Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

TRAVERSE CITY — Brendan Smith is positive this October will be better. He is a season wiser, he is resolute to be risk-free, and he is ready to prove patient.

It is hard to dislike Smith off the ice, as he is an affable, gregarious talker with an opinion on everything. On the ice, he is a work in progress, a 25-year-old defenseman who might be ready to take the step forward the Detroit Red Wings need to be more competitive in 2014-15. Smith brings speed and boundless energy, and after closing out last season paired with Niklas Kronwall, Smith also might bring a poise that he previously lacked.

"I want to take the risky plays out," Smith said today after being on the losing end of a 3-2 shoot-out decision in the Red-White game at Centre Ice Arena on Day 3 of training camp. "I don't want there to be any risky plays. I want there to be well-timed plays. It's going to be tough — everybody gets caught, even the best players, but you have to make sure that you're making 90% of the right plays. It's hard to do, but that's something I've been learning and watching."

For years, Wings coaches — all hockey coaches, for that matter — used to tell young defensemen to watch Nicklas Lidstrom because, as Mike Babcock explained it, "the greatest skill Nick Lidstrom had was patience. He just made the right play all the time. Most of us are so busy forcing things that we turn it over."

Turning over the puck was such a Smith staple that during the 2013 playoffs, Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg joked that Smith created offense for both sides. To Smith's credit, he knows this and keeps trying to improve. That is why finishing last season opposite Kronwall was key: Smith learned something about coupling speed with smart decision-making.

"It's easy to watch Kronwall and see what he does," Smith said. "Even when sometimes it looks like he is caught, he gives a guy a little push and he's back. He's a great skater and I feel I am a great skater, and that sometimes can save us. That's something I'm learning."

Five games into last season, Smith was made a healthy scratch after being on the ice for too many goals against, re-entering the lineup only because of an injury to Kronwall. Later on, when half the team's forwards were hurt, Smith spent a game as a converted forward.

Smith vows this October — this whole season — will be better because he learned from those situations. "Just playing simple and playing my game will help me," he said. "I think what I have to do better is make sure that I don't try to chase the game — let the game come to me. That will make sure that I have a great start."

Smith is slated to appear in his first exhibition game Tuesday at Chicago, opposite Kyle Quincey. Quincey was Smith's partner for most of last season, and while both struggled in the first half, both looked much better in the second half, even before they were split up. From the first few days of camp, it looks as if they will be together again this season, with the expectation they will be a better pair thanks to the growth displayed the first half of 2014.

Smith also will get a chance to expand his role as he'll get plenty of exposure during the exhibition season on the power play, which is in need of point men. His chance to cement his role will come as he shows he can make plays, patiently.

"Smitty is ultracompetitive, great skater, real good support on the rush," Babcock said. "Where he gets himself in trouble is a big blunder once in a while. Well, the big blunder, when it goes in your net, is hard for you. I'm hoping the growth, for him, allows him to be confident enough just to keep making plays and playing. If he does that, he's a real good player."

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.