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Former Lightning goalie Mike Smith rejuvenated in Calgary

 
Published Jan. 27, 2018|Updated Jan. 28, 2018

Mike Smith wasn't Brad Richards.

Nor, as a goaltender, could he be.

But when you're the biggest piece coming back in a five-player trade that involves a former Conn Smythe trophy winner, you're expected to make up much of the difference.

And for Smith, in only his second year in the league, the expectations were overwhelming.

Smith won 43 games over parts of four seasons with the Lightning before signing a free-agent deal with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2011. But he didn't become the long-term solution in net the Lightning had sought since losing Nikolai Khabibulin to free agency after its 2003-04 Stanley Cup season.

"They traded me for arguably one of the best players in the league at the time in Brad Richards, and the expectation was pretty high," Smith said of the 2008 trade that sent him, along with Jeff Halpern and Jussi Jokinen to the Lightning from the Dallas Stars for Richards and Johan Holmqvist.

"It didn't work out here, but it would have been easy to kind of feel sorry for yourself and let it affect you. I'd be lying if I said it didn't. It definitely wore on me for a bit.  But I found a way to kind of break through and learn how to handle all those situations, and I'm still improving to this day."

So much so, that he is appearing in his second straight All-Star Game.

After representing the Coyotes last season, Smith was traded to the Calgary Flames over the summer. In 41 starts this season, he has compiled a 20-13 record with six overtime losses, a 2.39 goals-against average and .926 save percentage for the Flames, currently third in the Pacific Division.

"It's been great," Smith said. "It's been rejuvenating for myself. My family's enjoyed the transition to a colder climate, and the team's been great. It's been an unbelievable group to play behind, and I'm at a time in my career when winning matters and going to the rink every day knowing the fans are as passionate about the game as you are means a lot. Every day I put the skates on at the Saddledome is a great day, and it's been really enjoyable so far."

Smith said he has fond memories of his time in Tampa playing alongside Marty St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier, Ryan Malone, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Teddy Purcell, among others.

He credited St. Louis with helping him through some difficult times during his first few years in the league.

"Just being around Stanley Cup winners, Vinny and Marty, I learned a lot from them away from the rink about being a leader," Smith said. "I don't think at the time you soak it in as much as you probably should have, but I remember having some really good talks with Marty St. Louis and going through some disturbing times and him always being there to lift your spirits and he was such a great leader and a great teammate. Being able to play with guys like that, you cherish that now as you get older, and I really enjoyed my time here."

Smith now looks back on his time with the Lightning as a crucial part of his development.

"My game's come a long ways since then," he said. "Looking back,you'd like to think it would have come together a lot quicker than it has for me, but I really believe everything happens for a reason. Every experience I've been through in my career, I've learned from in some shape or form, and Tampa was another instance of that."