Predators Sign Cole Smith To A One-Year, Two-Way Deal

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Cole Smith. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators.

The Nashville Predators have signed Cole Smith to a one, two-way deal worth $750,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level for the 2021-22 season. Smith spent almost all of last season with the Predators AHL affiliate the Chicago Wolves.

Smith made his NHL debut with the Preds against Columbus in the teams season opener on Jan. 14. In his debut, he recorded one shot in 5:57 of ice time. While with the Wolves in the AHL, he helped them to a 21-9-1-2 record, the third-best mark in the league. He appeared in 23 games for the Wolves, posting five goals and 10 points, tied for the sixth-most among team rookies. Prior to the start of the NHL season, Smith made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and tallied three points (1 goals, 2 assist) in five contests.

The Brainerd, Minn. native was signed as a free agent in March 2020 following a four-year career at the University of North Dakota, where he posted 51 points (24 goals, 27 assist) in 137 games. In his final season with the Fighting Hawks, he contributed a career-high 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) en route to winning the NCHC’s regular-season title.

This move comes after the trade of Viktor Arvidsson and the retirement of all-star goalie of Pekka Rinne. The Predators have eight picks in his years NHL Draft including the 18th overall pick which is set for July 23 and 24.

Steven Boero
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