On the signing of Brendan Smith

The 33-year-old veteran adds versatility, physicality, and depth to the New Jersey Devils.

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New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has been very busy this month, drafting eight players, completing three trades, making two signings, and hiring a Jack Adams finalist to join the coaching staff.

Between all the moves Fitzgerald pulled off – and the ones he didn’t – I haven’t really had the chance to properly address the Brendan Smith signing (2x$1.1M).

Now that the dust has settled a little bit, it’s time to do just that.

Smith is a 33-year-old veteran who has played 10 full seasons in the NHL, appearing in 571 regular season games and 56 more in the playoffs.

He plays with a take-no-prisoner approach to the game and is in the middle of everything physically.

Of 222 defenders to log at least 700 (5v5) minutes over the last two seasons, Smith ranked 39th in hits, and 56th in hits taken, per 60 minutes. He also finished top-5 in terms of most minors taken *and* most minors drawn on a per minute basis.

If there was notable contact on the ice, Smith was probably involved.

He is someone who will muck it up in the corners, clear the front of the net, and defend teammates when necessary. Importantly, he can do those things while also playing a little hockey.

Smith’s teams generally allow expected goals at a lesser rate with him on the ice. While that wasn’t the case this past season, the difference was *checks notes* 0.02 xG per 60. Splitting hairs.