GIVANI SMITH NEWS

No clear path to playing time Smith has been scratched for six of the Sharks' first eight games in November after sitting out Monday's 5-4 overtime win over the Red Wings.

Impact The winger has just four appearances this season, earning no points with seven hits, 10 PIM, three blocked shots, two shots on goal and a minus-1 rating. Smith will likely have to wait for injuries to pop up before he'd have a chance at a steady spot in the lineup, and even then it's not a guarantee. The 26-year-old plays on the fourth line when he draws in, and his career high of seven points gives him minimal upside for any fantasy format.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Healthy scratch Saturday Smith (illness) will be a healthy scratch Saturday versus Anaheim, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Smith sat out the Sharks' season-opening overtime loss to St. Louis on Thursday due to an illness. Now that he's healthy, he could be in the mix for fourth-line action. Smith recorded four points, 40 PIM and 87 hits in 36 appearances during the 2023-24 regular season.

OCTOBER 12 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Thursday Smith (illness) isn't available for Thursday's game against St. Louis, per Max Miller of NHL.com.

Impact Smith's next opportunity to play will come Saturday against Anaheim. He had a goal, four points, 40 PIM and 88 hits across 36 regular-season games with San Jose in 2023-24. Smith might serve in a fourth-line capacity once he has recovered, though the 26-year-old isn't a lock to be in the lineup when he's healthy.

OCTOBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Under the weather Smith is dealing with an illness that kept him off the ice Tuesday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Smith has some time to get healthy ahead of the Sharks' Opening Night clash with the Blues on Thursday. Even if the winger is fit enough to play, he is far from a lock for the lineup and could find himself watching from the press box in favor of Danil Gushchin and Ty Dellandrea.

OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Snags helper in loss Smith posted an assist in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Islanders.

Impact Smith picked up his first point in five games since he returned from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for two months. The 26-year-old winger has four points, 27 shots on net, 70 hits, 33 PIM and a minus-8 rating over 31 appearances. Smith's played almost exclusively on the fourth line and offers almost no upside for fantasy managers.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to return Saturday Smith (lower body) will be activated off injured reserve and play Saturday versus Nashville, coach David Quinn told Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News on Wednesday.

Impact Smith is set to play for the first time since Dec. 21. He has a goal, three points, 33 PIM and 59 hits in 26 contests this season. Smith will likely serve on the fourth line Saturday.

FEBRUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Still sidelined Smith (lower body) won't play Thursday against Calgary, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Smith is evidently nearing a return to full health, but he'll remain on injured reserve for now. He's picked up just three points through 26 contests this season, so fantasy managers don't need to track his status.

FEBRUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Could play Thursday Smith (lower body) may be available for Thursday's game versus the Flames, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Smith has been out since Dec. 23, though he joined the Sharks on their current road trip. His return is apparently close, but he's unlikely to see more than a fourth-line role if he gets into the lineup at all once activated from injured reserve.

FEBRUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Return isn't imminent Although Smith (lower body) did skate Saturday, he's not close to returning, coach David Quinn told Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Impact Smith, who hasn't played since Dec. 21, has a goal, three points, 33 PIM and 45 hits in 26 contests this season. When Smith is an option, he will compete for a fourth-line spot and might also occasionally serve as a healthy scratch.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Goes on injured reserve Per Max Miller of The Hockey News, Smith (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Thursday.

Impact Smith was injured Dec. 21 versus Arizona and his status will likely be retroactive to that date. Smith has gone 11 games without a point and has a goal, two assists, 45 hits and 33 PIM in 26 games this season.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sidelined again Wednesday Smith (lower body) won't play Wednesday versus the Kings, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Smith was hurt last Thursday and his absence will now reach two games. The 25-year-old should be considered questionable at best for Thursday's contest versus the Oilers.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Unavailable Saturday Smith (lower body) won't play Saturday against the Canucks, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Impact Smith, who is considered day-to-day, was injured in Thursday's 5-2 loss to Arizona. In 26 appearances this season, he has registered three points, 33 PIM, 27 shots on goal and 45 hits. With Alexander Barabanov (illness) also unavailable to play, Jacob MacDonald could shift back to forward for Saturday's contest.

DECEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hurt in Thursday's game Smith (undisclosed) won't return to Thursday's game versus the Coyotes, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Smith was hurt in the second period on a hit from Matt Dumba in the neutral zone. The 25-year-old Smith has filled a fourth-line role for most of the time he's in the lineup, so his absence won't make waves in fantasy. If he misses time, Alexander Barabanov is likely to return to the lineup.

DECEMBER 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Good to go Friday Smith (abdomen) is in Friday's lineup against the Devils, per the NHL's media site.

Impact Smith was a game-time call Friday but he won't be forced to miss any action despite dealing with a minor injury. The 25-year-old has three points, 29 PIM and 35 hits through 21 games this season.

DECEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Game-time decision Friday Smith has a mid-body injury and a decision on if he will be in the lineup, will be made after the pregame skate Friday versus New Jersey, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Smith was injured Thursday in Boston and it may have occurred during his fight with Trent Frederic late in the second period, as he did not play in the third. Smith has a goal, two assists, 29 PIM and 35 hits in 21 games this season.

DECEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Collects pair of points Smith scored a goal on three shots, dished an assist, added two hits and went plus-2 in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Blues.

Impact Smith has three points on the year, all of which have come over the last two games. His second-period goal was his first as a Shark. The 25-year-old has added 24 shots on net, 22 PIM, 25 hits and a minus-3 rating while playing in a fourth-line role over 15 appearances. Despite his uptick in offense, he's unlikely to sustain his scoring long enough to make an impact in fantasy.

NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Registers helper Smith earned an assist, fired two shots on goal and added two PIM in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Panthers.

Impact Smith saw just 5:55 of ice time Tuesday, but he was able to set up Mike Hoffman for a first-period goal. Entering Tuesday, Smith was averaging 8:44 of ice time per game. The 25-year-old continues to see a limited role on the fourth line, where he's contributed 23 hits, 22 PIM, 21 shots on net and a minus-5 rating through 14 appearances.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Spends time in sin bin Smith was scoreless in Friday's 3-0 road loss against the Hurricanes.

Impact Smith ended up with two shots on goal, two minor penalties, two blocked shots and a hit in his 9:53 of ice time across 14 shifts. He has very little fantasy appeal outside of the deepest pools, but he can be helpful in the PIM and hits categories.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joining San Jose Smith signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Sharks on Saturday.

Impact The Panthers elected not to qualify Smith after he logged four points (one goal, three assists) in 34 games. The 25-year-old Smith will bring a physical element to San Jose's bottom six -- he racked up 63 hits and 72 PIM last year.

JULY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hitting open market Smith was not qualified by Florida on Friday, making him an unrestricted free agent, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Smith scored four points in 36 combined games with Detroit and Florida last season. His physicality could land him a bottom-line role somewhere, as he also added 67 hits and 72 PIM.

JUNE 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Activated off LTIR Smith (face) has been activated off long-term injured reserve ahead of Tuesday night's game versus the Flyers, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.

Impact At this point, it isn't clear if Smith will play Tuesday, but if he does, look for him to slot into a bottom-six role against Philadelphia. He's picked up four points while averaging 7:08 of ice time through 24 contests this campaign.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Panthers bring 3-game win streak into matchup with the Jets

The Florida Panthers host the Winnipeg Jets with a three winning streak intact

MARCH 11, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Golden Knights bring 3-game win streak into matchup against the Panthers

The Vegas Golden Knights will try to keep their three-game win streak going when they visit the Florida Panthers

MARCH 6, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Panthers play the Predators in a non-conference matchup

The Florida Panthers and the Nashville Predators square off in an out-of-conference matchup

MARCH 1, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Placed on long-term injured reserve Smith (face) was placed on long-term injured reserve Friday, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.

Impact The Panthers are up against the cap with the return of Anthony Duclair (Achilles) to the lineup, as well as injuries to Aleksander Barkov (hand) and Sam Bennett (lower body), both of whom are unavailable Friday against Buffalo. Smith was hit in the face by a Radko Gudas shot in the second period Monday against Anaheim and had a procedure done this week, forcing him out of action until late March. The feisty forward has a goal and three assists with 47 PIM and 48 hits in 22 NHL games this season.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE