Nashville re-signs Cole Smith to one-year extension
Forward appeared in the Preds’ opening game, but spent most of the year in the AHL
On Thursday, the Nashville Predators announced they re-signed forward Cole Smith to a one-year contract extension worth $750,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level.
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the team has signed forward Cole Smith to a one-year, two-way contract. https://t.co/tg2K5y0WyN
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 15, 2021
Smith, who played four years at the University of North Dakota, signed as an undrafted free agent with Nashville last off-season and spent most of the season in Chicago (AHL) and Florida (ECHL). He made a surprise NHL debut in Nashville’s first game of the season, but skated just over five minutes in total ice time.
In 23 games with Chicago, Smith scored five goals and ten points; In five games with Florida, he scored one goal and three total points.
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At 6’3”, Smith plays a typical power forward’s game, but lacks the accelerating gear to make a huge offensive impact at the pro level. Throughout the AHL season, he had some excellent nights, but also suffered from inconsistent performances which, were noted by Chicago Wolves Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky.
Of his ten points for Chicago, six were primary ones scored at even strength; He scored a primary point on 46% of the even-strength goals he was on the ice for.
In the eight games of his I tracked, Smith maintained a positive possession rate—53.19% Corsi—for Chicago and took 10.42 shot attempts per 60 minutes of even strength. In transition, Smith struggled, leaving the defensive zone with possession just 48.15% of the time and entering the offensive zone with possession 55.00% of the time.
Smith will turn 26 around the start of the 2021-22 season and has little chance of a regular future in the NHL, but it’s good for Milwaukee to round out their roster with these types of role players.
Smith will be a restricted free agent next summer after his new deal expires.
All statistics are courtesy of eliteprospects.com or hand-tracked by me. All contract information is courtesy of capfriendly.com.