Craig Smith switched his stick for the first time in 14 years, and it's paying off
Chicago Blackhawks forward Craig Smith has been one of the unexpected surprises for the team this year, crediting his success to a a recent stick change.
Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davison made a sneaky signing over the summertime, acquiring Craig Smith to help generate some depth scoring.
With that being said, Smith has emerged as one of the top forwards on the team. According to Blackhawks insider Ben Pope, Smith ranks 3rd in shot attempts per minute of five-on-five ice time (trailing only Donato and Taylor Hall) and second in terms of the percentage of those shot attempts making it on-goal (trailing only Reichel).
Hilariously, Smith attributes his offensive success due to a recent stick change -- something he hasn't considered doing in over 14 years.
«I've played numerous different roles on different teams, so it's nothing new. Everything is kind of familiar, to be honest. The characters in the room don't change from team to team; there's usually some familiarity with that.»
-Craig Smith
Although the Chicago Blackhawks offence has cooled off as of late, Craig Smith remains a stable veteran presence on the team.
Ben Pope reports that that Smith's stick change over the summertime led to increased shooting sessions during practice to adjust to the new equipment, and that extra time on the ice has paid off, boosting his shooting percentages.
