The Buffalo Sabres may be having a tough 2025-26 season, but former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker has been impactful for them. In 20 games so far this season with the Sabres, Zucker has recorded nine goals, seven assists, and 16 points. This is after he had 21 goals, 32 assists, and 53 points in 73 games during his first season with the Sabres in 2024-25. 

Zucker is also continuing to perform well for the Sabres as the season carries on, as he is playing some strong hockey right now for the Atlantic Division club. The truth can be seen with his recent stats. 

Zucker has scored a goal in each of the Sabres' last three games, so there is no question that he is heating up big time for Buffalo. With the Sabres looking to climb up the standings, it is certainly good for them that Zucker is producing offensively right now. The former Penguin will now be looking to build on his hot streak for the Sabres from here. 

In four seasons with the Penguins from 2019-20 to 2022-23, Zucker recorded 50 goals, 45 assists, 95 points, and 457 hits. 

Center Michael Misa and goaltender Josh Ravensbergen were among the 27 players named Monday to Canada’s National Junior Team training camp roster—giving the San Jose Sharks two more prospects with a strong chance to represent their country at next month’s IIHF World Junior Championship. 

Misa, 18, the second overall pick in June’s NHL Draft, is one of 15 forwards invited to the camp, set for Dec. 12–22 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Ravensbergen, selected 30th overall and who turned 19 in November, is one of three goaltenders vying for a roster spot. 

Assuming no injuries or last-minute changes, both players are projected to be on Canada’s roster when the tournament opens Dec. 26 in Minnesota. Each nation may carry 22 skaters—typically 14 forwards and eight defensemen—along with three goalies. 

MICHAEL MISA HAS HIS FIRST NHL GOAL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Wi869Trf46

— NHL (@NHL) October 26, 2025

Misa scored his first career NHL goal on October 26 en route to a 6-5 win over Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild. 

The Future Is Here

Misa, a native of Oakville, Ontario, recorded three points in seven games with the Sharks before suffering a right ankle sprain during a Nov. 5 morning skate in Seattle. After steady progress in his recovery, he was placed on long-term injured reserve last week and assigned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda for conditioning. 

He notched an assist in the Barracuda’s 4–3 overtime win over Tucson on Friday and was held off the scoresheet in Saturday’s 6–2 loss in the rematch. 

Ravensbergen, a North Vancouver, B.C. native, was named the WHL Goalie of the Month for November after an outstanding stretch in which he won eight of 10 starts and posted a .940 save percentage with the Prince George Cougars. He currently leads the league with 16 wins and ranks fourth overall with a .921 save percentage. 

Although Ravensbergen didn’t appear in any preseason games for the Sharks, he made a strong impression at the organization’s development camp in July and again during rookie camp in September, reinforcing his status as one of San Jose’s most promising young goaltenders. 

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Former San Jose Sharks star Tomas Hertl has had a solid start to the 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights. In 28 games so far this campaign, the 32-year-old forward has recorded 13 goals, nine assists, and 22 points. With this, he has certainly been one of the Golden Knights' top offensive contributors early on this season.

Hertl is only continuing to make a big impact for the Golden Knights as the season carries on, too. The former Sharks forward is red-hot right now for Vegas, as he has scored four goals in his last four games. This, of course, included him scoring two goals against the Sharks on Nov. 29. 

Seeing Hertl putting up good numbers for the Golden Knights is not surprising in the slightest, as he certainly did just that during his days with the Sharks. He also had a strong season for the Golden Knights this past campaign, as he recorded 32 goals, 29 assists, and 61 points in 73 games with the Pacific Division club. 

It will now be interesting to see how Hertl builds on his hot streak with the Golden Knights. Clearly, the former Shark is feeling it right now. 

It appears that at least two prospects from the Pittsburgh Penguins could be headed to the World Junior Championship (WJC). 

Last week, forward Will Horcoff was named to Team USA's prelimary roster for the WJC, and Monday, it was defenseman Harrison Brunicke's turn. Brunicke, 19, was officially named to the WJC training camp roster for Team Canada along with 26 other players, and - assuming he is a lock for the roster - it will be his second time representing his country, as he won gold with the U18 team for the WJC back in 2024.

However, this will likely be his first time representing at the highest level of junior hockey, as he broke his hand last season prior to the tournament and was unable to participate despite getting the invite to camp.

The 6-foot-3, 201-pound blueliner - selected 44th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft with the second-round pick acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Jake Guentzel trade - made the Penguins' NHL roster out of training camp. Despite registering a goal in his second NHL game and starting off the season well, his play declined in the latter part of his nine-game trial run, and he found himself a frequent healthy scratch.

As such, he was loaned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins on conditioning for the team's last five games, and he put up three points in five games and was a plus-2 with 13 shots on goal. Brunicke has yet to play in his 10th NHL game this season to activate his entry-level contract, and the Penguins will have until Jan. 3 - their 40th game of the season - to determine whether or not he will stick around, as that is the day they lose a year of restricted free agency at the end of his current deal.

Harrison Brunicke has been named to Canada's #WorldJuniors camp roster 🇨🇦 https://t.co/RPTpLyR7K3

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 8, 2025

Therefore, a loan to Team Canada for the WJC - which is expected to be made official at some point this week by the Penguins - could be good for the young, talented blueliner. He figures to log significant minutes, should his roster spot be finalized, on the right side in a top-four role, and he may be in the mix for the country's leadership group, too. 

Brunicke would join fellow NHLers in San Jose Sharks forward Michael Misa and Calgary Flames defenseman Zayne Parekh on the squad as well as forwards Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone. Those five figure to fill some of the biggest roles on the team, assuming they are all on the final roster. 

Reacting To Hockey Canada's 2026 World Juniors Camp RosterHockey Canada named 27 players to its world juniors camp roster on Monday, with Sharks, Flames and Penguins players getting loaned to the national squad.

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Here is final training camp roster for Team Canada:

Forwards

Carter Bear, Everett (WHL)

Cole Beaudoin, Barrie (OHL)

Braeden Cootes, Seattle (WHL)

Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL)

Liam Greentree, Windsor (OHL)

Michael Hage, Michigan (NCAA)

Tij Iginla, Kelowna (WHL)

Jett Luchanko, Brantford (OHL)

Brady Martin, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Porter Martone, Michigan State (NCAA)

Gavin McKenna, Penn State (NCAA)

Michael Misa, San Jose (NHL)

Jake O'Brien, Brantford (OHL)

Sam O'Reilly, London (OHL)

Cole Reschny, North Dakota (NCAA)

Penguins' Center Evgeni Malkin Out Day-To-DayEven though the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> got a few players back in their lineup for Sunday's game against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/">Dallas Stars</a>, they lost a pretty prominent one.

Defensemen

Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie (OHL)

Harrison Brunicke, Pittsburgh (NHL)

Carson Carels, Prince George (WHL)

Ben Danford, Brantford (OHL)

Ethan Mackenzie, Edmonton (WHL)

Zayne Parekh, Calgary (NHL)

Cameron Reid, Kitchener (OHL)

Jackson Smith, Penn State (NCAA)

Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota (NCAA)

Goaltenders

Carter George, Owen Sound (OHL)

Jack Ivankovic, Michigan (NCAA)

Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George (WHL)

Revisiting The Jake Guentzel Trade TreeOn Thursday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> will take on the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> in Florida, as Pittsburgh looks to hold onto its playoff positioning and Tampa looks to extend its Atlantic Division lead.&nbsp;

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The WJC will take place in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. on Dec. 26, 2025 - Jan. 5, 2026.

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Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have assigned defenseman Sam Rinzel and forward Landon Slaggert to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. 

Rinzel being sent down to the AHL is notable, as he is one of the Blackhawks' top prospects. The 2022 first-round pick has appeared in 28 games so far this season with the Blackhawks, where he has posted one goal, seven assists, eight points, and an even plus/minus rating. 

Rinzel is now set to get into the first AHL action of his career after being assigned to Rockford. The young blueliner will be aiming to impress, as it could help his chances of getting another call-up to the Blackhawks' roster soon.

Slaggert, on the other hand, has recorded one goal, four blocks, and 16 hits in 10 games for the Blackhawks this season. He has also played in three games for the IceHogs in 2025-26, where he has posted one goal and a minus-2 rating. 

In 59 career NHL games over three seasons with the Blackhawks, Slaggert has posted four goals, seven assists, 11 points, and 39 penalty minutes. 

The International Ice Hockey Federation has confirmed that the ice surfaces it will use in two arenas for the upcoming Milan Olympics will not be built to NHL specifications but said it doesn’t expect the smaller surfaces to have any impact on the NHL players contesting the men’s tournament.

The IIHF approved a sheet of ice measuring 60 meters by 26 meters (196.85 feet by 85.3 feet) in Milan, as The Athletic reported last week, which is more than three feet shorter and only a few inches wider than the 200-foot-by-85-foot (60.96-meter-by-25.91-meter) dimensions required under NHL rules.

News of that difference came as a surprise to officials with the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. They had signed off on an Olympic agreement last summer that called for NHL-sized ice to be used for the Feb. 11 to 22 tournament. Both the NHL and NHLPA indicated they would have to look into the issue last week.

In the IIHF statement released Monday, the sport’s governing body said everyone was on board with the specs that will be used at the Santagiulia Arena and Milan Rho Fiera exhibition center.

“All involved, the IIHF, the Organizing Committee, NHL, NHLPA, IOC and the relevant venue authorities agree that the differences in rink specifications are insignificant, and should not impact either the safety or quality of game play,” read the statement. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best players for a best-on-best competition at the Games.”

The IIHF added that the same dimensions were used for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, which did not feature NHL players. It also noted that the recent Global Series games played between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators at Avicii Arena in Stockholm featured the same size ice surface.

With concerns around the readiness of the Milan venues growing, the NHL recently dispatched staff to help oversee the project, according to league sources. Among the tasks they’re involved with is making sure the differences in the smaller surface are mitigated by accounting for them in the neutral zone.

Hockey Canada was aware of the smaller ice surface approved for use in Milan and advised players during its Olympic orientation camp in August about the issue.

However, multiple potential Olympians from other countries told The Athletic they only found out about it last week.

Canadian star Nathan MacKinnon said he thinks the smaller surface will be noticeable when players get out there in a game setting.

“If you have a foot less space, it can be a big difference,” MacKinnon said. “If you get a foot closer in the slot, I think that could be a big difference. But it’s the same for everybody.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

NHL, Olympics, Women's Hockey

2025 The Athletic Media Company

The Florida Panthers have loaned winger Jack Devine to the Charlotte Checkers. 

The 22-year-old skated in six games during his first NHL call-up, failing to record a point. Although he was kept off the scoresheet, Devine showed many positive flashes. He utilized his speed to help the Panthers' transition offense and win the puck back on the forecheck.

He averaged just 8:26 in his call-up but was able to fire six shots on goal. According to Natural Stat Trick, at 5-on-5, the Panthers owned 51.14 percent of the expected goals and held a Corsi For percentage of 51.61 percent. The Panthers were outscored 3-0 with Devine on the ice, but he was playing in an unfamiliar role on the Panthers' fourth line.

Devine will return to the Checkers with NHL experience and will look to improve on his stellar rookie season numbers. In 13 games, Devine has scored six goals and 12 points, three goals and two points back of the team lead. 

Although Devine is listed at 5-foot-11, 173 pounds, he plays at a high speed and with a high motor. He's not afraid to get to the dirty areas of the ice and is always looking to get the puck to the front of the net. 

He's been a top-end point producer at every level and appears to be continuing the trend at the AHL level. 

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Here's your weekly farm report, courtesy of the Belleville Senators.

The B-Sens were able to end the week on a positive note, beating the Laval Rocket at home on Saturday night. The victory came after a Friday night loss to Laval and a mid-week failed comeback against the Toronto Marlies.

The Sunday win, coupled with some other mixed results around the American Hockey League’s North Division, sees Belleville hop back into fourth place and keeps them two points ahead of Toronto, with a three-point gap to third-place Syracuse, four points to second-place Rochester, and eight points to Laval at the top.

Here’s a recap of last week’s action, as the Sens get set for three more matchups at home this week.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Belleville Senators – 3 vs Toronto Marlies – 4

The Belleville Senators showed some fight in a Wednesday night comeback attempt against the Toronto Marlies, but couldn’t make up the deficit in the third period, losing 4-3. Olle Lycksell, Garrett Pilon and Arthur Kaliyev scored for the Senators, while Mads Sogaard took the loss in net, making 27 saves on 31 shots.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Friday, December 5, 2025 : Belleville Senators – 2 vs Laval Rocket – 5

The slow start to December continued for the Belleville Sens on Friday, as the offence couldn’t quite get going in a 5-2 loss to the Laval Rocket, to begin a weekend back-to-back with their divisional rivals. Phil Daoust continued his strong season, scoring for Belleville, while Arthur Kaliyev also tallied for the 15th time this season. Mads Sogaard made another 31 saves on 34 shots in the defeat.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Saturday, December 6, 2025: Belleville Senators – 4 vs Laval Rocket – 3

A late power play goal, deflected in by captain Garrett Pilon, helped the Belleville Senators to knock off the Laval Rocket 4-3 on Saturday night, snapping the Sens’ five-game losing skid. Defenders Scott Harrington and Jorian Donovan started off the Belleville scoring, while Phil Daoust also tallied again, before Pilon won the game in the final three minutes of the third period. Jackson Parsons also ended his personal three-game slide, stopping 26 of 29 shots to earn his fourth win of the season.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Recent Transactions

• Nov. 28/25: #34 Stephen Halliday (C) – ADD – Returned on loan from Ottawa (NHL)
• Nov. 29/25: #12 Danny Katic (LW) – DELETE – Returned on loan to Allen (ECHL)
• Nov. 29/25: #48 Dennis Gilbert (D) – DELETE – Recalled from loan by Ottawa (NHL)
• Dec. 2/25: #42 Hayden Hodgson (RW) – ADD – Returned on loan from Ottawa (NHL)
• Dec. 4/25: #34 Stephen Halliday (C) – DELETE – Recalled from loan by Ottawa (NHL)
• Dec. 6/25: #42 Hayden Hodgson (RW) – DELETE – Recalled from loan by Ottawa (NHL)
• Dec. 7/25: #42 Hayden Hodgson (RW) – ADD – Returned on loan from Ottawa (NHL). This likely means that Lars Eller will be available in Ottawa on Tuesday night.

Statistical Leaders

Points: 24 (T-3rd in AHL) #43 Arthur Kaliyev (F) – 15 G + 9 A

Goals: 15 (2nd in AHL) #43 Arthur Kaliyev (F)

Assists: 18 (T-3rd in AHL) #34 Stephen Halliday (C)

Power Play Goals: 9 (1st in AHL) #43 Arthur Kaliyev (F)

Plus/Minus: +3 #44 Djibril Toure

Goals Against Average: 3.10 #30 Hunter Shepard (G)

Save Percentage: .911 #30 Hunter Shepard (G)

This Week

The Sens continue their home-heavy month of December with three more matchups at CAA Arena this week.

On Wednesday, the Rochester Americans visit for a Winning Wednesday. Then, the Cleveland Monsters stop in town for the first time this season on Saturday for the annual Holiday Celebration Game and Teddy Bear Toss.

The week ends with Belly’s Kids Holiday Party on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., against the Bridgeport Islanders. You can follow all the action by listening on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network, or watching along on AHL TV on FloHockey. 

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

Senators Provide Injury Update On Shane Pinto, Recall Forward From Belleville
Travis Green on Senators Defenseman Nick Jensen: 'I Think He's Finding His Game'
Former Senator Now Tearing It Up In Switzerland
Travis Green Steers Senators Into Top 5 In Several Defensive Metrics
Parity Puts American Thanksgiving Rule (And The Senators) To The Test

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond.

Here's what ex-NHL goalie Devan Dubnyk, Michael Traikos and Andrew McInnis, discussed:

2:00: Connor McDavid scored a hat trick last week and has recorded a combined 12 shots in his past two games. Do you like his game when he shoots more? Is he more valuable as a playmaker or a scorer?

4:30: From Dubnyk's perspective, is McDavid underrated as a shooter? 

6:55: Have the Oilers finally found their game?

8:05: Are too many of the losses from the Oilers blamed on the goaltending? 

11:30: The Jets have now lost seven of their last nine games. Can the Jets do enough to put themselves in a playoff spot until Hellebuyck can return? Who must step up?

18:00: The Utah Mammoth sit fourth in the Central Division and in a second wild-card spot. Does this team have enough to stay in the mix with Logan Cooley out indefinitely? And who will finish higher in the standings: the Chicago Blackhawks or Utah Mammoth? 

22:37: The Washington Capitals will be without their rookie winger, Ryan Leonard, after taking a massive blow from Jacob Trouba. Thoughts about the hit?

28:03: Are players noticing that Trouba didn't fight with Tom Wilson? Is it a respect issue? 

30:20: Quinn Hughes said he's aware that "things like" having his name in trade talks between the Canucks and Devils could happen. But he added that if there was a call, he wasn't involved in it. How likely is it that Hughes will be on the Canucks by next fall?

32:34: Do the Devils start working on a trade package to get Quinn Hughes? 

35:06: Which center would you pick to build your franchise around: Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard or Leo Carlsson?

37:03: Another week, another chance to name a player who had a hot or cold week.

39:22: The Winnipeg Jets host the 2026 Heritage Classic against the Canadiens. The Jets took to X and asked fans for jersey help. What jersey should the Jets wear? 

40:36: What is Dubnyk's favorite moment from the outdoor game he played in? 

42:54: Favorite Heritage Classic matchup? 

Dissecting The Oilers' Mini Hot Streak by The Big Show

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

There have been plenty of rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Kings and center Phillip Danault regarding the trade market.

He hasn’t had the start to this season that he and the team would’ve wanted. In 28 games this season, Danault has not scored a goal and has just five assists, his last one coming in the Kings’ 6-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

On the latest episode of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman touched on the handful of reports indicating that teams have inquired about the Kings’ Danault. 

“There were some reports that he could be on the trade market, and I could see this being a case where both sides would want it to happen,” Friedman said.

“There’s only two ways to look at this,” Friedman added. “As if Father Time… has finally gotten to Phillip Danault, or his runway in LA is over.”

Danault is 32 years old, playing in his 13th NHL campaign. With that, he’s in his fifth season with the Kings.

In previous seasons in Los Angeles, Danault has recorded at least 40 points. Last year was his lowest total (43 points) since 2017-18, when he only played 52 games for the Montreal Canadiens (25 points).

Ex-Canadiens Center Having Tough Start To SeasonThis former Canadiens forward is having a slow start to the new season.

While he’ll likely break the ice eventually in terms of putting the puck in the net, his current scoring pace for this season is zero goals and 15 assists on the year.

With that offensive contribution, even for a two-way center, it’s hard to justify the $5.5 million cap hit that he carries. He has one more season left on that deal after this campaign.

Luckily for GM Ken Holland and the Kings, if the team were looking to trade away Danault, the thin trade market, especially for middle-six centers, could get them a trade partner. 

Even with the contract he holds, some team out there that isn’t on Danault’s 10-team no-trade list could be interested in acquiring him for the right price.

However, unless his play picks up, the Kings likely won’t get anything substantial back with his cap hit. In addition, Los Angeles could not offer to retain some of Danault’s contract because all three of their retention spots have been filled.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Jett Woo on NHL waivers Monday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. 

Woo being placed on waivers means he is ready to begin his 2025-26 season. The right-shot defenseman has been sidelined for all of this campaign after undergoing surgery during the off-season to address an upper-body injury.

Teams looking for more defensive depth could consider taking a chance on Woo, who's on a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL and $290,000 in the minors. But if the 25-year-old passes through waivers unclaimed, the Canucks can assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.

Woo was selected by the Pacific Division club in the second round of the 2018 NHL draft with the 37th overall pick. Despite being part of the organization for eight seasons now, he has yet to make his NHL debut.

While Woo has yet to play for Vancouver, he has a lot of experience at the AHL level. In 267 career games over five seasons, he has 21 goals, 62 assists, 83 points, 332 penalty minutes and a plus-32 rating.

Last season as an alternate captain in Abbotsford, Woo posted two goals, 16 assists, 18 points, 90 penalty minutes and a plus-14 rating. He also recorded one goal and six points in 22 playoff games for Abbotsford during their Calder Cup championship run this past spring.

A player cannot be placed on NHL waivers or bought out while they are injured. They could be traded, but in this instance, Abbotsford may want the help. They sit last in the Pacific Division with a 5-15-4 record in 24 games, allowing a league-high 93 goals against.

As for the NHL squad, the Canucks have Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers and Tom Willander, who scored his first NHL goal on Saturday, on the right side of the blueline.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Craig Smith is moving on, as he has announced his retirement from professional hockey. 

Smith spent part of his final season in the NHL with the Blackhawks in 2024-25. In 40 games with the Blackhawks during this past season, he recorded nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, 20 blocks, and 30 hits.

However, Smith did not finish the season as a member of the Blackhawks, as the Central Division club traded him and goaltender Petr Mrazek to the Detroit Red Wings at the 2025 NHL trade deadline in exchange for forward Joe Veleno. 

Smith was selected by the Nashville Predators with the 98th overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In 987 career NHL games split between the Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars, Blackhawks, and Red Wings, he recorded 220 goals, 232 assists, 452 points, 395 penalty minutes, and a plus-88 rating. 

Overall, Smith had himself a nice 14-year NHL career. 

The Calgary Flames announced Monday that defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz is heading back to the big club after a strong start to his season with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

Brzustewicz, a 2023 third-round selection, has been one of the Wranglers’ most productive blueliners this year, posting 12 points through 22 games.

The smooth-skating defender is coming off a solid rookie campaign in which he collected 32 points across 70 games and also earned his first NHL appearance late last season in a matchup against Los Angeles.

Originally drafted by Vancouver, the Washington, Michigan product became a member of the Flames organization as part of the January 2024 trade that moved Elias Lindholm to the Canucks.

Craig Smith, who played nine seasons with the Nashville Predators from 2011 to 2020 and was drafted by the team in 2009, has announced his retirement after 14 seasons. 

Magnuson Hockey Agency announced on Monday that Smith was retiring. He had played with the Predators, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. 

During his career, he recorded 220 goals, 232 assists, and 452 points over 987 games. He also played for the United States at the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 IIHF World Championships, winning a bronze medal during the 2013 tournament. 

Smith was selected by the Predators, 98th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft, after scoring 48 points in 54 games with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL). He'd play two seasons at the University of Wisconsin before joining the Predators for the 2011-12 season. 

In his rookie year, Smith scored 22 points in 72 games. During his time with the Predators, Smith played in 661 regular-season games, scoring 330 points (162 goals and 168 assists).

Smith's best season came during the 2013-14 campaign, where he had 52 points (24 goals and 28 assists) in 79 games. He had another 50+ point season in 2017-18, scoring 51 points (25 goals and 26 assists) in 79 games. 

He played in 52 playoff games and scored 16 points (seven goals and nine assists), which included the Predators' 2017 run to the Stanley Cup Final. During that run, he scored a goal in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, Smith announced that he would not be re-signing with the Predators, heading into free agency and eventually signing with the Boston Bruins. He'd play seven more seasons with five different teams. 

Smith ranks in a few spots in the Predators record books:

• Games played: 661 (9th)
• Goals: 162 (6th)
• Points: 330 (7th)
• Goals created: 133.7 (6th)
• Plus/minus: 67 (3rd)
• Even strength goals: 120 (4th)
• Power play goals: 42 (T-5th)
• Game winning goals: 22 (T-9th)
• Shots: 1,694 (5th)

Smith is also infamously known for missing on an empty net scoring chance in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 17, 2011. Smith shot the puck high above the empty net after skating all the way to the top of the goalie crease. The Predators still won the game, 4-1.