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SMITH GETTING INTEREST

The Senators needed forward Zack Smith back from injury and they were happy to have him return to the lineup, but he’ll be a subject of interest before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 26.

Photo by Julie Oliver / Postmedia

Seemingly all the talk has surrounded the future of winger Mike Hoffman because the Senators have had lots of calls about the high-scoring winger. Make no mistake, though, Smith is a valuable commodity, too, and several teams have held talks with the Senators about him.

With a cap hit of $3.25 million through 2020-21, there are a lot of teams looking for the type of grit Smith provides. He isn’t afraid to play with an edge and if the Senators do decide the road they want to retool, then he’s the type of player who could bring a prospect plus pick in return.

There are teams in the Western Conference, including the Calgary Flames, who wouldn’t mind adding a guy like Smith.

THE LAST WORDS

Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, who attended the world junior championship before returning Friday, told TSN radio in Buffalo there had been a number of issues with his struggling club, including goaltending. “It’s a bunch of things,” Dorion said. “Obviously, we’re not getting the level of goaltending we had last year, and that’s not just on the goalies. It’s the whole team sometimes giving up quality scoring chances. We’re not scoring as much as we were last year and we seem to find a way to lose more when last year we were find ways to win.” … Hoffman will suit up for his 300th NHL game when the Senators face the Lightning on Saturday night … Giving up the first goal 21 times this season has made life difficult for the Senators. “First of all it’s confidence,” Boucher said. “You have more of a tendency to be on the attack rather than be on your heels. You know, if you get scored on, you’re another goal away, and, when it’s two, the mountain starts to get bigger. When you’re a confident team, you’re a lot stronger because you know you’ll get it back. Because it’s been tougher, that confidence you have to rebuild.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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