Why Craig Smith shouldn’t be the odd man out on Bruins' roster

When the Bruins saw a 2021-22 season filled with so much promise come undone at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in a pivotal Game 7 back in May — there was a prevailing sentiment shared between the players, coaches and front-office staff in wake of the first-round exit.

“Let’s acknowledge that we’re not playing and we’re disappointed, ultimately, in how we performed throughout the series,” Don Sweeney said days after Boston’s elimination. “Good pockets to it. I’m sure we can get into more of the nuances.

“Ultimately, we’re disappointed we’re not playing. We have to look internally, first and foremost, at areas that we need to improve. …  Did we play our best in a Game 7 or throughout the Carolina series? No, I don’t think we did. My message was I believe we’ve left something on the table this year in terms of what we needed to accomplish, what our ultimate goals were to accomplish.”

Of course, the factors resulting in a season left unfulfilled do not usually all fall on just one player — especially in a game like hockey. But when it comes to leaving “something on the table”, there were more than a few lineup regulars whose production (or lack thereof) loomed large against Carolina.

And when it comes to disheartening returns in the postseason, Craig Smith had to have been near the top of the list for Boston.

A year removed from an initial playoff run in Boston in which he scored five points in 10 games (including a game-winning tally in double overtime against the Capitals), Smith’s O-zone talents didn’t manifest into tangible production for Boston’s third line against Carolina — with the 32-year-old veteran limited to zero points and a minus-five rating in the seven-game series, including just five shots on goal over Boston’s last four matchups. 

For Smith, who surpassed 15 goals for the seventh time in his career, it was a disappointing end to a season in which that final stat line might have masked a campaign in which his contributions were marred by plenty of scoring droughts.

Even though his 16 goals and 36 points in 2021-22 more or less fall in line with his average stats, those numbers were significantly juiced by a heater in which Smith scored nine goals and 12 points over 11 games. That equates to 24 points over the remaining 64 games he played, and even though he’s not necessarily breaking the bank with his contract ($3.1 million AAV), Boston needed a bit more consistent production from the winger, especially further down on the depth chart.

Perhaps that lackluster ending to his second go-around with Boston is why Smith’s name is being tossed out in trade rumors — according to Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now.

It’s an offseason scenario that doesn’t necessarily come as much of a surprise, given the fact that Boston will need to get under the salary cap ceiling of $82.5 million by the time both Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand are cleared to return in late November/early December. 

And even with his dip in scoring last season, Smith should still be a coveted trade piece for a team looking for more middle-six scoring depth — especially given his rather consistent offensive totals and his expiring contract that’s relatively easy to absorb.

And given the fact that dumping Smith’s contract would give Boston the fiscal wiggle room it needs — coupled with the potential for Boston to fill in his previous spot at 3RW with an internal option like a Marc McLaughlin or a Fabian Lysell — a Smith deal stands as a very viable option for Sweeney and Co.

But just because the B’s shouldn’t have much of an issue finding a suitor for Smith, that doesn't mean that he’s the best option to move, either.

Because, as we noted above, Smith’s floor of 15 goals and 35/40 points makes him an effective cog of a team looking for some more pop in the middle-six grouping. And given the construction of their roster, doesn’t the ideal team vying for Smith’s services kinda sound like … the Boston Bruins?

Yes, Smith’s play left a lot to be desired last season. But given Boston’s “win-now” mentality, keeping a player that you should be able to pencil in for at least 15 goals (if not more) stands as a move that falls in line with such a mindset, especially with other options available for the B’s to get cap compliant. 

Be it assigning veterans to Providence if need be (Nick Foligno?) or potentially moving a spare defenseman like Mike Reilly when the time comes, Boston’s ability to remain compliant with the cap doesn’t rest solely on moving a pretty useful asset in Smith.

Beyond the likelihood of a bounce-back season for Smith (who was hampered by an undisclosed injury way back in October), the veteran’s skillset stands as some much-needed insurance for a team that — if they committed to moving him — would be placing a lot of pressure on some youngsters to make up for that production.

For as much as some B’s fans are already ready to slot Fabian Lysell into the 1RW or 3RW spot right out of camp, that’s a lot of pressure to put on a teenager that, as seen even in World Junior play, could benefit from tacking on some more muscle. 

With Marchand out of commission in the fall, Boston could slot Jake DeBrusk over to 1LW — with Smith standing as a more-than-suitable option at 1RW for the time being. And once the full depth chart is back at full strength, keeping Smith with Charlie Coyle still offers a likely higher ceiling than what Boston could find if they opted for a player like McLaughlin or a 19-year-old Lysell. 

And even if a player like McLaughlin pops, room could also be made on a fourth line that, frankly, could stand to benefit from younger contributors like the BC product, Oskar Steen, Trent Frederic and others. 

Now, if Lysell sets the world ablaze during training camp, perhaps Boston re-visits just how expandable a player like Smith is. 

But when weighing other options available to Boston in terms of cost-cutting measures — coupled with Smith’s projectable O-zone contributions — the 2022-23 Bruins should be keeping a veteran like him around for this one last kick at the can.