, I can say that I have maxed out the often-cited "Mom's Credit card" in making what is probably over a 5 star team in reality. I have played a ship load of games in D1, have 25 titles to sport and recently finished top 10 in the most recent competitive seasons round (mostly on Smith's shoulders). I am not trying to gloat, nor am I fishing for compliments. I am just trying to provide a basis from which you can view Mike Smith as I have viewed him since I made the lovely acquisition of him from the Auction House.

Upon stealing the net from Ray Emery, who wasn't too shabby in his own right, Mikey started to showcase to me why he is truly our man for the present and future of NHL 17. Rocking a rather large, but lean, 6 foot 4 inch, 214 lbs and 16 ounces frame, Smith really establishes a presence in the net. Considering that a lot of the goals given up now are snipes or one-timers from the point, his large frame helps to minimize the amount of holes the shooter has to put the puck through. That is only Mr. Smith's first line of defense. Like a momma Grizzly bear, he first tries to intimidate his opponent with his size when he feels that his net is threatened. However, if the opponent does not back down and insists upon trying to score then that is when Mike's claws and teeth comes out.

Mike comes bearing (see what I did there) down on attackers looking for that near post cheese with a focus and relentlessness that I have never seen in a goalie. Smith's glove is one of his best assets as I utilizes it game-in and game-out to shut down the best of opposing snipers (I.E. Ovi, Seguin, Bure, Richards). Unless I am to give up a really bad scoring chance from right in the middle of the slot, Mikey usually has my ass covered. As opposing players begin to see that the blocker is the best way to attack him, that is usually when the point shots commence. My team's coverage of D-to-D one timers is pretty bad so I usually get a front row seat to watching Mike Smith push hard from the left side of the crease to the right, almost always making a save even on most of the legend defenseman. Eventually, if I continue to let the opponent hammer the point shots away, one will go in.

However, I would have to say almost have of the point shots that get past Mike are tip-ins and I don't really count on any goalie in this game to stop tips on a consistent basis. When it comes to the breakaway part of the game, Smith is surprisingly proficient in his ability to defend the net. Disclaimer though, I love to go aggressive goalie on incoming skaters so I have not given Mike a ton of chances to stop breakaways, but when I do he usually gets them about 100% 50% of the time. And the last, but maybe most important part of his game that I love is his passing. You know, legend has it that as a young boy Sidney Crosby would travel across Ontario to find an also young Mike Smith and get tips on how to pass the puck well. Mike always knew that when it came to passing, you would want to pass to where your man is going to be, not where he is. And that truth is self evident on the ice for me as he is constantly coming out of his crease to come and make key outlet passes to my forwards, giving me more odd-man rushes than you would expect.

Now, there will always be a near-post cheese that he cannot stop, or some bullsh*t wrap that finds its way through the five-hole. However, when it comes to a starting goalie who can hang with the best of them, and I mean the best of them (I've tried every goalie 90 overall and up), Mike Smith is the one and only guy who will always have my blue paint to defend.

TL;DR Mike Smith is a god. He has a solid all-around game and has beat out virtually every top goalie I have tried. Get him asap... You're gonna like the way he looks between the pipes, I completely almost guarantee it! :)