After five NHL seasons and nearly 100 games played, Derek Smith is on his way to Europe.
The former Ottawa and Calgary defenseman has signed with ZSC Lions of Switzerland’s National League A, the club announced on Monday. Smith, 29, split last season between the Flames and their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, appearing in 14 big-league contests while proving to be a good offensive d-man at the American League level, scoring 24 points in 32 games for the Heat.
Smith’s best NHL campaign came during the 2011-12 season, when he scored 11 points in 47 games while averaging nearly 16 minutes a night. That earned him a two-year, one-way deal with the Flames for $1.55 million -- but he proceeded to fall out of favor with the club, and was placed on waivers in December of last season.
