AUSTIN, MN – According to multiple reports, former Bruins forward C.J. Smith has signed an entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, making him the third Bruins alumnus to sign an NHL deal. If Smith suits up for the Sabres, he’ll become the second former Bruin (Christian Folin) to appear in an NHL game.
Smith, 22 years old, just finished up his Junior season with the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks, where he put up 51 points in 41 games. His college career has been productive from the start – he led the River Hawks in scoring in his freshman season of 2014-15 and did so against as a Sophomore. Altogether, he has notched 125 points in 120 career college games.
The Des Moines, IA native was a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award for best college hockey player this past season for a UMass-Lowell squad that just missed out on the Frozen Four, losing to Notre Dame in overtime this past weekend at the NCAA Northeast Regional Final in Manchester, NH. Prior to the NCAA Tournament, Smith was named the MVP of the Hockey East Tournament, in which the River Hawks were champions.
Smith is the Bruins single-season record holder for goals in a season, scoring 30 in 2012-13. He played in Austin from 2011 to 2013 before splitting the ’13-14 campaign between the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks and Chicago Steel.
The Buffalo Sabres host the New York Islanders at 2:00 PM CT on Sunday afternoon.
