Defenseman Brendan Smith stood out at rookie camp Thursday for the Detroit Red Wings. Smith was taken in the first round of 2007 Entry Draft and played in the minors last season after playing two seasons at Wisconsin. He will have a tougher time cracking the Detroit lineup as they signed Mike Commodore and Ian White in the past week but GM Ken Holland will give him every chance to make it. "Brendan Smith ---- he's going to play lots of exhibition games," Holland said. "We want him to play games for the Detroit Red Wings next year. Obviously the signing of Commodore, the signing of White and (with) Jakub Kindl there, it's a stiff competition. Smith has gotta come in and beat some people out. We think he's got that type of potential." Stay tuned as Smith is now more likely to start the season in the AHL and only get called up if they need an injury replacement.

Brendan Smith will have a tough time making Detroit's opening day roster after the team signed Mike Commodore and Ian White. When Brian Rafalski retired, it looked like Smith would be fighting for a roster spot in training camp. However, Smith is now much more likely to start the season in the AHL and only get called up if they need an injury replacement. He should still be considered a good candidate to play for the Red Wings in 2012-13.

Red Wings GM Ken Holland said Brendan Smith will be given "every opportunity to make our team." The odds of Smith making the Red Wings' roster can only be determined after the dust settles on the free agent period. Detroit recently re-signed Nicklas Lidstrom, which brings the number of defenseman that will enter training camp with a ton of job security up to four. In addition to that, Detroit could still end up re-signing one or both of Jonathan Ericsson and Ruslan Salei and they will be on the lookout for a defenseman during the free agent period. Detroit might not end up having a spot for Smith this season, who had 32 points and 124 penalty minutes in his first season with AHL Grand Rapids.