Arizona Coyotes' Mike Smith hasn't considered waiving no-trade clause

Coyotes goalie Mike Smith wondered if he’d actually earned the recognition.

That was his initial thought, when he was told he’d be starring in his first All-Star Game on Sunday at Staples Center in Los Angeles as the team’s lone representative.

Do I really deserve it this year?

His .917 save percentage ranks 23rd, while the 2.85 goals-against average he carries sits 39th. Only seven netminders have suffered more than his 18 combined losses – 13 in regulation and five in extra time – and 28 have surpassed his 11 wins.

The majority of those players weren’t named to the All-Star Game, with the bulk of the guest list reading like a potential Vezina Trophy ballot.

Carey Price. Devan Dubnyk. Braden Holtby.

“When you think of All-Star appearances, you think of having stellar numbers and tons of wins,” Smith said. “I don’t think that’s the case necessarily this year. But I know one thing, consistency-wise, I think I’ve played some of the most consistent hockey that I’ve played in my career.”

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At the age of 34 and in the midst of his 11th NHL season, Smith has emerged as an unlikely All-Star, but perhaps the most logical choice for a team that – until lately – has struggled to score and defend while nose-diving toward its fifth straight non-playoff finish.

This slide, especially after an active offseason that ushered in loftier in-house expectations, has been frustrating for Smith, who realizes the chance to hoist a Stanley Cup shrinks with every save he logs.

And although it sounds like he'd merit intrigue from other teams if he became available, Smith hasn’t considered waiving his no-trade clause to potentially explore a new opportunity elsewhere and is optimistic about his future with the Coyotes.

“Obviously, everyone wants to be in a position to win and get in the playoffs and be a competitive team and that’s no different for me,” he said. “I think I want to be in a position to have a chance to win before my career’s over, but I feel like this is moving in the right direction. Things can turn around fairly quickly here. I want to be a big part of that.”

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No regrets

Smith signed a six-year, $34 million contract in June 2013 – the longest and most lucrative commitment of his career.

The deal contained a no-movement clause through the first three years and a no-trade clause through the latter three.

“I haven’t even – I haven’t gone there,” he said about whether or not he’s thought about waiving the clause. “I haven’t gone there.”

Would he?

"I don’t know," he said. "I’m happy.”

Landing with the Coyotes positioned Smith as an outright No. 1 after mostly splitting playing time at his previous NHL stops. And it gave him stability, another key factor for the father of four.

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“To sign a long-term deal at that time with young kids, to be in one place for a longer period of time and to call a place home, I think was as important as believing in what we were doing here,” Smith said. “I don’t regret that for a second. I think it set me up to play a lot of games.

“I’ve been fortunate that Arizona took a chance on me to even get me here to start with, and I’ve been able to evolve as a goalie and person in Arizona and call it home now. Three of my four kids are born here, so I think it’s a special place in my heart. I don’t regret signing a long-term deal here.”

What’s been missing, though, ever since Smith signed that contract is the chance to win a Cup.

Not only have the Coyotes not advanced to the playoffs since 2012, but they also haven’t posted more wins than losses (regulation and extra time) in any of those seasons – a lengthy funk that seems to especially wear on Smith.

“His competitiveness is so evident,” said former teammate and longtime Stars goalie Marty Turco. “He wears his heart on his sleeve when he plays, and that’s just the kind of guy he is.”

Focused on Arizona

Should Smith’s desire to be back in the hunt soon push him to reconsider his comfort zone, he might have options.

Multiple league sources felt he could elicit interest from other clubs.

“If you look at some of the teams that are fighting for playoff spots or are going to go into the playoffs, there’s a few situations that are very tenuous out there with their goaltending,” one source said. “The question is you’re taking on a contract. You’re not taking on a rental.”

A yearly cap hit of $5.67 million could make buyers hesitant, and it was unclear what Smith would fetch on the open market for the Coyotes. But the intrigue seemed to exist.

“There are some teams that are struggling just a little bit trying to get in that they might like that,” another source said.

Smith said the Coyotes haven’t inquired about his no-trade clause, and General Manager John Chayka said he hasn’t received calls on Smith, with his belief teams have recognized there’s no point in even asking about Smith’s availability.

“We’re trying to grow, and he’s a key cog of that growth for us,” Chayka said. “Wayne Gretzky was traded. At the same time, (Smith's) an important piece for our organization. There’s no discussion on him.”

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Although that progress has been slow to surface this season, it hasn’t stalled Smith’s hope that the improvement he’s noticed in the last month-and-a-half can continue. Since Dec. 1, the team has banked 19 of its 38 points.

“It’s frustrating when you’re not winning and you’re going on slides and you feel like your team is not getting any better,” he said. “Now, as of late, I’ve seen a lot bigger change.”

Much of that evolution depends on factors outside of Smith’s control – like the development of the team’s youth, contributions from the established 20-somethings and successful additions by management (either via free agency, trade or the draft).

But he’s an advocate for the process, one that he believes can deliver the postseason payoff he’s seeking.

“I just hope that I’m still around here when this team catches fire and is a playoff team,” he said. “I think there’s definitely hope in the near future to be that team, and I just hope I’m a big part of that.”

Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.