craig smith Archives - Boutique Hockey Agency

Stars Sign Forward Craig Smith to a One-Year Contract

Posted on July 3, 2023

DALLAS, TX – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed forward Craig Smith to a one-year contract through the 2023-24 season. The one-year deal is worth $1 million.

Smith, 33, recorded nine goals and 16 points (9-7-16) in 64 regular-season games with Boston and Washington in 2022-23. Starting the season in Boston, Smith registered his 400th career point with an assist on Oct. 22, 2022 vs. Minnesota and skated in his 800th career regular-season game on Nov. 23, 2022 at Florida. Acquired by the Capitals on Feb. 23, Smith recorded five goals and six points (5-1-6) in 22 regular-season contests for Washington.

“Craig brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our group,” said Nill. “He’s a player we’ve been familiar with over the years, especially during his time in Nashville, and we’re looking forward to having him join our team.”

Capitals’ Craig Smith Tricked Jack Hughes Into Passing Him Puck For 200th Career Goal

Posted on April 14, 2023April 14, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Capitals got off to a red-hot start against the New Jersey Devils, and it involved some trickery courtesy of Craig Smith.

The 33-year-old told NBC Sports Washington’s Al Koken during his intermission interview that he saw a lot of open ice and Jack Hughes with the puck.

So, he figured in Game No. 82, he might as well roll the dice and try something: call for a pass.

“I called for it, I was wide open in the middle,” Smith smiled. “There was a lot of open ice int he middle there. Figured I’d give him a holler and see if he’d throw it over.”

Smith, the 98th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, is the 12th player from his draft class to reach the 200-goal mark.

Craig Smith Traded to Capitals for Orlov, Hathaway

Posted on February 28, 2023

BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, February 23, that the team has acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals in exchange for forward Craig Smith , a 2023 first-round draft pick, a 2025 second-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round draft pick. Washington will retain 50 percent of Orlov’s salary.

The Minnesota Wild will also send the rights to forward Andrei Svetlakov to Boston and retain 25 percent of Orlov’s salary in exchange for the Bruins’ 2023 fifth-round draft pick.

Smith, 33, has skated in 42 games with Boston in 2022-23, tallying four goals and six assists for 10 points. The 6-foot, 204-pound forward has appeared in 831 career NHL games with Boston and Nashville, totaling 195 goals and 213 assists for 408 points. The Madison, Wisconsin native was originally selected by Nashville in the fourth round (98^th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Orlov, 31, has appeared in 43 games with the Capitals in 2022-23, recording three goals and 16 assists for 19 points with a plus-two rating. The 5-foot-11, 214-pound defenseman has skated in 686 career NHL games all with the Capitals, totaling 60 goals and 196 assists for 256 points. The Novokuznetsk, Russia native was originally selected by Washington in the second round (55^th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Hathaway, 31, has appeared in 59 games with the Capitals in 2022-23, posting nine goals and seven assists for 16 points with 52 penalty minutes and a plus-six rating. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound forward has appeared in 432 career NHL games with Washington and Calgary, totaling 54 goals and 62 assists for 116 points with 473 penalty minutes. The Kennebunkport, Maine native played collegiately at Brown University from 2010-14.

Smith, Cole and Bellemare Listed Among Top 10 Most Underrated Players of the 2021-22 NHL Season

Posted on April 6, 2022April 6, 2022

Every team has a player or players that, despite having a strong season, do not get the recognition they deserve. These are the less talked about players whose play has helped their team have success this season. Here are the top-10 underrated players of the 2021-22 season.

10) Craig Smith, Boston Bruins

Craig Smith has been a welcome addition to the Boston Bruins’ lineup the last two seasons as he has helped provide solid bottom-six scoring for the team. He has 29 even-strength points this season in 62 games and has helped them outscore the opposition 41-34 when he has been on the ice. Most importantly, he has shown he can play up and down the lineup having success in 178 minutes playing on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

As for Smith’s analytics, they are amongst the best on the Bruins. He has a 55.40% Corsi at even strength along with a 57.77% shots for percentage and a 55.20% high danger chances for percentage. Lastly, he isn’t afraid to play physically, as he has 80 hits this season. The 32-year-old has been a force in 2021-22 and the Bruins’ third line of Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle and himself should cause havoc for the opposition once the postseason begins.

9) Ian Cole, Carolina Hurricanes

Ian Cole is having one of the best seasons of his career for the Hurricanes this year. The 33-year-old defenceman has 18 points this season and is less than 30 minutes of even-strength time on ice from passing 1,000 minutes for the season. He is a versatile defenceman who has shown he can play not just with a rotating cast of partners, but also on both sides of the ice as the left-shot defenceman has played over 200 minutes on the right side.

This season, Cole has a 56.74% Corsi while the Hurricanes have outscored opponents 43 to 33 at even strength. Lastly, he has thrown 93 hits while blocking 86 shots. Carolina has a very deep team, and the two-time Stanley Cup winner is a big reason why their defensive group is one of the best in the entire NHL.

8) Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Tampa Bay Lightning

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare centers one of, if not the best fourth line in the NHL, playing alongside Corey Perry and Patrick Maroon. His work shorthanded has Tampa as a top-10 penalty-killing team in the league, and at even strength, the Lightning have only allowed 17 total goals in the 770 minutes of ice time he has played this season. He has become a premier shut-down center in the league and is one of its best defensive forwards this season.

While Bellemare is known for his defensive play, the Lightning have done well in the offensive zone with him on the ice as well. Tampa has scored 35 goals at even strength, with him collecting 16 even strength points on the season. Lastly, he has been one of their best faceoff men all season, recording a 51.4% win percentage. If the Lightning have eyes on capturing a third straight Stanley Cup, he will play a key role in the process.

Craig Smith hits jackpot in Vegas with hat trick as Bruins beat Golden Knights

Posted on March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

LAS VEGAS, NV – Craig Smith scored three goals and the Boston Bruins beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 on Thursday night.

It was Smith’s third career hat trick and second with the Bruins. It’s the third consecutive season Smith has recorded a hat trick.

The Bruins improved to 4-1-0 on their six-game road trip, and 9-3-2 in their last 14 away from home. Overall they’ve won six of their last seven games as they inch closer to third-place Toronto in the Atlantic Division.

David Pastrnak scored twice for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 34 shots. Pastrnak’s 23 goals since Jan. 1 lead the NHL.

Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault scored for Vegas, and Robin Lehner made 31 saves.

Craig Smith has come as advertised

Posted on May 4, 2021

BOSTON, MA – Over the past two months, Craig Smith has been on fire. The Boston Bruins‘ winger has been a points machine and has helped make the B’s second line dominant. With Smith’s first regular season with Boston nearly in the books, the Wisconsin native has come as advertised. The Black and Gold’s secondary scoring needed a spark which Smith has helped provide.

In 49 games this season, Smith has scored 13 goals and recorded 19 assists. His 32 points are the fifth most on the Bruins’ roster. In Smith’s first season in Boston, he has provided the offense the Bruins expected when he was signed in free agency.

‘Boston will love him:’ Craig Smith is ready to bring his relentless energy to the Bruins

Posted on January 13, 2021

BOSTON, MA- When Craig Smith talks about the act of shooting, he doesn’t always say “shoot.”

He likes to “rip” pucks. He “hammers” them. He “wires” them.

Even his word choices are energetic.

“Boston will love him,” said former Bruins defenseman Hal Gill, who watched Smith nightly in his role as a Predators radio analyst. “His interviews are always electric. Usually he’s got his shirt off, he’s high energy, he’s got a big smile. One of my favorite quotes of his is, ‘Pedal through the floor, play with your hair on fire.’ That’s the energy he brings.”

On Oct. 10 the Bruins added Smith, the 31-year-old right winger, for his buzzy brand of 5-on-5 attacking. The signing, $9.3 million over the next three years, was widely hailed as one of the offseason’s smartest: a bargain for a five-time 20-goal scorer. Since debuting at practice on Jan. 3, Smith has ripped, hammered, and wired pucks next to third-line center Charlie Coyle and left wing Nick Ritchie. The Bruins believe they’ll get consistent production from the burly Ritchie, puck-possessing Coyle, and Smith, who scored 18 goals last year and was on pace for 21 when the season ended early.

Bruins sign NHL veteran Craig Smith to 3 year, $9.3 Million Contract to bolster forward group

Posted on October 10, 2020November 2, 2020

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Bruins have added an NHL veteran via free agency to bolster their group of forwards.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced Saturday that the team signed winger Craig Smith to a three-year, $9.3 million contract.

Smith has played nine NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2009 draft.

The 31-year-old played 69 games with the Predators this past season, recording 18 goals and 13 assists for 31 points with a plus-18 rating.

Craig Smith scores first NHL hat trick, powers Predators past Islanders

Posted on February 14, 2020September 15, 2020

NASHVILLE, TN – Craig Smith scored his first NHL hat trick for the Nashville Predators in a 5-0 win against the New York Islanders at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Juuse Saros made 31 saves for his second shutout this season for the Predators (27-22-7), who won for the first time in three games. Rocco Grimaldi had a goal and an assist.

“It was great,” Smith said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities to get [a hat trick], so it was nice. It was really good looks by the guys around me. They were nice feeds by [Grimaldi], good work by [Nick Bonino] and was a [heck] of a pass by [Roman Josi] there at the end.”