Gemel Smith
Smith with the Texas Stars in 2015
Born (1994-04-16) April 16, 1994
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Dinamo Minsk
Dallas Stars
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft 104th overall, 2012
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2014–present

Gemel Smith (born April 16, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars, who selected him 104th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, as well as the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.

Playing career

Smith first played midget hockey with the Markham Majors before playing with the North York Rangers of the Greater Toronto Major Midget Hockey League before he was selected 120th overall in the Ontario Hockey League's 2010 OHL Priority Selection by the Owen Sound Attack. In his first major junior season in 2010–11 with the Attack he finished with 16 points in 66 games.

After completing his OHL career with the London Knights, he was signed by the Dallas Stars to a three-year, entry-level contract on May 31, 2014.[1] He made his professional debut in the following 2014–15 season, after he was assigned by the Stars to their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. In 68 games with Texas, Smith contributed with 10 goals and 27 points in 68 games as a rookie.

In the 2016–17 season, with a rash of injuries suffered in Dallas, Smith received his first recall to the NHL on October 22, 2016.[2] He made his NHL debut with the Stars that night, skating on the fourth-line in a 3–0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.[3] In his seventh game with the Stars, Smith scored his first two NHL goals in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on November 6, 2016.[4]

On July 11, 2017, the Stars re-signed Smith to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000.[5] In his first full season with the club, Smith recorded six goals and 11 points in 46 games, often finding himself as a healthy scratch.

On August 3, 2018, the Stars re-signed Smith to a one-year, $720,000 contract extension.[6] During the 2018–19 season, on December 6, Smith was claimed on waivers by the Boston Bruins.[7][8] Smith appeared in three games with Boston before he was re-assigned to Boston's AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, upon clearing waivers on December 19, 2018.[9] In playing out his contract in Providence, Smith was an offensive presence, contributing 40 points in 47 games.

As an impending restricted free agent, Smith was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Bruins, releasing him as an unrestricted free agent on June 25, 2019.[10] He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 8, 2019.[11]

Smith was one of the eight players called up to the Lightning for their training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.[12]

Following back-to-back championships with the Lightning, Smith began the 2021–22 season on the long-term injured reserve. After returning to health, Smith was claimed on waivers from the Lightning by the Detroit Red Wings on January 19, 2022.[13] He was assigned by the Red Wings to a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, on January 23, 2022.[14]

On February 19, 2022, the Lightning reclaimed Smith from the Red Wings, again on waivers.[15]

In the following 2022–23 season, Smith remained within the Lightning organization, continuing with the Syracuse Crunch. While placing third in team scoring, collecting 37 points through 35 games, Smith left the Crunch as he was re-assigned on loan by the Lightning to the Vegas Golden Knights' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, on February 16, 2023.[16] He played out the season in Henderson, posting 5 goals and 16 points through 19 games.

As a free agent from the Lightning, Smith paused his career in North America and was signed to a one-year contract with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, on July 20, 2023.[17]

Personal life

Smith is of Jamaican descent through both parents.[18] His younger brother, Givani, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft,[19] and currently plays for the San Jose Sharks.

During the 2018–19 NHL season, Smith was battling depression-like symptoms and had a hard time sleeping. He said he "made himself go into a sunken place". While with the Boston Bruins, Patrice Bergeron suggested he get help.[20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11 Owen Sound Attack OHL 66881614 —————
2011–12 Owen Sound Attack OHL 6821396051 512310
2012–13 Owen Sound Attack OHL 6123295254 12731010
2013–14 Owen Sound Attack OHL 4026224837 —————
2013–14 London Knights OHL 2911162710 939129
2014–15 Texas Stars AHL 6810172738 —————
2015–16 Texas Stars AHL 6513132624 30002
2015–16 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 41342 —————
2016–17 Texas Stars AHL 5312213344 —————
2016–17 Dallas Stars NHL 1733621 —————
2017–18 Dallas Stars NHL 46651117 —————
2018–19 Dallas Stars NHL 142130 —————
2018–19 Boston Bruins NHL 30000 —————
2018–19 Providence Bruins AHL 4716244032 20000
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 31014 —————
2019–20 Syracuse Crunch AHL 5022184050 —————
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 503311 —————
2020–21 Syracuse Crunch AHL 33367 —————
2021–22 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 30118 —————
2021–22 Detroit Red Wings NHL 30115 —————
2021–22 Syracuse Crunch AHL 135382 31010
2022–23 Syracuse Crunch AHL 3513243789 —————
2022–23 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 195111656 —————
NHL totals 9112132558 —————

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Canada U18 7 2 3 5 2
Junior totals 7 2 3 5 2

References

  1. ↑ "Dallas Stars sign forward Gemel Smith to entry-level deal". Dallas Stars. May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Stars recall Gemel Smith from Texas". Dallas Stars. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets defeat Stars". CBS Sports. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Smith shines as Stars lose in Overtime". Dallasnews.com. November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Stars sign Gemel Smith to one-year, two-way deal". Sportsday. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Gemel Smith, Dallas Stars agree on one-year contract". ESPN. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Bruins Announce Transactions". NHL.com. December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ Stepneski, Mark (December 6, 2018). "'I feel like a hockey player': Hanzal to make season debut vs. Sharks". NHL.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Bruins assign Gemel Smith to Providence". Boston Bruins. December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Gemel Smith set to hit free agency". CBS Sports. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Lightning sign forward Gemel Smith to one-year, two-way contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Lightning announce 2020 training camp roster, schedule". nhl.com/lightning. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  13. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (January 19, 2022). "Red Wings claim Gemel Smith from Tampa Bay". NHL.com. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Gemel Smith joins Grands Rapids for conditioning". Detroit Red Wings. January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  15. ↑ "We have claimed forward Gemel Smith off waivers from Detroit". Tampa Bay Lightning. February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Silver Knights receive Gemel Smith on loan from Tampa Bay Lightning". Henderson Silver Knights. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Gemel Smith moves to Dinamo Minsk!" (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  18. ↑ "For Gemel Smith mental strength goes a long way when dealing with racism in hockey". theupsetsports.com.
  19. ↑ Ryan Kennedy (August 25, 2016). "DETROIT RED WINGS HAVE A "TANK" IN PROSPECT GIVANI SMITH". thehockeynews.com. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  20. ↑ Joe Smith (September 25, 2019). "Out of the darkness: How Gemel Smith went from 'a sunken place' to cusp of Lightning roster". theathletic.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
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