8th year net minder Jeremy Smith(40) was signed to a one-year two-way deal with Colorado Avalanche on the opening day of free agency heading into 2016/2017.
The veteran goalie has played a staggering 265 AHL games with 5 different teams, most recently for 2nd to last place in the Western Conference affiliate San Antonio Rampage putting up an admirable 5-8-1 record with a 2.57 GAA and .911 SV%.
He was initially recalled for another visit to the NHL but rode the pine once again before finally got the nod for his first start when he was summoned once again.
Although he wasn’t able to get the win for the bottom dwelling parent club, he did effectively keep them in the game with 37 stops on 40 shots in a 3-2 loss.
The 27-year old will likely receive more opportunities to prove he can play in the big league as his numbers in the minors and this one outing prove he can rise to the occasion.
It doesn’t hurt the chances for the former 2007 OHL Champion with Plymouth Whalers that the starting backstop for the Avalanche is out for the remainder of the season, but he’s earned the spot.
Jeremy Smith (30)
Boston Bruins‘ 6th year goalie Jeremy Smith(30) is definitely a good guy to be counted on in net as their affiliate Providence Bruins readies for a playoff run.
The one-time Nashville Predators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#54 overall) played through 4 seasons in their prospect system mostly winning games for the farm team Milwaukee Admirals.
In his rookie season he was further reassigned playing the whole season minus one game in ECHL with Cincinnati Cyclones He won the 2010 Kelly Cup Championship and was named c0-MVP.
He was also a member of the 2006/2007 Plymouth Whalers‘ team that won the OHL Championship.
The not exactly huge 6′ 178 lbs. net minder is having a career year. In 39 AHL games he posted a 22-11-5 record with a 2.05 GAA and .933 SV%. and three shutouts putting him at 5th on the league’s top goaltender list.
Signed only to a one-year deal, if the 26-year old pushes his team deep into the Calder Cup playoffs, it would be almost a no-brainer to re-sign him for at least another.
And who knows, maybe one of these call-ups will actually turn into his first NHL appearance.
Original story: 4/17-15
In 3 postseason contests he went 1-2 with a once again stellar 1.96 GAA and .931 SV%, which was good enough to get Providence Bruins to a deciding game 5 before bowing out in the first round.
Boston Bruins made sure he wasn’t going anywhere after his deal expired re-upping quickly in free agency with the net minder for a second year on another two-way deal.
He could easily find himself with the back-up job for the big club in the forthcoming season, as for the at least the time being there is a spot wide open and up for grabs.
He has easily earned the opportunity.