Hurricanes’ Givani Smith fighting hard for a contract, place to play

Givani Smith needed one word Tuesday to describe his hockey career.

“Rough,” he said.

As a junior player, the forward twice led the Ontario Hockey League in penalty minutes. Since turning professional in 2018-19, he has played with four NHL teams and four American Hockey League teams, earning a reputation at each stop as a tough, give-no-quarter customer on the ice.

Without a contract heading into this season, Smith came to the Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout contract (PTO), hoping to play his way on to someone’s roster. So far, after the Canes’ five preseason exhibition games, he’s still on the camp roster.

The Canes made a major cutdown to 26 players on Tuesday, and Smith was around for the team practice at Invisalign Arena. Among those assigned to the Chicago Wolves: forward Bradly Nadeau, a former first-round draft pick by Carolina who had had a strong, productive camp and given the chance to play in the first five preseason games. Another former first-rounder, center Ryan Suzuki, was placed on waivers for the purpose of going to Chicago.

Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said assigning Nadeau to the Wolves was a difficult one, even for a team that seemed set at the forward position when camp began.

“It was tough, yeah, because we’d love to keep him here but you’ve also got to figure out what makes sense,” Brind’Amour said Tuesday. “You can see we have lots of forwards, so it wouldn’t make sense at this point. He’s obviously developing really well and we’ll obviously keep an eye on him.”

Tough-minded Smith survives

Two other PTO hopefuls, forward Kevin Labanc and defenseman Oliver Kylington, are gone but Smith remains.

Asked Tuesday about his mindset coming to camp, Smith said, “It’s about how I can be useful for this team going forward. Some things I can control easily and it’s being physical, finishing checks and keeping it plain and simple. And that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Physical? That’s Smith. The Toronto native, 27, is listed at 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds, and at times can look like a linebacker wearing No. 42 on the ice. He does not shy from contact and twice had seven hits in preseason games.

In the Canes’ first preseason game, against Tampa Bay, Smith dropped the gloves to have a go with the Lightning’s Conor Geekie. Against the Florida Panthers, he slugged it out with Ben Harpur, a 6-8 defenseman, in a big-boy duel that ended with Smith on top of Harpur along the boards.

More than an enforcer

Smith scored a goal Friday in the game at Tampa Bay, going to to front of the net and finishing while also assisting on a Nadeau goal. In four games, he had two goals and the assist.

“In Smith’s case, it’s a guy trying to make a squad and showing what he can do, and in the four games he has played he’s done a pretty good job,” Brind’Amour said Tuesday. “There’s no reason to not keep him around for another look kind of thing.”

It was mentioned to Brind’Amour after one preseason game that his PTO players were fighting hard for jobs and contracts.

“Literally,” he said.

Smith fits with Canes style

Smith said he has carried a combative nature onto the ice for games since he was 12 and never really changed. He made his NHL debut in October 2019 with the Detroit Red Wings, who drafted him in the second round in 2016. He has since played for the Panthers, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche – 168 NHL games total – while moving back and forth through AHL teams.

Smith said each stop along the way has provided new experiences and been worthwhile, and said he likes the Hurricanes’ constant-pressure, in-your-face kind of game.

“The style of play, the north/south, the forechecking fits my game,” he said.

Defensemen Jaccon Slavin, Jalen Chatfield and K’Andre Miller were all at practice Tuesday – Slavin in a yellow, no-contact jersey. None have played in a preseason game and have been limited in practice time, one reason the Canes kept defenseman Charles Alexis Legault in camp for now.

The Canes had three goalies at practice: Frederik Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov and Cayden Primeau. Brind’Amour said no decision had been made on whether the Canes, who have had goaltending injury issues the past few seasons, will carry three goalies on the roster.

The Hurricanes have a final preseason game Saturday at Nashville, then will gear up for the Oct. 9 season opener against the New Jersey Devils at Lenovo Center.

Hurricanes personnel moves

Tuesday

Assigned to Chicago Wolves (AHL): Goaltender Nikita Quapp; forwards Bradly Nadeau, Justin Robidas, Ivan Ryabkin, Gleb Trikozov and Felix Unger Sorum; and defensemen Bryce Montgomery and Joel Nystrom

Placed on waivers for the purpose of assigning to Chicago: Forwards Noel Gunler, Tyson Jost, Josiah Slavin and Ryan Suzuki, and defenseman Gavin Bayreuther.

Released from PTO contracts: Forward Kevin Labanc and defenseman Oliver Kylington.

Hurricanes’ Givani Smith fighting hard for a contract, place to play

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