Derek Smith (ice hockey, born 1984) explained

Derek Smith
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:200
Birth Date:13 October 1984
Birth Place:Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Played For:Ottawa Senators
Calgary Flames
ZSC Lions
KHL Medveščak Zagreb
Career Start:2007
Career End:2017
Draft:Undrafted

Derek A. Smith (born October 13, 1984) is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player. Smith formerly played with the Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently the Head Coach & GM of the Trenton Golden Hawks of the OJHL.

Playing career

After playing 123 games over four seasons between 2000 and 2004 for the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, Smith played three more seasons for the Lake Superior State Lakers. Undrafted, he signed as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) on April 12, 2007, and decided to leave college a year early to pursue his dreams of playing in the NHL.[1] [2] After training camp, Smith was assigned to the Senators' top minor league affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. Smith was re-signed by the Senators to a one-year contract on July 29, 2009.[3]

On February 12, 2010, after the trade of Alex Picard and an injury to Chris Campoli, Smith was called up to the Ottawa Senators. He made his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings on February 13, 2010, in a 4–1 loss. He stayed on for the next game on February 14 against the New York Islanders. That was the final game before the Olympic break, which Ottawa won 4–3 after coming back from a 3–1 deficit. He was returned to Binghamton afterward.

On July 13, 2010, Smith was re-signed by Ottawa to a one-year, two-way contract.[4] He recorded his first NHL point when he assisted on a goal by Ottawa's Nick Foligno against the Atlanta Thrashers on March 3, 2011. In 2010-11, Smith was a member of the Binghamton Senators as they captured the 2011 Calder Cup championship in the American Hockey League. In 71 regular season games that season with Binghamton, he recorded 10 goals and 44 assists for 54 points which placed him 4th among AHL defenceman.

Smith was signed by the Calgary Flames to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 on July 12, 2011.[5] Smith scored his first goal for the Flames on November 29, 2011, against Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators.[6] On February 8, 2012, the Calgary Flames re-signed Smith to a two-year, one-way contract worth a total of $1.55 million, or $775,000 per year.[7]

On December 8, 2013, the Flames placed Smith on waivers. After he cleared waivers the next day, the Flames assigned Smith to the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL.[8]

In the following 2014–15 season, without an NHL offer on the table, Smith signed his first contract abroad as a free agent, agreeing to a one-year deal with Swiss club, ZSC Lions of the National League A. He appeared in 25 games with the Lions, registering 3 goals and 5 points.

On July 3, 2015, Smith returned to the NHL, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes.[9] Smith failed to make the roster of the parent club and was assigned to its AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, for the remainder of the season.

On July 17, 2016, Smith signed a one-year deal with Croatian club, KHL Medveščak Zagreb of the KHL.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2000–01Wellington DukesOPJHL121124
2001–02Wellington DukesOPJHL465152026
2002–03Wellington DukesOPJHL216101626
2003–04Wellington DukesOPJHL448263434
2004–05Lake Superior State U.CCHA3814528
2005–06Lake Superior State U.CCHA36281018
2006–07Lake Superior State U.CCHA4310203010
2007–08Binghamton SenatorsAHL522111318
2007–08Elmira JackalsECHL10110
2008–09Binghamton SenatorsAHL757172449
2009–10Binghamton SenatorsAHL7414375124
2009–10Ottawa SenatorsNHL20000
2010–11Binghamton SenatorsAHL711044542161126
2010–11Ottawa SenatorsNHL90110
2011–12Calgary FlamesNHL47291112
2012–13Calgary FlamesNHL2201110
2013–14Calgary FlamesNHL140112
2013–14Abbotsford HeatAHL32717242210000
2014–15ZSC LionsNLA25325450116
2015–16Springfield FalconsAHL282171910
2016–17KHL Medveščak ZagrebKHL4427942
NHL totals 942121424

International

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-CCHA Second Team2007

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Persistence pays off for Smith . . 2012-01-03 . 2012-01-03.
  2. News: Senators sign free agent defenceman Derek Smith . Ottawa Senators . 2007-04-12 . 2010-02-04 .
  3. News: Senators sign Derek Smith and Jeremy Yablonski . National Hockey League . 2009-07-29 . 2010-02-04.
  4. Ottawa Senators . Bulletin: Senators sign defenceman Derek Smith to one-year contract . July 13, 2010 . July 13, 2010 .
  5. Web site: Flames sign D Derek Smith to one-year, two-way contract . . 2011-07-12 . 2011-07-12.
  6. Web site: Nashville Predators - Calgary Flames - November 29th, 2011.
  7. Web site: Flames re-sign Defenseman Smith . . 2012-02-08 . 2012-02-08.
  8. Web site: Flames have assigned defenseman Derek Smith to the Abbotsford Heat . . AAVickers . 2013-12-08 . 2013-12-08.
  9. Web site: Coyotes sign Smith on one-year, two-way contract . . 2015-07-03 . 2015-07-03.
  10. Web site: Smith strengthens D, Giroux Bears' attack . . 2016-07-17 . 2016-07-17 . Croatian . 2020-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201005152915/http://www.medvescak.com/en/khl/smith-strengthens-d-giroux-bears%E2%80%99-attack-no2387 . dead .