Craig Smith is going to be sporting Nashville Gold until 2020 after signing a five year $21.25 million contract to remain with the Preds, locking up a key piece of this team’s young core. Smith joins Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Pekka Rinne as the fifth player signed through at least the end of the 2018-19 season.
It is reasonable term and reasonable dollars for a player just hitting his peak production years and I have a funny feeling that it may end up looking like a steal a few seasons from now. Frankly, it ended up being one of those deals where both party’s got what they wanted, especially when you look at the season by season compensation. The Predators got Smith for $4 million and under for two seasons, Smith got his requested $4.75 million by the end of the contract.
There is one contract left to settle. Colin Wilson’s. You do wonder if the Smith contract was a predictor of Wilson’s offer. Let’s compare their stats from the last three full seasons.
2011-2012 Smith – 72 games - 14g, 22a, 172 shots, -9 Wilson – 68 games – 15g, 20a, 114 shots, +5
2013-2014 Smith – 79 games - 24g, 28a, 215 shots, +16 Wilson – 81 games – 11g, 22a, 112 shots, -1
2014-2015 Smith – 82 games - 23g, 21a, 252 shots, +11 Wilson – 77 games – 20g, 22a, 172 shots, +19
Pretty comparable stats… Wilson may have a higher shooting percentage where Smith has been more consistent over the three seasons being looked at. I didn’t look at the lockout shortened season as part of this comparison, that season, Wilson started off like a house afire before suffering an injury that he didn’t really fully recover from until midway through the 13-14 season.
Colin Wilson did seem to thrive at times in Peter Laviolette’s more go-go system. I would expect the money to be similar although I do wonder if the term would be the same. The hearing is scheduled for 7/28... stay tuned.
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RFA Tracker
Colin Wilson – Qualified Offer – Unsigned – Arbitration schedule for 7/28
Craig Smith – Signed – Five years @ an AAV of $4.25 million
Gabriel Bourque – Signed – One Year @ $866,250
Calle Jarnkrok – Signed -= One year @ $735k
Austin Watson – Signed – Two Years – 1st year Two Way @ $575,000 / $100,000 - 2nd Year One Way @ $575,000
Max Rinehart – Signed – One Year – Two Way @ $575,000/$80,000
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Random Notes
- Several comments from Peter Laviolette in yesterday’s Tennessean a how he will handle 3-on-3 overtime. From what we have seen, the new OT rules should fit nicely into his system.
- Former Nashville Predator Cody Franson is having difficulty finding a team that can afford him, precious little cap space out there.
- Expansion applications are in, Quebec and Las Vegas are the two candidates. A bit surprising a second Toronto franchise didn’t get applied for
- ProHockeyTalk has an interesting take on the impact of the fall of the Canadian dollar on the Canadian teams and even the Quebec expansion potential.
- Several teams have ridiculously low cap space available, led by… you guessed it… the Stanley Cup champ Chicago Blackhawks with $231,540, the Philadelphia Flyers with slightly more than $583k available… Tampa is in almost as bad shape with a little over $667k… these numbers were correct as of 7/20 per GeneralFanager.com
- Not great news coming out of Detroit as Pavel Datysuk’s rehab from ankle surgery is taking longer than expected. It is now unlikely he will be ready for the start of the season.
- Sports Illustrated takes a look at arena lighting. It’s a pretty good read.
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