Craig Smith (ice hockey)

Craig Smith (born September 5, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round, 98th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
Smith attended La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin prior to being drafted by the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL. Smith played three seasons (2006/07, 2007/08, & 2008/09) with the Black Hawks located in Waterloo, Iowa. During this time he achieved 49 goals and 68 assists (117 points) in 157 regular season games. He was named to the USHL First All-Star Team for the 2008–09 season.

Following his time in Waterloo, Smith attended the University of Wisconsin - Madiso n where he was a member of the men's hockey team for two seasons (2009/10 & 2010/11) of which he was the captain for the 2010/11 season. Smith managed 27 goals and 49 assists (159 points) in 82 regular season games at Wisconsin.

Smith also participated at the 2011 IIHF World Championship as a member of the United States men's national ice hockey team. He then went on to play two years at the University of Wisconsin for the Badgers ice hockey team.

Smith was drafted 98th overall in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft to the Nashville Predators. On October 7, 2011, in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Smith made his NHL debut and scored his first NHL goal, which came against Steve Mason. He played ten seasons (2012-2020) with the Predators during which he played four games with the Predator's AHL affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2012/13 season. Smith spent the beginning of the 2012/13 season playing for KalPa of the SM-I in Finland due to the 2012 NHL Lockout.

Following the 2014–15 season, Smith became a restricted free agent under the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Predators made him a qualifying offer to retain his NHL rights and, on July 5, 2015, Smith filed for Salary Arbitration. On July 20, prior to his scheduled meeting, Smith entered into a new five-year, $21.25 million contract with the Predators.

On September 29, 2020, after nine seasons with Nashville, Smith informed the team that he would not sign a new contract with them and that he would become a free agent. On October 10, he signed a three-year, $9.3 million contract with the Boston Bruins. Smith played two and a half seasons in Boston (2020-2023) before being traded to the Washington Capitols during the 2022/23 NHL season.

On May 19, 2021, Smith scored the Game 3 double overtime winner for the Bruins against the Washington Capitals, giving them a 2–1 series lead in their first round series. He scored a goal when Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov misplayed the puck behind the net. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin visibly scolded him in Russian after the game ended. The Bruins then went on to win the series against the Capitals in five games.

On February 23, 2023, Smith (along with 3 draft picks) was traded from the Bruins to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Garnet Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov. Following the 2022/23 season Smithre-entered free agency and signed a one-year contract worth one million dollars with the Dallas Stars for the 2023/24 season on the first day of free agency.

After one season with the Dallas Stars, Smith again became a free agent and signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, 2024.

Personal
Smith states he began playing hockey when he was three years old. He then played hockey in high school before being drafted into the USHL. After a successful USHL career Smith was drafted into the NHL by the Nashville Predators. Following his USHL career he joined the University of Wisconsin's Men's hockey team. From there he earned a spot on Nashville's NHL roster.

In 2009, during an interview with Wisconsin athletics, Smith is quoted saying his favorite school subject is math, his favorite video game is Mario Kart, his favorite TV show was Friends, and his favorite music artist was the Red Hot Chili Peppers.