Brendan Smith will get back into Detroit's lineup Saturday because of Niklas Kronwall is out with a concussion. He has been a healthy scratch for the last four games. Smith will be paired with Kyle Quincey against Phoenix.

Brendan Smith was a healthy scratch again Monday afternoon. He has been scratched for Detroit's last two games and the team has won them both, so it's unclear if he'll suit up Tuesday against Columbus. Forwards Tomas Tatar and Mikael Samuelsson have also been healthy scratches for the team's past two contests.

Brendan Smith was caught off guard by the Detroit Red Wings' decision to scratch him on Saturday. "I'm just not in the plans today, I guess. They didn't say anything," Smith said on Saturday. He has no points and a minus-four rating in four games, but he doesn't think those goals against him were due to a breakdown on his part.

Brendan Smith has agreed to a two-year/$2.525 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Smith filed for arbitration as a restricted free agent, but this deal makes that hearing moot. He will earn $1.25 million next season and $1.275 million in 2014-15. He had eight assists and 36 penalty minutes in 34 games in 2013.

Brendan Smith has decided to file for salary arbitration. The young blueliner who averaged 18:24 of ice time had eight assists and 36 penalty minutes in 34 games with the Red Wings. He made $875,000 last season under his entry-level deal.

The Detroit Red Wings will present a qualifying offer to Brendan Smith. Smith didn't contribute much offensively in his rookie season but learned enough to earn coach Mike Babcock's praise during the playoffs. The former first-round pick had eight assists in 34 regular-season games and two goals and five points in 14 postseason contests. Smith merits a look as a sixth defenseman in deeper pools next season and could be a sleeper with increased ice time and another season under his belt.

Brendan Smith had a great bounce back game Saturday after struggling in Game 1 Wednesday. Smith's second goal of the playoffs was the game winner and his overall play was crucial in the Red Wings win. "I thought Smitty was fantastic today," coach Mike Babcock said. "But he sure does seem to be in the middle of things, doesn't he?" The rookie defenseman is worth looking at in deeper pools next season as a sixth defenseman.

Brendan Smith took a lot of criticism for his play in Game 1 Wednesday. Coach Mike Babcock did not think that Smith played poorly and spent Friday morning in the video room going over a tape with Smith that showed the defenseman all the good plays he made in Game 1. "I saw a young guy try to make a bunch of plays and no one there to accept the pass on the other end," Babcock said. Smith's speed allows him to be the first one to get the puck when it is dumped in and hopefully he will recover from the troubles he had in Game 1 and use the pep talk he got from Babcock to his advantage. Smith has a goal and an assist in eight playoffs games and despite his perceived poor performance Wednesday, he was plus-one in a 4-1 loss.

Brendan Smith recorded an assist in a 3-2 shootout defeat Thursday. He hasn't done much offensively this season, but he's heated up lately with three points in four games. He might be worth owning in standard leagues in a couple years.

Brendan Smith has learned from being a healthy scratch for the last two games. Smith will return to the lineup on Thursday, but Red Wings coach Mike Babcock's decision to send him to the press box in the first place caught him off guard. Still, Smith is determined to get better. "There are always things I have to work on," said Smith, who will replace Ian White. "What I've been doing in practice is working hard and making a good first pass, not trying to get too complicated. Making the game simple and maybe playing the Nicklas Lidstrom way, see the first pass and make it."