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Brendan Smith (hip) returned to action Monday against the Maple Leafs, logging 25:57 of ice time.

Smith (hip) returned to action Monday against the Maple Leafs, logging 25:57 of ice time.

Analysis:

Almost 10 minutes of Smith's time came on the penalty kill, a unit coach Mike Babcock expects him to be a fixture on this season. While not a premier blueline scorer, Smith did manage to pot five goals to along with 14 assists in 71 games, proving he does have some puck-moving ability. As he prepares for his third NHL season, it wouldn't be inconceivable for Smith to take a decent-sized jump in scoring this season, though he's unlikely to usurp Niklas Kronwall as the team's top point-getter on defense.

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