Reilly Smith
Smith with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018
Born (1991-04-01) April 1, 1991
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Pittsburgh Penguins
Dallas Stars
Boston Bruins
Florida Panthers
Vegas Golden Knights
NHL Draft 69th overall, 2009
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2011–present

Reilly Smith (born April 1, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Growing up in Toronto, Smith played junior hockey with St. Michael's College School before playing three seasons of NCAA Division I collegiate hockey with the Miami University's RedHawks in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). During his time in college, Smith was drafted in the third round, 69th overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Upon joining the Stars in 2012, he played one full season with the team before being included in a blockbuster trade between Dallas and the Boston Bruins, which sent him, Loui Eriksson, Joe Morrow and Matt Fraser to Boston in exchange for Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Ryan Button. After a short time in Boston, Smith joined the Florida Panthers for two seasons before landing with the Vegas Golden Knights. While with the Knights, he won the Stanley Cup in 2023, scoring the Cup-clinching goal in Game 5.

Smith was born into an athletic family; he is the younger brother of current New Jersey Devils defenceman Brendan Smith and professional lacrosse player Rory Smith.

Early life

Smith was born on April 1, 1991, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada[1] to parents Lester and Deirdre Smith.[2] Smith was born into an athletic family; his older brother Brendan Smith plays for the New Jersey Devils and his brother Rory competes in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).[3] The three all played minor hockey in the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Mimico with the Faustina Sports Club, then all played for the St. Michael's Buzzers minor juniors.[4]

Playing career

Amateur

Smith (left) with the RedHawks, February 2011

Growing up, Smith played junior hockey with the Toronto Nationals U16 AAA and St. Michael's College School in Toronto, Ontario.c While with St. Michael's, he participated in the CJHL All-Star Game and served as both captain and assistant captain during his career. In his final season with the team, Smith was named their Most Valuable Player after recording 75 points.[5] Prior to entering his freshman season with the Miami University's RedHawks, Smith won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge[6] and was drafted in the third round, 69th overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.[7]

Following the draft, Smith began his freshman season with the Redhawks in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) while majoring in sport studies.[5] Although he admitted to being shocked at the speed of collegiate hockey, Smith recorded eight goals and 20 points in 43 games.[8] During the season, he was also selected to take part in Canada's National Junior Team selection camp.[9]

Upon returning to the RedHawks for his sophomore season, Smith experienced a breakout year and recorded 54 points in 38 games.[1] While playing alongside played alongside seniors Carter Camper and Andy Miele,[10] Smith led the nation's underclassmen in goals and points while also ranking seventh overall in the country for points. As a result of his success during his sophomore year, Smith was named to the All-Florida College Classic Team, voted first team all-CCHA, named to the CCHA all-Tournament Team, College Hockey News Second-Team All-America, and INCH Third-Team All-America.[5]

Smith returned to the RedHawks for his junior year, where he recorded a career-high 30 goals in 39 games.[1] As a result of his success, Smith was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist,[11] First-Team All-America,[12] and finalist for the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Year.[13]

Professional

Dallas Stars (2012–2013)

On March 25, 2012, Smith relinquished his final year at Miami to sign a three-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars.[14] He made his NHL debut on March 28, 2012, against the Edmonton Oilers and skated for five shifts.[15] Smith played 4:05 minutes of ice time and recorded one shot on goal in the 3–1 loss.[16] He played two more games with the Stars before they concluded their regular season.[1]

After attending the Stars' 2012 training camp, Smith was reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars.[17] During his first 11 games in the AHL, he had recorded three assists.[18] He was promoted to Dallas for the season once play resumed in January 2013 and scored his first career NHL goal on February 15, 2013, against Cory Schneider of the Vancouver Canucks. His second goal came a few days later in a 4–3 loss to the Calgary Flames.[19] As a result of his early success, Smith was promoted to a top six position in February and played left wing on a line with Derek Roy and Loui Eriksson.[20] After playing in 28 games for Dallas, and recording six points, he was reassigned to the AHL alongside defenseman Joe Morrow.[21] He was recalled shortly thereafter after recording one goal and one assist during a game against the Houston Aeros.[22]

Boston Bruins (2013–2015)

Smith with the Bruins in April 2014

In July 2013, Smith was included in a blockbuster trade between Dallas and the Boston Bruins, which sent him, Loui Eriksson, Joe Morrow and Matt Fraser to Boston in exchange for Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Ryan Button.[23] During the pre-season, Smith was placed on the Bruins' third line with Chris Kelly and Carl Söderberg.[24] However, as a result of injuries, Smith was moved up to a line with Patrice Bergeron and Loui Eriksson.[25] He finished the regular season with 19 goals and 30 assists which included 17 goals and 17 assists throughout November. As a result of his success, the New England Sports Network (NESN) TV network named Smith the 45th annual "7th Player." The "7th Player" is awarded to the Boston Bruin who most exceeded all expectations that season, as voted by the team's fans.[26]

The following year, Smith finished with 13 goals and 27 assists, plus four goals and an assist in 12 playoff games.[1]

Florida Panthers (2015–2017)

On July 1, 2015, Smith was traded by the Bruins, along with Marc Savard's contract, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jimmy Hayes.[27] During his first season with the team, Smith recorded a new career high 50 points in 82 games and tied for third on the team in goal scoring. On July 3, 2016, Smith signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Panthers.[28] Following the contract extension, Smith had a self described "disappointing year" after he recorded 15 goals and 22 assists in the 2016–17 season.[29]

Vegas Golden Knights (2017–2023)

On June 21, 2017, Smith was traded at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft to the Vegas Golden Knights due to salary cap issues. Both he and teammate Jonathan Marchessault were acquired by the Golden Knights, with the Panthers receiving a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. During his tenure in Florida, Smith had 87 points in 162 games.[30] Following the trade, Smith began the 2017–18 season as a winger with William Karlsson and Marchessault. Their line received early praise for being amongst the team's best lines, with them all scoring high by November.[31] Upon entering January, Smith had become a prominent fixture on the first line as they had combined for 19 goals and 24 assists.[32] The following month, Smith was recognized as an NHL Third Star of the Month of February after posting 20 points in 14 games.[33] Smith would go on to score a career-high 60 points in the regular season as the Knights advanced all the way to the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. During their postseason run, Smith scored five goals and 17 assists.[1]

Following his career-high season, Smith stayed consistent with his offensive abilities and recorded the second-best statistical season of his career. He tied Marchessault for the team lead in assists with 34 and surpassed the 50-point mark for the second season in a row.[34] Upon returning to the Knights, Smith remained with Marchessault and Karlsson and recorded his 100th career NHL goal in a 4–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 11, 2018.[35] Later that season, he also appeared in his 500th career NHL game, while also maintaining eight points in his past three games.[36] As the Knights qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second consecutive year, Smith recorded one goal and five assists in their series against the San Jose Sharks.[34]

At the time of the pausing of the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith had scored a career high 27 goals in 71 games played. After surpassing the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Smith tied with Mark Stone for team lead in points.[37] As the playoffs continued, Smith experienced an 11 game goal drought which was snapped in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars.[38]

Following the naming of Mark Stone as team captain, Smith was appointed an alternate captain alongside Alex Pietrangelo.[39] While playing in his 628 career game, Smith recorded his first professional hat-trick in a 4–1 win over the St. Louis Blues on May 9, 2021.[40]

On July 13, 2022, Smith signed a three-year, $15 million contract to remain with the Golden Knights.[41]

By the 2022–23 season, Smith was one of six remaining original members of the Golden Knights, alongside Marchessault, Karlsson, Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore and William Carrier. The team reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time, winning the Cup over the Florida Panthers in five games. Smith and four of the other original Golden Knights started the decisive Game 5.[42]

Pittsburgh Penguins (2023–present)

On June 28, 2023, Smith was traded by the Golden Knights to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a third round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.[43] The move was precipitated by the Golden Knights' desire to retain newly-acquired forward Ivan Barbashev, with general manager Kelly McCrimmon stating "to get there, we moved Reilly to Pittsburgh to facilitate some of the other moves that we want to make."[44] During the first game of the 2023–24 season, Smith and Bryan Rust scored in the first 41 seconds of the third period to become the second-fastest Penguins teammates to score at the start of a period in franchise history.[45]

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada East
World Junior A Challenge
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Camrose

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07Toronto Nationals AAAGTHL U16 70807715756 —————
2007–08St. Michael's BuzzersOPJHL 3831245592 10002
2008–09St. Michael's BuzzersOJHL 4927487544 6951510
2009–10Miami RedHawksCCHA 448122024 —————
2010–11Miami RedHawksCCHA 3828265418 —————
2011–12Miami RedHawksCCHA 3930184822 —————
2011–12Dallas StarsNHL 30002 —————
2012–13Texas StarsAHL 4514213520 70440
2012–13Dallas StarsNHL 373698 —————
2013–14Boston BruinsNHL 8220315114 124150
2014–15Boston BruinsNHL 8113274020 —————
2015–16Florida PanthersNHL 8225255031 64480
2016–17Florida PanthersNHL 8015223717 —————
2017–18Vegas Golden KnightsNHL 6722386024 205172210
2018–19Vegas Golden KnightsNHL 7419345314 71560
2019–20Vegas Golden KnightsNHL 7127275420 2059148
2020–21Vegas Golden KnightsNHL 5314112518 1937104
2021–22Vegas Golden KnightsNHL 561622388 —————
2022–23Vegas Golden KnightsNHL 7826305616 224101414
NHL totals 764200273473192 10626537936

Awards and honours

Award Year
College
All-CCHA First Team 2010–11, 2011–12 [46][47]
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2011, 2012 [48]
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2011–12
Boston Bruins
Seventh Player Award 2013–14 [26]
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2023 [49]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Reilly Smith". Elite Prospects. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ Nelson, Norm (January 30, 2013). "All three Etobicoke Smith brothers make the big leagues". toronto.com. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Athleticism runs in Smith's family". WCPO.com. January 2, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  4. ↑ Nelson, Norm (January 20, 2013). "All three Etobicoke Smith brothers make the big leagues". Etobicoke Guardian. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Reilly Smith". Miami University. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ "UNITED STATES WINS GOLD MEDAL AT 2008 WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE". Hockey Canada. November 9, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Stars Select Four Players On Day 2 Of Draft". National Hockey League. June 27, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ Weighart, Scott (April 3, 2010). "For Smith Brothers, Frozen Four Could Spark Sibling Revelry". USCHO. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Reilly Smith Invited to Canadian World Junior Championship Selection Camp". Miami University. November 30, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ Boyle, John (November 25, 2010). "'Hawks sophomore enjoys being a 'game-changer'". The Journal News. Retrieved June 24, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Finalists for 2012 Hobey Baker Award unveiled". USCHO. March 15, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Smith Tabbed First-Team All-America". Miami University. April 6, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Smith, Czarnik Finalists for CCHA's Top Honors". Miami University. March 8, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Stars Sign Forward Reilly Smith To Entry-Level Contract". National Hockey League. March 25, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ Foster, Doug (June 4, 2012). "Reilly Smith Well on His Way". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  16. ↑ Stepneski, Mark (August 15, 2012). "Reilly Smith Taking on His First Pro Season". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Dallas Stars Assign Players to AHL and Junior Teams". National Hockey League. September 14, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  18. ↑ Stepneski, Mark (November 14, 2012). "Reilly Smith Looks to Break Through". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Smith scores first NHL goals". Toronto. February 21, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  20. ↑ Stepneski, Mark (February 15, 2013). "Friday update: Reilly Smith moves up the lineup". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Dallas Stars Assign Reilly Smith and Joe Morrow to Texas Stars". National Hockey League. March 26, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Dallas Stars Recall Reilly Smith". National Hockey League. March 27, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  23. ↑ "STARS AND BRUINS BLOCKBUSTER TRADE". National Hockey League. July 4, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  24. ↑ Switaj, Caryn (September 25, 2013). "Söderberg-Kelly-Smith Sticking... For Now". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  25. ↑ Switaj, Caryn (October 16, 2013). "Practice in FL: Soderberg Takes Contact; Smith Sticks with Bergeron, Eriksson". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Riley Smith wins NESN's 7th player award". NESN. April 23, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Bruins trade Smith, Savard's contract to Panthers for Hayes". Sportsnet. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Panthers sign forward Reilly Smith to a five-year extension". National Hockey League. July 3, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  29. ↑ Olive, Jameson (May 11, 2017). "Reilly Smith Season Rewind". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Panther lose Marchessault and Smith to Vegas Golden Knights". Sun-Sentinel. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  31. ↑ Marrazza, Dan (November 14, 2017). "Which Is The Golden Knights' Best Line?". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  32. ↑ Myers, Tracey (January 6, 2018). "Golden Knights top line had chemistry right from the start". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Golden Knights Reilly Smith Earns Third Star Honor For Month Of February". National Hockey League. March 1, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  34. 1 2 Horan, Rielly (May 29, 2019). "Smith Holds Steady in Second Year With Vegas". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Kessel's hat trick powers Penguins past Vegas 4-2". ESPN. October 11, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  36. ↑ Schoen, David (March 22, 2019). "Golden Knights' Reilly Smith set to play 500th career NHL game". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  37. ↑ Myers, Tracey (August 22, 2020). "Smith thriving again for Golden Knights entering series with Canucks". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  38. ↑ Pickens, Pat (September 14, 2020). "Smith's nephew Nolan celebrates goal while clad in knight costume". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Stone named first captain of Golden Knights". National Hockey League. January 13, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Smith's first career hat trick lifts Golden Knights past Blues". The Sports Network. May 9, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Smith signs three-year, $15 million contract with Golden Knights". National Hockey League. July 13, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  42. ↑ Delos Santos, Paul (June 14, 2023). "Original 'Misfits' get Golden Knights started to Cup-clinching Game 5 win". NHL.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Penguins' Reilly Smith: Swapped for third-round pick". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Barbashev signs 5-year, $25 million contract to stay with Golden Knights". NHL.com. June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  45. ↑ Crosby, Wes (October 14, 2023). "Penguins score 5 in 3rd period, defeat Flames". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  46. ↑ "No. 7 Miami Opens CCHA Tournament Play Hosting Alaska". Miami RedHawks. March 15, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  47. ↑ "MSU defenseman Torey Krug named to All-CCHA first team". The Detroit News. March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  48. ↑ "2012–13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  49. ↑ Brewer, Contessa (June 14, 2023). "Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win cements Las Vegas as a big-time sports city". CNBC. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
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