Senators sign forward Zack Smith to four-year extension worth US$13 million
OTTAWA — Zack Smith has been making the most of his offensive opportunities with the Ottawa Senators, but general manager Pierre Dorion is happy the forward has kept some of his checking-line edge.
The Senators signed Smith to a four-year contract extension worth US$13 million on Monday. Dorion lauded Smith’s ability to score big goals, but also pointed to some of Smith’s less glamorous qualities as reasons he earned a deal worth $3.25 million per year.
“Any time there’s a scrum he punched people in the head. I like that,” Dorion said Monday on a conference call. “Our penalty killing has improved a lot this year. A lot of that goes on our coaching staff but a lot of it goes on our players, and Zack is an important part of our penalty kill.”
Smith set career highs with 25 goals and 36 points last season after being given more opportunities on the Senators’ top two lines and power play. The 28-year-old is on pace to set a new career standard with 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 43 games, including two goals in Ottawa’s wild 7-6 overtime loss to Columbus on Sunday.