By Canadian Press

Senators forward Zack Smith eager to show off his offensive flair

Oct 26, 2016 | 1:45 PM

OTTAWA — Zack Smith believed he was capable of more, but just needed an opportunity to prove it.

Last season the Ottawa Senators forward turned heads when he posted career numbers with 25 goals and 36 points. Suddenly the player known for his defensive abilities was showing an offensive flair, and this season he’s determined to prove it wasn’t an anomaly.

“I’ve always been a late bloomer in everything I’ve done so I’m 28 now and I don’t feel I’ve been playing near my best hockey yet so it’s nice to be getting better every year,” said the Maple Creek, Sask., native. “Now getting a chance to play not only regular PK, but on the power play too, which is something I haven’t had an opportunity to play in a long time. I think last year was a big step in that I can produce offensively if put in that role.”

The problem is Smith, who has played over 400 NHL games, has rarely been given offensive opportunities.

Drafted in the third round, 79th overall, by the Senators in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft as a 19-year-old, Smith made a strong first impression at his first camp and was the final cut before being assigned to the Binghamton Senators, where he had 24 goals and 48 points.

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Smith made a strong impression when recalled in January of the following season and played in all six playoff games. In 2010-11 Smith was recalled three different times, but felt his greatest development came from Binghamton’s playoff run that resulted in a Calder Cup.

“I really liked Zack as a player and a person,” said former Senators head coach Cory Clouston, who also coached Smith in Binghamton. “Zack was a third or fourth liner for me in Ottawa. He was young and wasn’t ready for top six, but in Binghamton as a rookie I used him as a top six forward.

“He scored 24 goals as a 20-year-old rookie and I saw a lot of offensive upside in him. He showed he had that potential offensively with me in Binghamton and is now starting to show it in the NHL which is great.”

In 2011 Smith signed a two-year, one-way contract, but was clearly identified as a checking centre playing mostly on the third or fourth line.

It wasn’t until last season when injuries forced then head coach Dave Cameron to do some creative juggling that Smith was given an opportunity to play with Mark Stone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

The trio had great chemistry, and Smith scored 16 of his 25 goals through the last 30 games.

“Confidence wise it was probably my biggest confidence builder since winning the Calder Cup,” Smith said. “Just a lot more confidence with the puck, a lot less second guessing myself which has been an issue with me, like with a lot of players, but you find stuff to build on and you try to keep building off that and I think last year was a big part of it.”

Early in the season Cameron had made Smith a healthy scratch and the two seemed to be at odds at times, but in Guy Boucher Smith seems to have found a fan.

“He’s one of those guys that we don’t have enough of,” Boucher said following the Senators 7-4 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes last week, mentioning Smith’s abilities on special teams, defensive responsibility and perseverance.

“He’s got an emotional part to his personality, also. The guys love him, so he’s got some leadership. He’s got so many things he brings to this team … so I really enjoy having him on the team.

“I would take three more of him.”

Through six games Smith has two goals and one assist. He started the season playing alongside Derrick Brassard and Bobby Ryan, but Tuesday was reunited with Pageau and Stone as Boucher juggled all his lines.

Smith realizes if his play slides so likely will the praise, but having Boucher’s support is refreshing.

“It seems like every time we have a new coach it takes a long time for them to have confidence in me for whatever reason that is, so it’s nice to get off to a good start with the coaches here now,” Smith said.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press