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Veteran's Second Chance: Smith Back with Blue Jackets
26 Nov
Summary
- Brendan Smith signed a one-year contract after a two-month tryout.
- He returns to the NHL lineup for the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
- Smith's family shared a celebratory toast upon the contract signing.
Brendan Smith's professional tryout contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets has culminated in a one-year, two-way deal, with his NHL debut for the team scheduled for Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This signing comes after nearly two months of uncertainty for the veteran defenseman, who played with the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate in Cleveland.
His return provides a much-needed positive story for the team, which has been hampered by injuries to key players. While Zach Werenski is likely to play, forwards Kirill Marchenko and Mathieu Olivier are confirmed out, leading to the recall of prospect Luca Pinelli from AHL Cleveland.
Smith's journey back to the NHL has been demanding, involving extensive travel and coaching his son's hockey team. Despite the challenges, he persevered, motivated by a belief in his ability to still compete at the highest level and to set an example for his children about resilience.
