12 Craig Smith C

Smith saw 17:07 worth of ice time in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to New Jersey.

After missing Thursday night's season opener with a lower-body injury, Smith made his debut with the Bruins on Saturday, en route to recording two shots and logging 1:22 on the team's power play. He began the game on Boston's third line, but also moved up in the lineup as coach Bruce Cassidy mixed things up, looking for a spark up front. With Ondrej Kase dealing with an upper-body injury and the right wing spot on the team's top trio still unsettled, who Smith will skate with against the Islanders on Monday has yet to be determined.

Smith (lower body) will make his debut with the Bruins versus New Jersey on Saturday, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reports.

With Smith back in the lineup, Jack Studnicka is the odd man out up front Saturday. Smith is slated to skate on the Bruins' third line with Charlie Coyle and Nick Ritchie, a trio that has the potential to generate valuable secondary scoring for the team.

Smith (lower body) practiced Friday, Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now reports.

Smith, who missed Thursday's season opener against New Jersey, took his spot on the Bruins' third line Friday, along with Charlie Coyle and Nick Ritchie. With that, the offseason free-agent acquisition is a candidate to make his season debut in Saturday's rematch against New Jersey.

Smith (lower body) is said to be day-to-day according to head coach Bruce Cassidy, Conor Ryan of MassLive.com reports.

Smith missed Thursday's game versus the Devils with the injury, and it sounds like he's at risk of missing more time. The injury occurred during practice. If Smith can't play in Saturday's second game against the Islanders, Trent Frederic will likely remain in the lineup.

Smith (lower body) isn't on the ice for warmups, indicating that he won't play in Thursday's game against New Jersey, Matt Porter of The Boston Globe reports.

Smith came into the contest a game-time call after he "tweaked" something in practice, and a timetable for his return is unclear at this point. With Smith sidelined, Trent Frederic will enter the lineup on the fourth line.

Smith (lower body) is a game-time decision for Thursday's season opener against New Jersey, Matt Porter of The Boston Globe reports.

Porter adds via coach Bruce Cassidy that Smith "tweaked something" in his lower body and if the winger can't play Thursday, Trent Frederic would be in line to move into the Bruins' opening night lineup.

Smith has looked good in his first training camp with the Bruins, Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now reports.

Per Haggerty, the 31-year-old winger "has a higher gear to his skating, has flashed a wicked shot that's allowed him to become a 20-goal scorer at the NHL level and has exhibited the kind of energy that can be contagious on a hockey club." Smith, who recorded 18 goals and 31 points in 69 games with Nashville last season, inked a three-year, $9.3 million contract with Boston back in November and looks poised to provide the Bruins with valuable secondary scoring, while skating on the team's third line, along with Charlie Coyle and Nick Ritchie.

Smith signed a three-year, $9.3 million contract with Boston on Saturday.

Smith missed out on the 20-goal mark this year for just the second time in his last seven seasons while playing for the Predators. With his new team, the winger should slot into a third-line role but could challenge for the top-six. Smith should be in contention for power-play minutes, which sets him up well to be a top-half fantasy option.

According to his agent Kevin Magnuson, Smith will test the free agent-market this offseason, Adam Vingan of The Athletic reports.

Smith had a slightly down season in 2019-20, failing to crack the 20-goal mark for the first time in three years, but he still put up a respectable 31 points while registering a plus-18 rating in 69 regular-season contests. The 31-year-old winger is reportedly seeking a three-year deal, which will likely limit his options, but he shouldn't have too much trouble finding a new landing spot. He could also ultimately end up re-signing with Nashville after testing the waters in free agency. The 2009 fourth-round pick has spent the entirety of his career with the Predators, having racking up 162 goals and 330 points in 661 games over the past nine campaigns.

Smith recorded an assist and three shots on net in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Oilers.

Smith had a mid-February scoring binge with six goals over five games, but he then went six straight games without a point before Monday. The 30-year-old Wisconsin native now has 29 points, 167 shots and a plus-18 rating through 65 appearances this year.

Smith scored a goal on a pair of shots in a 2-1 win over St. Louis on Sunday.

Smith swiped home a Rocco Grimaldi rebound to open the scoring just under eight minutes into the second period. The 30-year-old has found the net six times in his last five games, shooting a ridiculous 60 percent in that stretch. Smith's 17 goals and 28 points in 58 games more or less put him right in line to match last season's 21-goal, 38-point output. His fantasy owners have also been rewarded with a career-high plus-21 rating.

Smith scored three goals during Thursday's 5-0 win over the Islanders.

What a night for the 30-year-old veteran, as Smith managed to light the lamp three times and needed only two periods to do so. Whatever he's doing has been working, because Smith has now scored five goals in three games and is up to 27 points in 56 games in 2019-20. These types of nights won't come around very often, but Smith is still considered a reliable fantasy asset and has been particularly valuable as of late.

Smith potted a power-play goal on two shots in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Canucks.

His 13th goal of the season broke up Jacob Markstrom's shutout bid midway through the second period. Smith has tallied in consecutive games and now has 24 points, 139 shots and a plus-16 rating through 55 appearances this season.

Smith opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season Saturday in an eventual 3-2 loss to the Oilers.

Now with 23 points through 54 games, Smith is on pace for something resembling the 38 points he posted last season. Unfortunately for most owners, 35-40 point forwards are a dime a dozen in fantasy, so there's little value in holding on to him outside of very deep leagues.

Smith scored a power-play goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Sabres.

Smith's third-period marker was a little fluky, as it bounced off Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark before crossing the goal line. It was a much-needed tally for Smith, who had gone without a point in his last five games. Smith's now at 21 points (11 goals, 10 helpers), 125 shots on goal and a plus-12 rating through 47 contests. He'll need to show head coach John Hynes a little more consistency before moving off the fourth line, though.

Smith scored two goals, one on the power play, in Sunday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Ducks.

Smith is enjoying the Predators' trip through California -- he's posted four points in two games versus the Kings and the Ducks. The 30-year-old now has 20 points (10 goals, 10 helpers) through 41 games this season. That includes a run of 11 points in his last nine games for the winger.

Smith scored a goal and provided an assist in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Kings.

Smith set up Rocco Grimaldi's opening goal at 10:21 of the first period, and the wingers switched roles as Smith tallied in the third. After an ice-cold start to the year, the 30-year-old has six goals and three helpers in his last eight games. Smith is at 18 points, 107 shots on goal and a plus-13 rating through 40 contests. He's only shot 7.4 percent this season, compared to a 9.3 percent rate in his career, so the Wisconsin native could be in line for positive regression in the second half.

Smith scored twice and added an assist in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Islanders. He also racked up six shots and 12 PIM.

Smith entered the night with only two goals in 32 games this season and managed to double that total by the end of the second period. The three-point night was his first of the year and his six shots were also a season high. Smith wasn't likely rostered by many fantasy owners, let alone in the starting lineup, due to his season-long struggles. However, he scored 20-plus goals in five of the previous six seasons, so he can still be a useful waiver wire add if Tuesday's performance jump-starts his game.

Smith collected an assist and went plus-3 in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Devils.

Smith had the secondary assist on a Dante Fabbro goal in the first period. The winger will take the points where he can get them -- Smith has just two goals and six assists through 28 appearances this season. The helper snapped a six-game pointless run for the Wisconsin native. He hasn't finished with fewer than 29 points in a non-lockout campaign, but that run of solid middle-six production is in serious danger given the 30-year-old's slow start to 2019-20.

Smith notched just two points in 13 games during the month of November and is averaging the lowest ice time of his career (13:28) while skating on the third line.

Just two seasons removed from a 51-point season, the decline in Smith's offensive numbers has been nothing short of dramatic. He is currently in the final year of a five-year, $21 million contract, leading to speculation he will not be back with the Predators next season. Either way, he should not be in anyone's fantasy lineup right now.