Stanley Cup-Winning Forward Inks New Deal

Smith has played for the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers over his 14-year NHL career. The 34-year-old netted 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points in 79 games with the Rangers and Golden Knights last season. He averaged 15 minutes and 26 seconds of ice time last campaign. Smith had a Corsi for of 53.7 and a relative Corsi of 3.1.

The Mimico, Ontario native has 226 goals and 327 assists for 553 points in 919 career games. Dallas originally drafted him in the third round, 69th overall of the 2009 NHL Draft. He had a standout career at the NCAA level at Miami University in Ohio. This included a 30-goal season in his junior campaign.

He received all CCHA honours in 2011 and 2012. Smith won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights when they won the franchise’s first championship in the 2023 season. He also earned the Seventh Player Award in 2014 with the Bruins.

What It Means

The veteran forward still proved useful in stints with the Rangers and Golden Knights last season. He returned to Sin City after being dealt at the deadline for Brendan Brisson and a third-round selection in this year’s draft.

Smith is still putting up double-digit goal seasons despite being in his 30’s. The veteran forward can still be solid in the middle or bottom-six of any forward group. This could be a low-key smart signing for a club looking to round out its forward lines.

For Vegas, they are bringing back a core member of the 2023 Stanley Cup Championship team. Vegas is determined to return to the Final, and retaining a member of their championship team is a good piece to that puzzle.