Brendan Smith
Smith with the Detroit Red Wings in 2013
Born (1989-02-08) February 8, 1989
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence / Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 New Jersey Devils
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Carolina Hurricanes
NHL Draft 27th overall, 2007
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2010–present

Brendan Smith (born February 8, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Although he is listed as a defenceman, Smith has also played forward professionally. Smith was drafted 27th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and was previously a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.[1]

Playing career

Smith playing for the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey West Regional Final

Prior to the 2007 Draft, Smith was a member of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League's St. Michael's Buzzers. In 2007, he finished his second season with St. Michael's leading all defencemen in points with 36.[2] Smith was selected to participate in the CJAHL All-Star Game in 2006. Smith played for Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge 2006, helping his team win silver. Smith played three seasons for the University of Wisconsin–Madison before he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings, on May 27, 2010. Smith made his NHL debut on November 17, 2011, against the San Jose Sharks. Smith was called up on February 27, 2012, to replace Mike Commodore, who had been traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on the same day. He scored his first NHL goal against Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild at the Joe Louis Arena on March 2, 2012.[3]

Smith appeared in 34 games for Detroit during the lock-out shortened 2012–13 NHL season. He would score his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal on May 6, 2013, during game four of Detroit's Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Anaheim Ducks.

On July 16, 2013, the Detroit Red Wings re-signed Smith to a two-year, $2.525 million contract.[4] On June 30, 2015, the Red Wings re-signed Smith to a two-year, $5.5 million contract.[5]

During the final year of his contract and approaching free agency in the 2016–17 season, Smith was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft on February 28, 2017.[6] Smith provided a stability to the Rangers blueline to finish the season with 4 points in 18 games.

On June 29, 2017, Smith agreed to forfeit his impending free agent status in signing to a four-year, $17.4 million contract to remain with the Rangers.[7] On Smith reportedly showed up to 2017 training camp out of shape, and the Rangers as a team struggled. On February 8, 2018, the Rangers placed Smith on waivers due to his struggling play,[8] and then assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack after he went unclaimed.[9] Shortly after arriving in Hartford, Smith broke his hand in a fight with teammate Vinni Lettieri during a practice, ending his season.[10]

In the 2018 season, under new head coach David Quinn, Smith saw an improved play and fewer penalties with reduced ice time. In an effort to keep Smith in the lineup despite a crowded blue-line, Quinn dressed him as a forward several times throughout the season. Smith had previously played forward briefly while in juniors. In the 2019-20 season, Smith played exclusively as a winger before switching back to defenceman permanently after the Rangers traded Brady Skjei.[11]

After five seasons within the Rangers organization, Smith left as a free agent and on July 29, 2021, he was signed to a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.[12]

Smith left the Hurricanes at the conclusion of his contract and was signed to a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 13, 2022.[13] He scored his first goal as a Devil a year and a half into the two-year deal, in a 6–2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on December 29, 2023, when he scored on a breakaway immediately after exiting the penalty box.[14]

Personal life

Smith was born and raised in Etobicoke, Ontario with his parents Deidre and Lester and his two brothers, Rory and Reilly.[15] The three all played minor hockey in the Mimico neighbourhood with the Faustina Sports Club, then all played for the St. Michael's Buzzers minor juniors.[15] He faced his brother Reilly in the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs when his Red Wings faced Reilly's Boston Bruins.[16]

Smith and his wife Samantha have a son and daughter together.[17]

Career statistics

Smith playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 St. Michael's Buzzers OPJHL 39 5 21 26 55 17 1 5 6 44
2006–07 St. Michael's Buzzers OPJHL 39 12 24 36 90 16 6 14 20 30
2007–08 University of Wisconsin WCHA 22 2 10 12 26 — — — — —
2008–09 University of Wisconsin WCHA 31 9 14 23 75 — — — — —
2009–10 University of Wisconsin WCHA 42 15 37 52 76 — — — — —
2010–11 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 63 12 20 32 124 — — — — —
2011–12 Detroit Red Wings NHL 14 1 6 7 13 — — — — —
2011–12 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 57 10 24 34 90 — — — — —
2012–13 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 32 5 15 20 49 — — — — —
2012–13 Detroit Red Wings NHL 34 0 8 8 36 14 2 3 5 10
2013–14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 71 5 14 19 68 5 0 0 0 8
2014–15 Detroit Red Wings NHL 76 4 9 13 68 5 0 0 0 6
2015–16 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 3 12 15 62 3 0 1 1 0
2016–17 Detroit Red Wings NHL 33 2 3 5 34 — — — — —
2016–17 New York Rangers NHL 18 1 3 4 29 12 0 4 4 20
2017–18 New York Rangers NHL 44 1 7 8 69 — — — — —
2017–18 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 11 0 2 2 8 — — — — —
2018–19 New York Rangers NHL 63 4 9 13 71 — — — — —
2019–20 New York Rangers NHL 62 3 5 8 71 3 0 0 0 4
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 48 5 5 10 73 — — — — —
2021–22 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 45 4 4 8 36 14 1 3 4 12
2022–23 New Jersey Devils NHL 60 0 5 5 63 3 0 1 1 12
NHL totals 631 33 90 123 693 59 3 12 15 72

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2006 Canada Ontario U17 5th 5 0 4 4 4
Junior totals 5 0 4 4 4

Awards and honours

Award Year
College
All-WCHA First Team 2009–10
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2009–10 [18]
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2010 [19]

References

  1. ↑ USCHO Staff (March 18, 2010). "Denver, Wisconsin Each Have Two on Hobey Top 10". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  2. ↑ Malik, George (June 23, 2007). "Wings pick Brendan Smith 27th overall (updated)". mlive.com. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Brendan Smith's first NHL goal". NHL.com. March 3, 2012. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Smith, Red Wings reach new deal". Detroit Red Wings. July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ DiFilippo, Alex (June 30, 2015). "Red Wings re-sign defenseman Brendan Smith to two-year deal". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Rangers Acquire Defenseman Brendan Smith". NHL.com. February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Rangers agree to terms with Brendan Smith". New York Rangers. June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  8. ↑ Calamia, Matt (February 8, 2018). "Rangers Waive Brendan Smith, Recall Neal Pionk". NHL.com. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Rangers Assign Brendan Smith to Hartford". NHL.com. February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  10. ↑ Castro, Tom (March 23, 2018). "Rangers Options With Smith Aren't Good". thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  11. ↑ "2020 Report Card: Brendan Smith". blueshirtbanter.com. September 24, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Canes agree to terms with Brendan Smith". Carolina Hurricanes. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Brendan Smith signs two-year deal with the Devils". New Jersey Devils. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. ↑ Baird, Jackson (December 29, 2023). "Nico Daws, Jesper Bratt Lead Devils to Dominant 6-2 Win Over Ottawa Senators". allaboutthejersey.com. SBNation. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Nelson, Norm (January 20, 2013). "All three Etobicoke Smith brothers make the big leagues". Etobicoke Guardian. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Toronto brothers Brendan and Reilly Smith meet in playoffs for first time". NHL.com. April 17, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Brendan Smith enjoying spring as a proud brother and new father". NHL.com. June 13, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Denver put 3 on All-America Team". Collegehockeynews.com. April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  19. ↑ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
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