The Chicago Blackhawks continue to add depth to their roster with their latest free-agent signing, Cole Smith. Smith is getting a three-year deal with a $3 million cap hit.
Smith is 30 years old, and he spent the first 6 years of his NHL career with the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2025-26 season.
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Of course, the Golden Knights went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring, and Smith was a part of it as a member of their 4th line. In 22 playoff games, he had 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points.
During the regular season, Smith had 8 goals and 4 assists for 12 points in 63 games played. There isn’t much offense there, but it is his physical presence and defensive play that will make the Blackhawks a bit harder to play against.
On the penalty kill, Smith will be one of the forwards who replace Ilya Mikheyev. At even strength, he won’t produce nearly as much offense; the Hawks will have to find that elsewhere.
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With Jordan Greenway also coming in via the Bowen Byram trade, the Hawks have a couple of guys who bring a different style of game to their bottom six than their opponents have had to deal with in recent years.
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