Craig Smith a prodigy?

[SouthPride]

3 points in his first two NHL games. 2 goals and an assist, one of our greatest rookie forwards ever? It's early yea but who could of predicted this!

 

[SouthPride]

I lied 2 assists!!! What a boss haha

 

[SouthPride]

In 15 games played so far he has 14 POINTS! 7 goals and 7 assists. This kid is fucking amazing I can't see how anyone could disagree, now we've just got to see how he fares in the grueling 82 game season. In the mean time I'm going to keep drooling over this kids skill
Craig Smith Nashville Predators - 2011-2012 Stats - Nashville Predators - Team

 

[SouthPride]

The route to success if you***8217;re a Nashville Predator has been pretty clearly defined over the years. Get drafted. Get out a map and highlight ***8220;Milwaukee***8221; and pack your bags. The Predators have been the poster boys for patience when it comes to developing young talent at the minor-league level. It is the only way to survive, let alone succeed when you***8217;re not a big-money team. And almost without fail -- David Legwand back in the team***8217;s infancy is one exception to the rule -- Predator prospects have spent some time in Milwaukee with their American Hockey League affiliate.


It***8217;s been a rite of passage whether the stay has been long or short. Pekka Rinne, he of the sparkling new seven-year, $49 million contract, spent a season there after he was beaten out for the backup job by Dan Ellis. Didn***8217;t hurt the Vezina Trophy finalist from last season one bit. All of which makes the ascension of rookie Craig Smith more than a little outside the Predator box. The 98th overall pick in the 2009 entry draft, Smith was coaxed out of the successful University of Wisconsin program last offseason.

The Predators felt he was one of those mature collegians that could make the jump to the pros, especially when Steve Sullivan, Matthew Lombardi and Marcel Goc, among others, left in the offseason.

Conversely, Smith knew there might be an opening for him if he could put in the work. At the time, head coach Barry Trotz told Smith the Madison, Wis., native would play in the NHL this season. ***8220;I just didn***8217;t know if it would be two, 22, 62 or 82 games,***8221; Trotz told ESPN.com this week.

Given that Smith is tied for best among rookies with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists, it looks like 82 might be a good bet. Smith lit it up at rookie camp -- he was one of the most dominant Predator rookies ever at the team***8217;s annual rookie tournament, GM David Poile said. The fact Smith was selected to and played well at last year***8217;s World Championships was also a factor in Smith***8217;s bypassing a trip to Milwaukee.

***8220;He came from a really good hockey school with a good coach in Mike Eaves. He was pro-ready,***8221; Poile said.

With the recent injury to top point producer David Legwand, Trotz has relied on Smith even more heavily, using him with Colin Wilson and Patric Hornqvist.

***8220;I use him like any regular player. I***8217;m not coddling him,***8221; Trotz said.

Sometimes he***8217;ll try and find a better matchup for him when at home, and if the matchup isn***8217;t to his liking on the road, sometimes Trotz will match Smith***8217;s line with his top defensive pairing of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber.

All in all, a pretty good start, even if Smith has no idea where Milwaukee is.

5 Things: Immunity for goalies, skipping the minors and a return to Pittsburgh - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN