Devante Smith-Pelly

Devante Smith-Pelly
Devante Smith-Pelly
Born	June 14, 1992 (age 34); Canada
Occupation	Professional ice hockey winger (retired)
Years active	2008–2022
Known for	Stanley Cup champion (2018)

Devante Malik Smith-Pelly (born June 14, 1992) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger. Chosen 42nd overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Smith-Pelly was recognized as a power forward distinguished by his physical play and aggressive forechecking. He captured the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018.

Junior

Smith-Pelly launched his major junior hockey journey in the 2008–09 season with the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), tallying 25 points across 57 games. During the 2009 postseason, he netted a triple-overtime game-winner that eliminated the Barrie Colts in the conference quarterfinals. The next year saw him elevate his performance to 62 points over 60 contests, culminating in his selection by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 NHL Draft.

In his third year in the OHL, Smith-Pelly achieved a personal best with 36 goals and a total of 66 points over 67 games. He added 21 points in 20 playoff appearances as the Majors fell to the Owen Sound Attack in the Finals. Hosting the 2011 Memorial Cup, Mississauga advanced to the championship game but were defeated 3–1 by the Saint John Sea Dogs. Smith-Pelly contributed six points in five tournament games and earned a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team.

Professional

Despite being eligible for another OHL season in 2011–12, Smith-Pelly secured a position on the Anaheim Ducks’ roster following training camp. He amassed five points in his initial 26 games before being loaned to Canada’s national junior team in December 2011.

In his first full NHL campaign during 2014–15, Smith-Pelly recorded 17 points over 54 games with Anaheim before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens on February 24, 2015, in exchange for Jiří Sekáč.

Smith-Pelly began the 2015–16 season strongly with Montreal amid a franchise-record nine-game winning streak but was dealt to the New Jersey Devils on February 29, 2016, for Stefan Matteau. On July 1, 2016, he agreed to a two-year contract extension valued at $2.6 million with New Jersey. Following a downturn in his performance during the subsequent season, he was placed on waivers and subsequently bought out of his contract on June 30, 2017.

On July 3, 2017, Smith-Pelly signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $650,000 with the Washington Capitals. In February 2018, he was subjected to a racist chant at Chicago’s United Center; those responsible received lifetime bans while both the NHL and Blackhawks condemned the incident. Smith-Pelly contributed seven goals throughout the Capitals’ playoff run, including a crucial tying goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Marc-André Fleury, aiding Washington in securing their inaugural NHL championship. He became only the second player with a hyphenated last name to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

During the 2018–19 season, Smith-Pelly served primarily on Washington’s fourth line with inconsistent offensive output (eight points in 54 games). He was placed on waivers in February 2019 and assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, before being recalled for playoff duty due to an injury sustained by T. J. Oshie.

As a free agent facing limited NHL opportunities, Smith-Pelly inked a one-year contract on October 25, 2019, with HC Kunlun Red Star of China competing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In that season’s KHL campaign, he contributed eight goals and three assists across 36 games while fulfilling a checking-line role.

Amidst pandemic-related delays during the 2020–21 season, Smith-Pelly returned to North America by signing a professional tryout agreement with the Ontario Reign (AHL), affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, on March 13, 2021. While playing for Ontario, he became part of the team’s inaugural all-Black forward line alongside Quinton Byfield and Akil Thomas.

Smith-Pelly formally retired from professional hockey on December 30, 2022.

International competition

Smith-Pelly made his first appearance for Hockey Canada at the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, contributing three assists across six matches representing Team Ontario and playing a role in securing the gold medal.

In his debut NHL season, the Anaheim Ducks assigned him to the Canada men's national junior ice hockey team for the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was one of just two NHL players loaned to the squad (the other being Brett Connolly) and took on the role of an alternate captain. In the opening match versus Finland, Smith-Pelly suffered a fracture in his left foot while blocking a shot. Opting to remain with the national team instead of returning to Anaheim for treatment, he observed Canada clinch the bronze medal and earned a medal as part of the roster.

Personal background

Following the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup victory, Smith-Pelly, along with two teammates, chose not to participate in the customary White House visit as a protest against Donald Trump's political statements.

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season

Playoffs

Season

Team

League

GP

G

A

Pts

PIM

GP

G

A

Pts

PIM

2008–09

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

OHL

57

13

12

25

24

11

2

3

5

4

2009–10

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

OHL

60

29

33

62

35

16

8

6

14

20

2010–11

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

OHL

67

36

30

66

50

20

15

6

21

16

2011–12

Anaheim Ducks

NHL

49

7

6

13

16

—

2011–12

Syracuse Crunch

AHL

4

0

1

2

—

2012–13

Norfolk Admirals

AHL

65

14

18

32

65

2012–13

Anaheim Ducks

NHL

7

0

Norfolk Admirals

AHL

55

27

16

43

29

—

- | 2013–14 NHL season

Anaheim Ducks

NHL

19

2

8

10

2

12

5

0

5

- style="background:#f0f0f0;" | 2014–15 NHL season | Anaheim Ducks | NHL |54 |5 |12 |17 |12 | — | — | — | — | — |- |2014–15 |Montreal Canadiens |NHL |20 |1 |2 |3 |14 |12 |1 |2 |3 |2 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2015–16 NHL season |Montreal Canadiens |NHL |46 |6 |6 |12 |22 | — | — | — | — | — |- |2015–16 |New Jersey Devils |NHL |18 |8 |5 |13 |8 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |

2016–17 NHL season | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 53 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2017–18 NHL season | Washington Capitals | NHL | 75 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 38 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 12 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" | 2018–19 NHL season | Washington Capitals | NHL | 54 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |- | 2018–19 AHL season | Hershey Bears | AHL | 20 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 2 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;"| 2019–20 KHL season| HC Kunlun Red Star| Kontinental Hockey League| 36| 8| 3| 11| 40 |- 2020–21 AHL season| Ontario Reign| AHL| 14| 0| 1| 1| 4 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;"| 2021–22 AHL season| Laval Rocket| AHL| 24| 4| 4| 8| 6| 7| 0| 0| 0| 4 |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals !395 !44 !57 !101 !137 !51 !13 !3 !16 !38 |}

International

Year	Team	Tournament	Outcome	GP	A	Pts	PIM
2009	Canada Ontario	U17	Template:Gold1	6	3	3	4
2012	Canada	WJC	Template:Bronze3	1	0	0	0
Junior totals				7	3	3	4

Awards and honours

Award	Year
OHL
All-Star Game participant	2010
CHL Top Prospects Game selection	2010
CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team member	2011
NHL
Stanley Cup winner	2018