And another one!
The Blackhawks have apparently picked up yet one more forward on Monday, with several reports saying they’d signed veteran forward, Craig Smith.
The team confirmed the news Monday afternoon:
The initial report came from Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff:
Smith was originally selected by the Nashville Predators in 2009 (fourth round) and spent nine years as a part of that organization before signing with the Boston Bruins in 2019, where he spent a majority of the next three seasons. He also played 22 games with the Washington Capitals as a 2023 NHL Trade Deadline addition. In his most recent season, he had 20 points (11 G, 9 A) in 75 regular-season games with the Dallas Stars and added two assists in 14 playoffs games.
Smith, who is turning 35 in September, is another physical bottom-six forward with good size (6-foot-1, 203) who has historically been hard to play against and can help out defensively. His one-year deal with a low salary cap hit also allows for the potential of the Blackhawks trading him at the NHL Trade Deadline for draft capital, however minor that return may be.
With this signing, that brings the Blackhawks total of players from the 2022-2023 Bruins to four: Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Smith.