Smoker's absence has been pretty conspicuous. He really hasn't been a big part in the story since Punk Hazard over 10 years ago.
I guess it's possible he's been "de-emphasized" because of anti-smoking reasons, but I honestly doubt it. He's apparently going to be showing up in the Live Action show. I feel like if he was really going to be "erased" from the manga, they wouldn't make him a big character in their big new project.
So, the big question is, when is he going to show up again? What is Oda saving Smoker for?
Well, we never really did find out who gave Luffy food on Egghead. Or who it was who took out the cameras on Egghead. I feel like it's possible that it could be Smoker. With Smoker's Fruit, he would actually be able to hide pretty easily on Egghead, with all the clouds and smoke being produced by the various buildings. It would make sense. I feel like this is the most likely possibility.
Also, Smoker may eventually be the one to sneak the Strawhats into Mariejois in order to meet Imu. I could see Smoker helping the Strawhats in some way, after the events of Egghead. Maybe even help lead SWORD. Because, while I'm not really sure if Akainu will actually lead a revolt against the World Government, I could see some Marines being unhappy with what they've learned. And Smoker would make a pretty compelling face for the head of SWORD, going up against the other Marines who stay loyal to the World Government. Now that Garp's captured, SWORD doesn't really have a "leader", and Smoker would make a pretty interesting replacement. And I could also see Smoker exposing the reason why CP9 rejoined the World Government after they all left. Maybe the WG has been using some sort of brain-washing on their upper members?
Alternately, and this is the most unlikely theory of them all, maybe Smoker could be the Man Marked By Flames? Now admittedly, this probably wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. The MMBF has apparently been sailing around for years hiding this last Road Poneglyph. But, I could see this being a "Dread Pirate Roberts" or "Captain of the Flying Dutchman" sort of situation, where multiple people take up the role over the years. Or maybe they get possessed by the ship, if my theory about the MMBF being the klaubatermann of the Oro Jackson could still be worked in there? Maybe Smoker is being possessed by the spirit of the Oro Jackson and being forced to sail the ship around against his will? Honestly, I can kind of see it happening, if only for the pun. Instead of "Where there's smoke there's fire", it's "Where the Man Marked By Flames goes...there's Smoker". Oda would 100% do something like this if only for the pun.
So, I don't know, there's possibilities. I do think Smoker will end up showing up again, sometime in the future, though.
