Craig Smith
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Birthday:
1989-09-05 |
Position:
C |
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Eligible for draft:
2009 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
2009 |
Height:
6-0 |
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Acquired:
4th round (98th overall), 2009 |
Weight:
189 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- C
History
2008-09: Craig Smith was the leading scorer for the Waterloo Black Hawks in his third USHL season, scoring 28 goals with 48 assists in 54 games. He was a team-high +32 and was second on the team with 108 PMs. In three playoff games for Waterloo he scored 1 goal with 3 assists and 26 PMs. Smith was a USHL First Team All-Star and committed to playing college hockey at Wisconsin. Ranked 177th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings, he was selected by the Predators in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.
2009-10: A native of Madison who once played for LaFollette High School, Smith returned home to play for the University of Wisconsin and was named to the WCHA's All-Rookie team after skating in 41 of 43 games for the Badgers. He finished the season with 8 goals and 25 assists and was +14 with 72 PMs. After finishing second in the WCHA during the season and winning the league's third place game in the playoffs, the Badgers won three straight NCAA tournament games and played Boston College in the Frozen Four championship game.
2010-11: Smith was the second-leading scorer for Wisconsin as a sophomore and was one of three college players to play for Team USA at the 2011 IIHF World Championship. Smith scored 19 goals with 24 assists and was -3 with 87 PMs in 41 games for Wisconsin. The Badgers finished an uncharacteristic seventh in the WCHA and failed to receive an at-large NCAA bid after losing in the first round of the WCHA tournament. Smith was the second-leading scorer for Team USA behind former Badger teammate Derek Stepan (NYR) with 3 goals and 3 assists in seven games. The USA finished eighth in the tournament. Smith signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Nashville in July 2011, foregoing his last two years of college hockey.
Talent Analysis
Craig Smith is a talented offensive player, with both goal scoring and playmaking abilities. He isn't bad defensively, and is a hard working player. He is a fairly good all around player, similar to many prospects that have ferried through Milwaukee.
