Wyatt Smith

It is not often a 233rd overall draft pick plays one game in the NHL, let alone 211 games.

But that's exactly what Wyatt Smith was able to do as a journeyman center with the Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche in the early 2000s.

Journeyman is very much correct. He only scored 10 goals and 32 points in his career. He was almost strictly a 4th liner, which meant most of his time was spent on the bench, in the press box or in the minor leagues.

"He's got excellent speed and a lot of drive, and our feeling is you can't have enough guys like that on the roster," said New York Islanders pro scout Kevin Maxwell. "I'm sure he'll get a look with the big club and if he doesn't make it out of camp, Wyatt will be a top guy in Bridgeport who'll be a very effective call-up for us when we need someone on the third and fourth lines. Everyone he has worked with raves about his attitude."

Good call by Maxwell as Smith did get a good look with the Islanders - 42 games in 2005-06. Unfortunately Maxwell never mentions anything about his offensive ability. Perhaps that should have also been telling - Smith went goal-less that season with the Islanders!

After four years at the University of Minnesota, Smith broke in with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons in 1999-00 and has totaled 396 points (162-234-396) in 550 regular-season AHL games with Springfield, Milwaukee, Bridgeport, Houston, Lake Erie, Norfolk, San Antonio, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Providence.

He was a member of Milwaukee’s 2004 Calder Cup championship squad.