Nathan Smith is ready to get back to it.
The 23-year-old forward has spent the offseason recovering from ankle surgery, and though his original goal was to be ready for training camp, he's trending ahead of schedule and may even be ready for rookie camp in mid-September.
That's the best possible news for Smith, who appeared in 10 games with the Coyotes last season after he was
acquired from the Winnipeg Jets
in March. He scored his first-career goal against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 20 -- his fifth game with Arizona -- and finished the season with two goals and two assists.
That taste of life in the NHL has served as additional motivation to get back on the ice.
Smith Sets Sights on Training Camp as Offseason Winds Down
Coyotes forward hopes to use lessons learned during first 10 NHL games to jumpstart 2022-23 season