April 11: The Coyotes have officially announced the contract, with general manager Bill Armstrong releasing the following statement:
We are very pleased to sign Nate to a two-year contract. Nate was one of the best forwards in the NCAA this season and helped lead Minnesota State to the Frozen Four championship game. We are very excited to have him join our organization.
April 10: Back at the trade deadline, the Coyotes received a promising prospect in exchange for taking on the remainder of Bryan Little’s contract. That prospect was center Nathan Smith and CapFriendly reports (Twitter link) that Smith has decided to turn pro and has signed a two-year, entry-level deal that will begin this season. The deal carries an AAV of $1.35MM with bonuses and breaks down as follows:
- 2021-22: $750K salary, $92.5K signing bonus, $82.5K games played bonus
- 2022-23: $832.5K salary, $92.5K signing bonus, $850K Class ’A’ bonuses
The 23-year-old was a third-round pick of Winnipeg back in 2018 (91st overall) but had recently informed the Jets that he didn’t want to sign him which is why he was moved at the deadline. Smith had quite an impressive season with Minnesota State, leading the Mavericks in scoring with 19 goals and 31 assists in 50 games. He would have had a chance at the NCAA scoring title had it not been for the Olympics as he suited up for the United States in that event, recording a goal and an assist in four games.
Smith was actually eligible to opt for free agency this summer even though he had only completed his junior year of college as he stayed in the USHL in his post-draft season, meaning four years had elapsed since he was picked. That gave him enough leverage to get the Coyotes to burn the first year of his deal now so he will have an opportunity to get his feet wet at the NHL level and make a push for a full-time spot with Arizona for next season.
The property of the college player needs to be abolished. It’s a joke. Sets a bad precedent. If you are drafted at 18,they should own your rights for 5 years if you choose college. If you come out early,then the entry level contract starts. It’s not fair to the NHL clubs as they wait until late August to decide which route they are taking. This clown forced Winnipeg to trade him. Enjoy another college sized home crowd for 3 more years.
Great point. These kids should have no say in where they work. Guessing that you don’t want the same rules in your life.
This “clown” didn’t even learn how to play ice hockey until he was 11 years old. To think he was trying to get over on an NHL team, when he had only played the game for 7 years when he was drafted, is pretty asinine. And he’s not from Tampa, he’s from Hudson, Florida. It’s a real Mecca for ice hockey, with those 90° winter days and all. He’s a very humble kid from a good family, why not just be happy for him?
All this over a 19 year old college kid from Tampa.
ive never been able to quite understand why the NHL does the draft like they do and giving certain kids so much power over others. I know they don’t have a transfer agreement, but why, for example, does is KHL draftee always tied to their drafting club. imo, the NHL needs to just tear up the script and start again. the whole system is convoluted and silly.
Boomer sports fans get bitter when players refuse to play for a losing franchise. That’s pretty funny