Smith has two goals, nine assists, 47 SOG, 43 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 42 games this season and has earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract extension Monday. This is great news for the 27-year-old who has 51 career NHL games under his belt.
Smith has eight assists, 37 SOG and 32 PIMs through 34 games but will miss Tuesday's game vs. Montreal as he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Mark Jankowski will be taking his spot in the Predators' lineup.
Smith turned pro with the Predators in 2022, appearing in nine NHL games and 82 AHL games since. In 2022, he was third on Milwaukee (AHL) in goals (21) and fourth in points (41) in 59 games.
Nick Cousins is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, so Smith comes up from the AHL and should play in the bottom-6 on Tuesday. Smith has spent most of the season in the AHL, posting 10 goals and 12 assists (22 points) in 33 games with Milwaukee.
The Predators have had a COVID-19 outbreak, so Smith is part of the reinforcements coming up from Milwaukee. Smith has five goals and seven assists (12 points) in 20 AHL games this season.
Smith appeared in one game with the Predators last season, spending almost all of the season in Chicago (AHL), where he had five goals and five assists in 23 games. Look for Smith to report to the AHL to open the 2021-22 campaign.
Smith was an undrafted free agent forward out of the University of North Dakota. The 24-year-old finished his senior season with 11 goals and seven assists (18 points) in 34 games for the Fighting Hawks.
