Devante Smith-Pelly has played 129 career NHL regular season games, but the fact he has done so in a market like Anaheim means not all hockey fans are familiar with the young power forward.
The Montreal Canadiens acquired him from the Ducks in exchange for Jiri Sekac in a good, old-fashioned hockey trade Tuesday.
Smith-Pelly has 50-point potential in the NHL and thrives in the dirty areas of the ice. He’s strong and plays physically, which should aid a smaller, faster, skill-based Canadiens roster.
Here’s what you need to know about the newest member of the bleu, blanc et rouge.
Age: 22
Shoots: Right
Height: Six-feet
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
Drafted: 42nd overall by Ducks in 2010
Contract status: $800,000 cap hit. Set to be RFA in 2016
He has been on the Canadiens before
Not the Montreal Canadiens, of course, but Smith-Pelly played for the GTHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens during the 2007-08 campaign. He had 38 goals, 39 assists and 159 penalty minutes in 85 games that season and was one of the key contributors on a team absolutely stacked with talent and one that ended up winning the 2008 OHL Cup. Smith-Pelly played on a line with Tyler Toffoli (68 goals, 106 assists in 83 games) and John McFarland (96 goals, 69 assists in 76 games) to form one of the most dominant trios in Ontario minor hockey history.
He is a proven playoff performer
A breakout regular season in the NHL hasn’t happened for him just yet, but whenever he suits up for the post-season he brings it. During his three seasons with the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors in the Ontario Hockey League he, along with his team, progressed each year. During the 2010-11 OHL post-season he registered 15 goals and 21 points in 20 games and added six points in five Memorial Cup games. Last year, Smith-Pelly led the Ducks with five goals in 12 playoff games including this beauty.
He has a Team Canada connection to a trio of Habs
Smith-Pelly was a member of the 2012 Canadian world junior team and although he only suited up for one game due to a broken foot, he won a bronze medal alongside current Canadiens Brendan Gallagher, Michael Bournival and Nathan Beaulieu. It’s unclear exactly how the Canadiens will use Smith-Pelly, but it’s entirely possible he ends up playing on a line with either Bournival or Gallagher at some point.
He really likes to hit
Through 54 games with the Ducks this season, Smith-Pelly led the team in hits with 147. That currently puts him 23rd overall in the NHL among forwards. When he puts his weight behind a hit he can do some damage.
He can chip in on special teams
The Canadiens struggle on the power play and Smith-Pelly should be able to help in that area. He can be effective with the man advantage when he gets his big body in front of the net. He is dangerous down low, protects the puck well and has a high hockey IQ. On the flip-side, Montreal is one of the best penalty-killing teams in the league and Smith-Pelly has the ability to chip in when shorthanded.
He’ll wear No. 21 with the Canadiens
Smith-Pelly began his career in Anaheim wearing No. 77 before switching to No. 12 last off-season in honour of Jarome Iginla, a player he grew up idolizing. Since No. 12 is retired in Montreal and Tom Gilbert wears No. 77, Smith-Pelly will don No. 21. The last player to wear No. 21 on the Canadiens was former captain Brian Gionta.
