With August just about here, we have seen the majority of this year's NHL unrestricted free agents (UFAs) get signed. As a result of this, things around the league have naturally slowed down, which is a common occurrence during this part of the summer.
While this is the case, former Chicago Blackhawks forward Craig Smith is among this year's UFAs who have still not been signed by a new team just yet.
This is certainly a different story than it was for Smith this past year, as he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blackhawks on the first day of free agency last off-season. However, it is taking the veteran winger a little more time to get his next deal this year.
While Smith remains unsigned at this juncture of the summer, the possibility of this changing is certainly there. The 35-year-old's solid two-way play and high amount of experience could make him a nice addition for a team looking to add to their forward depth. Thus, it would not be particularly surprising if he landed a one-year deal or professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL club before training camp if he wishes to continue his career.
In 40 games with the Blackhawks this past season, Smith recorded nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, and a minus-2 rating. His time with the Blackhawks ended at the 2025 trade deadline when he and goaltender Petr Mrazek were dealt to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Joe Veleno.
Blackhawks Forward Is Extension Candidate To WatchThe Chicago Blackhawks will have several players in the final year of their contracts during the 2025-26 season. Due to this, there is certainly a chance that we could see them sign some of their players to contract extensions, whether that is this off-season or during the 2025-26 campaign.
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