Boston Bruins: The Final Year of Jeremy Smith
By Jay Peterson
With most players locked up and free agency winding down, it is time to look at the members of the Boston Bruins who are in the last year of their respective contracts. In this article, we will determine what Jeremy Smith needs to do in his final year and whether or not he will return to the black and gold.
With the depth of young goaltenders in the Boston Bruins’ system filled by 21-year old Malcolm Subban and 22-year old Zane McIntyre, there were some who doubted that Jeremy Smith would be resigned by the Bruins for the 2015/16 season.
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“There was some talk of trading for a veteran backup netminder,” according to Boston Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty, “but clearly that wasn’t the case on July 1 based on Smith’s contract.” Smith was signed to a one year, two way contract, worth $600, 000 (all contract information found on salary cap website General Fanager). This signing made it clear that GM Don Sweeney was going to find the backup for Tuukka Rask from within the organization
“It’s a bit of an unknown for us, so it’s an area that I will continue to look at.” said Sweeney, during his press conference following the Boston Bruins development camp, “I think we are comfortable where we are in creating internal competition.” That internal competition will be between three AHL ready goaltenders who would all like a shot at spending some time up at the NHL level.
“There was some talk of trading for a veteran backup netminder, but clearly that wasn’t the case on July 1 based on Smith’s contract.” – Boston Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty
So what separates Jeremy Smith from his internal competitors? At 26 years of age, Smith has more experience at the AHL level and is more likely to stay up with the big club due to the simple notion that Subban and McIntyre will need to play games on a more consistent basis to further develop and experience being a starter in the AHL; something that Smith has already done.
Malcolm Subban and Zane McIntyre also have two years left on their contracts ($925, 000 and $863, 333 respectively). The Boston Bruins are going to take their time in developing these two netminders and will not be rushing the process. This is why Smith seems to be the sure choice to be Boston’s backup, just as long as he doesn’t get completely outplayed in training camp.
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I believe that, if Jeremy Smith has a successful year as the Bruins backup, GM Don Sweeney should sign him again, possibly to a two year contract depending on the development of his two younger goaltenders. However, that will only be the case if Smith can maintain the roster position that he is given. “Somebody has to step up and grab that role.” Sweeney reiterated in his press conference, also stating the fact that overrules all other factors surrounding a goalie’s worth. “When you stop pucks people notice.”
Clearly the Boston Bruins have noticed Jeremy Smith and are confident that he will continue to stop pucks in the near, and possibly long term, future. If he is up to the task to play alongside Tuukka Rask, Jeremy Smith could even go as far as to becoming the next Anton Khudobin or Chad Johnson. Then, he could really get noticed.