Nashville Predators finally sign 2009 NHL Entry Draft pick Craig Smith to entry-level contract
After picking up Craig Smith, a 21-year-old centre player from Madison, Wisconsin, United States, during the 2009 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft as a 98th overall pick during round-four, Nashville Predators have finally signed him onto
the major league with a two-year, entry-level contract, on Tuesday, July 26.
Smith might not be a widely recognised player, but he certainly has caught the eye of Nashville Predators' management, that has after nearly three years brought him out of the minor league to the NHL.
Since being picked, Craig Smith continued to play for his school team at the University of Wisconsin and really impressed the major league Western Conference franchise with his performance in the 2011 Team USA squad at the International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF) World Championships.
Nashville Predators' President of Hockey Operations and general manager, David Pole, made the announcement through a press release about having the young forward signed on to the team.
Mike Eaves, head coach of the University of Wisconsin hockey team, is certain that Smith would make a great player in the professional league and is sure about him being ready for that next level.
“What has to be proven is he has that next gear in his gearbox to take that next step. He’s a young man who can really skate. He shoots the puck like a national leaguer, he has confidence with the puck. He can do things with it. He’s a dynamic player in
terms of his skating. He has things that you would like to think indicate that he can make that step, but he has to show everybody there that he has that gear”, Eaves said about Craig Smith when asked during an interview.
Last season with his university team, Smith recorded 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists) in his sophomore year alone and got himself a secure spot on Team USA, which is especially a big factor in being picked up.
Smith will now take part in Nashville’s training camp in preparation for the new season which is set to begin in October. The time he spends there will certainly be the contributing factor in whether fans will seem him on the ice or not.
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