NHL rumors: Bruins among teams that have 'called' free agent Craig Smith

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article_body => "<p>The Boston Bruins need to upgrade their secondary scoring to be a top Stanley Cup contender entering the 2020-21 NHL season, and one player worth signing in free agency to accomplish that goal is Craig Smith.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The veteran forward is an unrestricted free agent, and according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Bruins are among the teams with interest in Smith.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheFourthPeriod\/status\/1314630765343395841\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1602268629\" data-url-provider=\"Twitter\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<p>Smith has scored 20 or more goals in five of the last seven seasons, and that includes the shortened 2019-20 campaign when he tallied 18 goals (in addition to 13 assists) in 69 games for the Nashville Predators. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/bruins\/2020-nhl-free-agents-ranking-top-20-players-available?b\">Ranking the top 20 NHL free agents this offseason<\/a><\/h5>\r\n\r\n<p>The 31-year-old winger also has been a positive driver of puck possession and scoring chances for the Predators. Nashville was a plus-159 in shot attempts, a plus-112 in shots on net, a plus-59 in scoring chances and a plus-24 goals scored at 5-on-5 when Smith was on the ice last season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Another positive about Smith is his durability. He hasn't missed more than six games in a season since his rookie year in 2011-12.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/bruins\/2020-nhl-free-agency-live-latest-rumors-news-and-completed-contracts?b\">Follow our NHL free agency live blog<\/a><\/h5>\r\n\r\n<p>Smith would be an excellent bottom-six forward addition for the B's, particularly at right wing on the third line where him and Charlie Coyle could really gel.<\/p>\r\n"
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Bruins

/ by Nick Goss

Bruins

The Boston Bruins need to upgrade their secondary scoring to be a top Stanley Cup contender entering the 2020-21 NHL season, and one player worth signing in free agency to accomplish that goal is Craig Smith.

The veteran forward is an unrestricted free agent, and according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Bruins are among the teams with interest in Smith.

Craig Smith is generating plenty of interest. Hearing Boston and Ottawa, among others, have called.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 9, 2020

Smith has scored 20 or more goals in five of the last seven seasons, and that includes the shortened 2019-20 campaign when he tallied 18 goals (in addition to 13 assists) in 69 games for the Nashville Predators.

Ranking the top 20 NHL free agents this offseason

The 31-year-old winger also has been a positive driver of puck possession and scoring chances for the Predators. Nashville was a plus-159 in shot attempts, a plus-112 in shots on net, a plus-59 in scoring chances and a plus-24 goals scored at 5-on-5 when Smith was on the ice last season.

Another positive about Smith is his durability. He hasn't missed more than six games in a season since his rookie year in 2011-12.

Follow our NHL free agency live blog

Smith would be an excellent bottom-six forward addition for the B's, particularly at right wing on the third line where him and Charlie Coyle could really gel.