[sureLoss]

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/qa--...id/c-284803604

CALGARYFLAMES.COM: This opportunity to stay in hockey and get a front-office education must help ease things, no?

SMID: Especially earlier … it's so weird. You're on the player's side and then kind of overnight you're behind the closed door in meetings. They're talking about your former teammates and friends, but you have to cut that cord. I'm still friends with guys. But you can't tell them what's going on behind the closed door or what's said behind the closed doors. It's eye-opening. Now I see it from the other side. There is so much more that goes into things. It's really eye-opening. I'm glad that Brad gave me the opportunity to see it from the other side and see if there's a future there.

CALGARYFLAMES.COM: How do you define your role, and is it easy to?

SMID: A little bit of scouting. I've skated with the injured guys a few times. I've gone to the farm team … I really enjoy going to Stockton and working with the younger guys. I didn't play the longest in the NHL, but 10 years … you have some kind of experience and I've gone through ups and downs and through injuries. I think I can give them my input on things … especially the young guys. We have some really good prospects and they've been listening. I go on the ice with them and show them a few things. It's really a satisfying job. I like to do that. I know how hard it can be. Being young and coming from Europe it's a hard adjustment. We have a few guys like that. It's good to talk to them and give them a few things to think about. Then stuff around the locker room … talking to the trainers if there's a message to be said to players or what players need … kind of in-between the management and the player's side.

CALGARYFLAMES.COM: This time off, has it allowed you to improve physically? Are you making progress?

SMID: I feel good. The neck … it's the mental side. You have good days and then some bad days. Because I'm not taking any contact … I don't really feel any pain anymore. If I sleep funny I still feel it once in a while. Most days are pretty good. I still keep in shape. I still work out. That's what my surgeon told me … not to let myself go. I need to support my neck with muscle. I've stayed in shape. I work out almost every day. That helps the mental side, too. You get away from stuff and give yourself two hours of hard work and it's refreshing.

CALGARYFLAMES.COM: What drives you to keep pushing and keep remaining optimistic about the potential to play again?

SMID: It gives me hope. I'm not ready to call it quits yet. I know there's a big possibility that I might retire fully. But there's a chance that I might play hockey again. That's going to depend on doctors and my surgeon … if he's going to give me a green light. Until then I want to do everything I can to stay in shape, be prepared mentally for both outcomes. It kind of drives me. Going to work out, coming here … you never know. The workout part is good for me mentally, but also preparing me if I can step back on the ice. Coming here every day and being around the team and seeing the stuff on the other side prepares me for the other outcome. Either way I hope I'm going to be more ready than I would be if I didn't do anything.