Brendan-Smith-3-6-14

Brendan Smith hasn't played forward since he was in AAA hockey as a 16-year-old in Toronto.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT – Brendan Smith sometimes plays defense with a forward’s mentality, anxious to skate up the ice and join the rush.

He’ll get a chance to play forward at the NHL level for the first time tonight when the Detroit Red Wings host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Joe Louis Arena (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit).

Smith was slated to play left wing on a line with Cory Emmerton and Teemu Pulkkinen.

“Why? Because I think it gives us the best chance to win,” coach Mike Babcock said. “With the amount of injuries we have, we feel this gives us the best opportunity.”

The Red Wings are short on forwards; the latest to be sidelined is Justin Abdelkader, who's out up to two weeks due to a leg laceration from a skate blade Sunday in Chicago.

Smith was the most logical choice for the position switch. He was a forward as recently as age 16 for his AAA team in Toronto, skating on a line with John Tavares (New York Islanders) and Sam Gagner (Edmonton).

“They just think I have the tools where I can skate, hit and pressure, so that’s what I’m going to do,” Smith said.

“(Babcock) said ‘We need a player with your speed and caliber to play.’ ”

Still, he needs a quick refresher.

“The system, getting the puck out on the half-wall, pressuring, skating hard, being above the plays, we can go all over the list,” Smith said. “I understand the system and I know what is expected of the forwards, so I’m going to step in and do that.

“I need to get used to it and pick it up quickly. I think I can do it. I don’t think it’s that hard where I can’t jump in and play a good role.”

Smith has struggled at times on defense, making poor decisions with the puck. But he doesn’t view this as a demotion, rather a compliment to his ability.

“They see me as the most versatile on the back end that can step in,” Smith said. “We need to win games, so whatever I can help with. We haven’t scored so maybe I can help out in that area, help in winning battles. So that’s how I need to look at it.”

Smith is averaging 18:02 in ice time. He won’t get nearly that much playing time up front. But it’s better than being a healthy scratch.

“I’m always excited to play; it doesn’t matter where it is,” Smith said. “I hope it’s not like a demotion where you went from defense to playing 4-5 minutes. That would be very frustrating.”

Smith had 22 goals and 85 points in 66 games as a forward with a AAA team, the Toronto Marlboros, in 2004-05.

“I did exactly what (the Wings) want me to do, win puck battles and skate and then dish the puck; that’s pretty much what I did with (Tavares and Gagner),” Smith said. “I got a lot of points doing it. I was kind of the power forward in that sense and I’ll try and do that again tonight.”

He doesn’t believe this is the first step to converting him to forward full-time.

“I’m a defenseman; this is not something that I’m going to be changing,” Smith said. “I’m not (Dustin) Byfuglien (Of Winnipeg) or Brent Burns (of San Jose). I’m here just to help the team win. As soon as someone gets healthy I’ll go back to defense and assume the position.

“We need wins, we need our team to click. This may be a way to fire up the boys, or help them score. We’ll see how it goes.”

Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner, Smith’s teammate at Wisconsin, was surprised to hear of the move.

“That’ll be funny,” Gardiner said. “He’s pretty offensively gifted, so I’m sure he’ll do pretty good.”