Maple Leafs linked to veteran with nearly 1,000-games played in NHL career
The Toronto Maple Leafs likely won’t be as good as they were a year ago, but that was expected coming into the offseason if the team missed out on keeping Mitch Marner in town.Â
Marner eventually landed a massive deal with the Las Vegas Golden Knights, a move that he clearly thought was the right one.
The Maple Leafs can still get creative in free agency, and some believe there’s an opportunity for them to do so by signing a long-time veteran in the form of Craig Smith. Smith has appeared in 987 games throughout his career, posting 452 goals with an 88-plus-minus.
Ruper McDonald of The Hockey Writers recently linked the two sides, stating that if the Maple Leafs are looking to replace Max Pacioretty, Smith could be a decent option.
MORE:Â Maple Leafs could replace Mitch Marner with 24-year old rising star after trade request
âIf the Maple Leafs are looking to replace a veteran in Pacioretty with another older leader, Craig Smith is perhaps worth considering,â McDonald wrote. âThe 35-year-old struggled immensely with the Detroit Red Wings to close out the 2024-25 season but was solid in his 40 games prior with the Chicago Blackhawks, recording nine goals and 16 points.
âSmith isnât the same player he was during the prime of his career, but can still provide some secondary offence,â McDonald noted.Â
Smith obviously wouldn’t be Marner, for many reasons, but he was decent a year ago.Â
He ended the season with the Detroit Red Wings after starting it playing with the Chicago Blackhawks. Prior to that, he’s played in games for the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, and others.
MORE NHL NEWS:
Avalanche’s failed winger leaving for KHLBlue Jackets lose 1st-round pick to Russia for at least 4 yearsRed Wings forward announces shock NHL retirement at age 28Lightning legend retires after 2 Stanley CupsAnze Kopitar shares feelings on his NHL futureRangers center retires after 12 NHL seasons due to knee injuries
