GRAND RAPIDS - Givani Smith, one of the Detroit Red Wings' prized prospects, is off to a slow start in Grand Rapids and coach Ben Simon thinks it's a matter of finding his role on the team.
The high-energy forward remains without a point, has 10 penalty minutes and a minus-2 plus/minus after eight games. Not the kind of start Smith nor the Red Wings expected from their second-round pick (46th overall) in 2016.
"He had a really good camp and he came down here and, I don't want to say he took this league lightly, but I think he has to recognize there are a lot of good players in this league and he's got to do something to establish his identity as a player down here," Simon said.