With it now being the middle of August, things have slowed down around the NHL since July 1. While this is the case, there are still some interesting unrestricted free agents (UFAs) left who could sign professional tryouts (PTOs) before training camps start next month.
A former Boston Bruins winger is certainly a player to keep an eye on because of this, as Craig Smith remains a UFA at this juncture of the summer.
Smith spent this past season split between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, where he posted nine goals, 18 points, 34 penalty minutes, and 56 hits in 59 games. This was after he recorded 11 goals and 20 points in 75 games with the Dallas Stars in 2023-24. Overall, while Smith's offense has gone down in recent years, his experience and two-way play could make him a nice pickup for a team needing help in their bottom six.
Smith spent three seasons with the Bruins from 2020-21 to 2022-23, where he posted 33 goals, 45 assists, 78 points, 194 hits, and a plus-27 rating. This includes recording 16 goals and 36 points in 74 games with the Bruins during the 2021-22 season. His time with the Bruins ended when he was traded to the Washington Capitals in the deal that brought Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to Boston.
2 Bruins Stars Invited To USA's Olympic Orientation Camp
Team USA has announced their 2026 Olympic orientation camp roster, and two <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> have been invited to it - defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goaltender Jeremy Swayman.