As the NHL offseason rapidly comes to a conclusion, one former Philadelphia Flyers trade acquisition has joined the Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout offer.
Longtime AHL-NHL tweener and enforcer Givani Smith, added by the Flyers in the trade that sent Stanley Cup champion defenseman Erik Johnson back to his beloved Colorado Avalanche, joined the Hurricanes on a tryout offer Wednesday afternoon.
Smith, 27, never played for the Flyers despite replacing a player on the NHL roster in Johnson.
Instead, the 6-foot-2 former second-round pick finished his season with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring one goal and one assist in 10 games.
Smith appeared in seven playoff games for the Phantoms, racking up 19 penalty minutes and a -4 rating.
Ironically, Smith will best be remembered by Flyers fans as the player who fought… Erik Johnson in a Nov. 11 game between the Flyers and San Jose Sharks after attempting to start a problem with rookie sensation Matvei Michkov.
Johnson, of course, threw off his gloves, stepped in, and took care of the rest. The two were traded for each other a few months later.
Smith has found his next NHL destination, while Johnson, 37, remains a free agent late into the offseason.
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