Craig Smith (ice hockey)
A relentless and versatile forward who carved out a 14-year NHL career through sheer work ethic and a consistent scoring touch.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: September 5·Millennials
Biography
Craig Smith's path to the NHL was not that of a can't-miss prospect. Drafted in the fourth round by Nashville in 2009, he arrived with a reputation for an engine that never quit. He quickly became a fixture for the Predators, a player whose value wasn't just in his reliable 20-goal seasons but in his ability to pressure defenses with his tenacious skating on every shift. His game was built on directness and a quick release, making him a constant threat from the wing. After nearly a decade in Nashville, he became a valued journeyman, bringing his brand of honest, hard-nosed hockey to Original Six franchises in Boston and Detroit, and several other clubs. Smith's career stands as a testament to the enduring power of consistency and effort, a player who maximized his tools to become an indispensable part of every lineup he joined.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Craig was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Craig Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Craig's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played over 800 regular-season games in the National Hockey League across 14 seasons.
- Recorded six seasons with 20 or more goals, showcasing consistent offensive production.
- Was a key part of the Nashville Predators' rise, playing over 600 games for the franchise.
- Reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Dallas Stars in 2020 during the league's playoff bubble.
Did You Know?
He played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2011.
Smith represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.
He scored his first NHL goal in his debut game for the Nashville Predators in 2011.
“I just try to play the same way every night, keep my feet moving.”
