Smith scored a goal on two shots, added six hits and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blue Jackets.
Smith tied the game at 2-2 early in the third period. The winger had no offense through six games, but he has earned a point in each of his last two contests. For the season, he has a goal, an assist, nine shots on net, 20 hits, eight PIM and a minus-5 rating over eight appearances. Smith is likely to remain in a bottom-six role.
Smith logged a shorthanded assist, two shots on goal and two PIM in Friday's 3-2 win over the Blackhawks.
The helper was Smith's first point in seven games this season. He had the secondary assist on Gustav Nyquist's game-tying goal in the second period. The 28-year-old Smith plays a physical role on the Predators' fourth line. He's racked up 14 hits, eight PIM, seven shots on net and a minus-7 rating this season. He has the potential to rack up 200-plus hits in a campaign, but he set a career high with 23 points over 80 regular-season contests in 2023-24, and that likely represents his ceiling.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Unavailable Friday
Rotowire
Smith (upper body) will not play Friday against the Canucks for Game 6.
Smith is considered day-to-day, indicating he could return Sunday for Game 7 if Nashville avoids elimination. The 28-year-old has 12 hits and no points in five games this series. Juuso Parssinen will dress in Smith's absence for Game 6.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Back in action
Rotowire
Smith (rest) is slated to play Monday versus the Penguins, per Zach Gilchriest of the Predators' official site.
Smith will play in Nashville's regular-season finale after missing Saturday's 6-4 win over Columbus for roster management purposes. He has chipped in nine goals, 23 points, 111 shots on net and 233 hits in 79 games this season.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Resting Saturday
Rotowire
Smith will not play in Saturday's tilt versus the Blue Jackets due to roster management reasons.
That has been the Predators' phrasing for when they are resting players, so it's safe to assume Smith is just getting a breather before the playoffs. The 28-year-old has no points over six games in April, and he's at 23 points, 233 hits, 111 shots on net and 63 PIM through 79 contests overall.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Bulges twine in Saturday loss
Rotowire
Smith scored his ninth goal of the season in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Avalanche.
Smith opened the scoring just 3:41 into the first period, but the Preds ultimately couldn't hold off the red-hot Avs. With 23 points in 73 games, Smith has been a solid source of secondary scoring from the team's fourth line, where he skates alongside Michael McCarron and Kiefer Sherwood.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Pots goal Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith scored a goal on two shots and added six hits in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Golden Knights.
This was Smith's second tally in the last three games. He tipped in a Michael McCarron shot late in the second period for what ended up being the game-winning goal. Smith has a career-high 19 points with 83 shots on net, 172 hits, 54 PIM and a minus-1 rating through 55 outings overall. He's mostly filled a bottom-six role, though his physicality may draw interest in deep fantasy formats.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Agrees to two-year extension
Rotowire
Smith signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with Nashville on Wednesday.
Smith will first complete his one-year, $775,000 deal, which means his new contract will begin in 2024-25. He has five goals, 16 points, 118 hits and 21 blocks in 46 outings this season. The 28-year-old is likely to continue to serve as a bottom-six forward over the life of his new contract.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Grabs helper in win
Rotowire
Smith logged an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Stars.
Smith snapped a six-game point drought with the assist. Prior to the slump, he had put together a five-game point streak. The 28-year-old remains in a bottom-six role, so consistent offense is unlikely to be the norm for him. He's produced 16 points -- one off his career high -- while adding 59 shots on net, 103 hits, 37 PIM and a plus-3 rating over 39 appearances.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Won't play Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith (illness) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Blackhawks.
Smith can be considered day-to-day for now. The 28-year-old's absence opens the door for Tyson Barrie to draw back in as Nashville goes with seven defensemen. The Predators' next game is Thursday versus the Lightning.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Garners helper in win
Rotowire
Smith logged an assist and six hits in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Sabres.
Smith had the secondary helper on linemate Yakov Trenin's first-period marker. The assist ended a four-game point drought for Smith, who hasn't scored while adding four helpers over his last eight outings since a two-goal game Nov. 18. The 28-year-old winger is at nine points, 60 hits, 29 shots on net, 28 PIM and a plus-2 rating through 24 appearances. He's on pace for a career year, but he's mainly just a physical presence on the third line.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Two tallies including GWG
Rotowire
Smith scored two goals, including the game-winner, on three shots while adding three hits and a plus-1 rating in Saturday's 4-2 win over Chicago.
It's the second two-goal performance of the season for the 28-year-old checking winger, but those are his only tallies in 16 games, and he has only one assist. Smith won't add much offense, but with 42 hits already in 2023-24, he's on pace to top 200 for the first time.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Lights lamp twice in win
Rotowire
Smith scored his first two goals of the season, including the game-winner, in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Rangers.
Both tallies came in the first period, and Juuse Saros never relinquished that early lead. Smith had only four goals and 17 points in 69 games last season, but the 27-year-old checking winger is off to a strong start to 2023-24 with three points through five games to go along with seven shots, seven PIM, eight hits, three blocked shots and a plus-2 rating.
Smith notched a short-handed assist, two shots on goal, four hits and two blocked shots in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Kraken.
Smith sent a puck out of the zone, and Colton Sissons was the first to get to it on a short-handed breakaway for the Predators' first goal. After beginning the season on the fourth line, Smith was bumped up to a trio with Cody Glass and Gustav Nyquist for the second game of the year. The 27-year-old Smith had 17 points, 198 hits and 60 PIM in 69 contests last season, his first full NHL campaign. There may be some room to grow if he can hang onto a middle-six spot throughout the year.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Ready for training camp
Rotowire
Smith (upper body) is healthy for training camp, Nick Kieser of Nashville Hockey Now reported Wednesday
Smith missed the last seven games of the 2022-23 campaign. The 27-year-old established himself as a full-time NHLer with 17 points in 69 outings last season. If he can maintain his roster spot to begin 2023-24, Smith is projected to be a bottom-six fixture.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Could miss time
Rotowire
Smith (upper body) is not considered close to returning to action according to general manager David Poile, Robby Stanley of 102.5 The Game reports Tuesday.
Smith will for sure miss his second straight contest when the Preds face the Knight on Tuesday, though it sounds like it may be longer. With just one point in his last 11 contests, the 27-year-old winger's absence is unlikely to have a significant impact on fantasy players.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Out Monday
Rotowire
Smith (upper body) will not play Monday against the Stars.
As expected, Smith will miss at least one game after suffering an injury Saturday against the Blues. The 27-year-old has just one point over his last 11 games.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Suffers undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Smith is dealing with an undisclosed injury sustained against the Blues on Saturday, John Glennon of NHL.com reports.
Smith's status for Monday's matchup with Dallas should probably be considered questionable at best, especially after the team opted to call up John Leonard from the minors. In his last 11 games, the 27-year-old Smith managed just one point and eight shots while dishing out 34 hits. If he can't play Monday, the aforementioned Leonard should be in line to replace him in the lineup.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Physical presence in loss
Rotowire
Smith picked up nine hits in the Predators' 2-0 loss to the Penguins on Thursday.
Smith was a huge physical factor Thursday, posting nine hits in his 16:34 of ice time. The American forward has been struggling offensively lately, scoring just one goal in his last 10 games. He should continue to occupy a third-line role moving forward.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Logs helper in overtime win
Rotowire
Smith provided an assist and two hits in Sunday's 5-4 overtime win over the Ducks.
Smith has collected three helpers and nine hits over his last five contests. The 27-year-old winger set up a Yakov Trenin tally in the third period of this game. For the season, Smith has 16 points, 56 shots on net, 164 hits, 54 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through 58 outings, mainly in a bottom-six role. His ice time has been on the rise with at least 15 minutes in five of his last eight appearances.
