This might not be the most apt time to revisit the trade that sent Reilly Smith to Florida last summer, bringing Jimmy Hayes to Boston.

After all, this has been a particularly rough stretch for Hayes, who has gone 13 games without a point, and was on the fourth line to start Thursday night’s 4-1 loss to the Panthers.

Smith, on the other hand, has 24 goals and 23 assists this season, while playing a significant role for Florida.

Hayes has 13 goals and 16 assists in 72 games. And three of those goals came Dec. 29 against Ottawa.

Hayes’s struggles have been especially noticeable at a time when the Bruins are struggling to score, with just six goals over their last five games, all losses.

“He’s played real good for us,’’ Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said of Smith. “He’s one of our better players. He’s scoring goals. He’s killing penalties for us. So he’s doing a real good job.’’

Sounds like the type of player the Bruins could use right about now.

When Smith was traded on July 1 to Florida, the move was partially made to free up some salary to fit in Matt Beleskey, who inked a deal the same day for five years with a $3.8 million cap hit.

After trading for Hayes, the Bruins gave him a three-year, $6.9 million deal.

Smith, who became a lightning rod for some Bruins fans, had been signed to a two-year extension in March worth $3.425 million annually.

That contract was signed at the end of a disappointing season for Smith, whose numbers dipped to 13 goals and 27 assists after he had 20 goals and 31 assists the previous season, his first in Boston after being included in the Tyler Seguin-Loui Eriksson deal.

“It’s business,’’ Smith said. “I didn’t really feel hurt when I got traded. I think it’s just part of what happens in this league, and you want to have a good season every year. I’ve been given a lot of opportunity here and it’s nice that I’ve been able to produce and help the team.’’

He has also been rewarded with an “A’’ in recent games. With multiple Panthers injured — captain Willie Mitchell and alternate captains Derek MacKenzie and Dave Bolland among them — Gallant has given the nod to Smith, who turns 25 on April 1.

Part of that, Gallant said, was because of Smith’s play, as he has found a home on the second line with Vincent Trocheck and Jussi Jokinen.

“He’s a character guy,’’ said Gallant, “and he’s brought a lot to our team.’’

That includes those 24 goals in a bounce-back year for Smith, who said he didn’t feel any pressure to perform for his new team, although it didn’t hurt.

“It’s obviously nice to do that and be able to at least, production-wise, be able to put up the numbers where I want it to be,’’ Smith said. “Last year was a little down, so it’s nice to jump back up.’’

Julien honored

Before the game, the Bruins honored coach Claude Julien for becoming the franchise leader in regular-season wins.

Julien passed Art Ross with a win over the Panthers on March 7, earning his 388th victory with the Bruins. He has 390 wins in 696 games.

“Ever since he came here, he kind of taught me to be a better player at both sides of the ice and really helped me develop as a leader as well off the ice,’’ Patrice Bergeron said. “He’s meant a lot to me and to a lot of guys in this dressing room. He deserves every recognition that he’s gotten over the years and probably more because he’s definitely the best coach I’ve ever had and I owe him a lot.’’

Prior to puck drop, the Bruins ran a tribute video on the scoreboard.

Broadcaster Andy Brickley moderated a ceremony on the ice with Julien, Cam Neely, Don Sweeney, and Julien’s family, with captain Zdeno Chara and alternate captains David Krejci, Chris Kelly, and Bergeron presenting Julien with a trip to Disney World. Neely also gave Julien a black-and-gold watch commemorating the event.

Included in the ceremony were tributes from Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Celtics coach Brad Stevens and former Celtics coach Doc Rivers, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona current Sox manager John Farrell, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick, along with some current NHL coaches.

“Obviously, I think, very appreciative of the Bruins organization to do that for me,’’ Julien said. “[I] was humbled by everything that happened around me, including the fans — appreciated their support. Unfortunately it’s hard to talk about right now after losing an important game like this.’’

Liles injured

Defenseman John-Michael Liles was injured in the second period, against the Panthers, coming off the ice with 2:50 left and heading down the tunnel. Liles did not return to the game because of a lower-body injury. That left the Bruins with only five defensemen for the final period . . . Tuukka Rask was asked about his health after getting the start, one day after he was pulled after the first period against the Rangers. “Good enough,’’ he said . . . The Bruins announced that defense prospect Brandon Carlo joined the Providence Bruins now that his WHL season has concluded. Carlo, 19, was selected with the 37th pick in last season’s draft . . . The Panthers came in having lost their last nine games in Boston. They had not beaten the Bruins in Boston since Dec. 8, 2011 . . . Landon Ferraro, Tyler Randell, Zach Trotman, and Joe Morrow were the Bruins’ scratches.

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @amaliebenjamin.