Brendan Smith may be talented enough to play in the NHL at this point but the Red Wings aren't pushing him. "I'm just trying to show I'm ready, that's the biggest thing," said Smith, who is being paired with veteran Mike Commodore on the blueline during the exhibition season. "It's just the way it is and that's how it was with most of these players. Everyone has gone through it." The Wings likely will keep seven defensemen - Nicklas Lidstrom, Ian White, Brad Stuart, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Jakub Kindl and Commodore.