Craig Smith (ice hockey)

	; Smith with the United States men's national hockey team in a game against German's men's national hockey team.
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing United States
World Championships
World Junior A Challenge

Craig Smith
Craig Smith
	Smith with the Predators in 2012
Born	September 5, 1989 (age 35); Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team; Former teams	Nashville Predators; KalPa
National team	United States
NHL draft	98th overall, 2009; Nashville Predators
Playing career	2011–present

Craig Smith (born September 5, 1989) is an American ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Nashville Predators in the NHL. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Smith played major junior hockey in the United States Hockey League with the Waterloo Black Hawks. He was named to the USHL First All-Star Team for the 2008–09 season.^[1]

Smith 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 for the University of Wisconsin.

After coming out of college early, Smith became the first player since Colin Wilson to make the Predators without first playing for the Milwaukee Admirals.^{[citation needed]} On October 7, 2011, Smith scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game against Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Following the 2014–15 NHL 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.^[2] Prior to his scheduled meeting, Smith agreed to terms on a five-year $21.25 million contract extension with the Predators on July 20, 2015.^[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006–07	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL	45	8	10	18	28	4	0	1	1	8
2007–08	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL	58	13	10	23	90	11	2	3	5	8
2008–09	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL	54	28	48	76	108	3	1	3	4	26
2009–10	University of Wisconsin	WCHA	41	8	25	33	72	—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	University of Wisconsin	WCHA	41	19	24	43	87	—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Nashville Predators	NHL	72	14	22	36	30	2	0	1	1	0
2012–13	KalPa	SM-l	8	4	4	8	20	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Nashville Predators	NHL	44	4	8	12	20	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL	4	1	4	5	0	—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Nashville Predators	NHL	79	24	28	52	22	—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Nashville Predators	NHL	82	23	21	44	44	6	2	3	5	0
2015–16	Nashville Predators	NHL	82	21	16	37	40	11	1	1	2	4
2016–17	Nashville Predators	NHL	78	12	17	29	30	10	1	2	3	2
2017–18	Nashville Predators	NHL	79	25	26	51	24	13	2	2	4	2
2018–19	Nashville Predators	NHL	76	21	17	38	20	6	1	0	1	2
2019–20	Nashville Predators	NHL	69	18	13	31	34	4	0	0	0	2
NHL totals			661	162	168	330	264	52	7	9	16	12

International

Year	Team	Event	Result	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008	United States	WJAC		4	0	0	0	0
2011	United States	WC	8th	7	3	3	6	4
2012	United States	WC	7th	4	0	2	2	2
2013	United States	WC		10	4	10	14	18
2014	United States	WC	6th	8	3	5	8	10
Senior totals				29	10	20	30	34