Arizona Coyotes re-sign forward Nathan Smith to one-year contract
The Arizona Coyotes have signed forward Nathan Smith to a one-year contract extension, CapFriendly reported Friday evening.
Smith, 24, collected 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 64 games with the American Hockey League’s Tucson Roadrunners during the 2022–23 regular season. He went scoreless in one Calder Cup Playoff game with Tucson.
The Tampa, Florida product also appeared in four NHL games with the Coyotes in 2022–23. He did not record a point during his cup of coffee in the big leagues last year.
Smith’s new contract with the Coyotes carries a $775,000 NHL cap hit. He’ll be paid a $115,000 salary during his time in the AHL, with minimum guaranteed earnings of $165,000 earmarked for the 2023–24 season.
Nathan Smith #Yotes
1 year / 2 way
Majors: $775k
Minors: $115k
Guaranteed: $165khttps://t.co/BhUlQcLEYC
The Winnipeg Jets originally selected Smith in the third round (No. 91 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. The six-foot center debuted as a freshman at Minnesota State University – Mankato in the 2019–20 season and spent three years with the Mavericks, collecting 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) in 38 games in 2021–22.
Smith never signed with his draft club. The Jets traded him, alongside Bryan Little’s contract, to the Coyotes in March of 2022 in exchange for a fourth-round pick in that year’s draft.
The following month, the Coyotes signed Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract. He made his first appearance with the Coyotes on April 12 and scored his first NHL goal eight days later during a home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Smith finished his first tour of duty in Arizona with two goals and four points in 10 games. To date, he remains at four points through 14 career NHL contests with the Coyotes.
With Smith now under contract, the Coyotes have four restricted free agents left to deal with this summer: forwards Matias Maccelli, Jack McBain, and Jan Jenik, as well as goaltender Ivan Prosvetov.