Like I said in the AHL discussion ... the ECHL is probably the best place for him. If you're truly a Smith fan, that's where you'd want him too.
At the very best, he'd get Bottom 6 minutes in Texas. There's no way he's ahead of Eakin, Vincour, Smith , Chiasson or Fraser ... all are younger than him btw. Unfortunately ... they also didn't pay Petersen, Morin, and Wathier to be grinders. They clearly think their experience can help develop the kids or they wouldn't pay them the higher AHL salaries.
Austin Smith is now likely a Top 6 winger in the ECHL .... which is an even better league this year thanks to the lockout ... instead of playing limited, 4th line minutes in the AHL. It's no different that the calls some had for Vincour to return to the AHL for prime minutes rather than playing limited minutes in the NHL. For the most part or at least IMO, you develop better playing games in all situations. Smith gets that in the ECHL.