Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz called out Craig Smith and Sergei Kostitsyn for their lack of production this season.

"We expected production from Sergei and Craig Smith and we got none," Trotz said. "Both those guys, we were looking at them to be top-six, top-seven forwards and we got no production." Ouch. Smith finished with four goals and 12 points while Kostitsyn scored three goals and 15 points. Both were pretty big disappointments for a Predators team that finished tied for last in the NHL in scoring with 2.27 goals per game.

Nashville's Craig Smith registered a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss to Detroit Thursday.

Smith has generally been disappointing this year after a promising rookie campaign in 2011-12, but a strong finish could generate some momentum heading to next year. Mike Fisher also picked up a goal and an assist in the losing effort.

Craig Smith has completed his AHL conditioning assignment.

Smith has a goal and five points in four AHL contests this season. He also has three goals and nine points in 30 contests with the Nashville Predators.

Nashville has demoted Craig Smith to the AHL for a conditioning assignment.

He has generated three goals and nine points in 30 games this season, while averaging 13:37 of ice time per contest.

Predators winger Craig Smith finally recorded his first point of the season with an assist in a 2-1 loss to Minnesota Saturday night.

Smith has struggled mightily this season after a promising rookie campaign in 2011-12 that saw him post a respectable 36 points in 72 games. Unfortunately, a deeper look into the stats doesn't give us a lot to get excited about, as the sophomore has garnered only 14 shots on goal in 11 contests while averaging just 11:36 of ice time. Look elsewhere for a sleep until the young center begins trending upwards again.

Although he has yet to record a point this season, Craig Smith is starting to make some progress.

In addition to notching five shots on goal in the contest, Smith scored the shootout-winning goal to win the game. The fact that he was selected by coach Barry Trotz to participate in the shootout is an indication that he still has faith in the sophomore. With Patric Hornqvist on the sidelines, Smith may be counted on more than usual and based on his stats there won't be a better time to buy-low.

Craig Smith played a total of one shift over the final two periods of the Predators' 3-2 loss to Anaheim Saturday.

"He's got to play better," coach Barry Trotz said. "He has to be better on the wall - way too many turnovers, so I didn't play him. He wasn't ready, plain and simple." That isn't an encouraging description of the young forward's play, but the this could serve as the low point of the season for Smith, who should be counted on more in the absence of the injured Patric Hornqvist.

The Predators' Craig Smith is likely to be a focal point of the Nashville offense this season.

Smith burst out of the gates with 25 points in his first 38 games last season before finishing with only 11 over his final 34, but he believes his focus on conditioning will help avoid a similar fate. Coach Barry Trotz is optimistic as well, saying "He's got that extra gear. I think Craig, his second year, you want more from him." Despite not being a highly-drafted player, Smith could lead the Preds in scoring this season.

Craig Smith made the decision to come back to North America for training purposes, according to agent Kevin Magnuson.

Smith had four goals and eight points in eight games with KalPa Kuopio of the SM-liiga. "Although he was enjoying his experience, and doing quite well on the ice, he feels that skating and training in Madison is the best option for him to prepare for the upcoming season," Magnuson said. "The Kalpa team and management could not have been better and Craig is very appreciative for the opportunity to have the tremendous life experience that he did." Magnuson added that Smith isn't suffering from an injury.

Craig Smith is leaving KalPa of the SM-liiga and returning back to North America for personal reasons.

Obviously there is no word on what the personal reasons are, but Smith is leaving the team that is partially owned by Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen and former NHLer Sami Kapanen. Smith had four goals and eight points in eight games for the Finnish squad.