Playing career
Smith was selected first overall by the Spokane Chiefs in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. [2] In his rookie season with the Chiefs, Smith was named the team's Rookie of the Year and Scholastic Player of the Year. The following year, Smith had a breakout season setting a new franchise record for most points in a single game by a defenceman and being named the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year. [3] Smith was also named the Chiefs Defenceman of the Year. [3]
On August 20, 2018, Smith signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils, who had drafted him 17th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. [4] Smith attended the Devils training camp but was reassigned to the Chiefs on September 28. [5] On October 24, Smith was named co-captain of the Chiefs alongside Jaret Anderson-Dolan. [6]
Smith made the Devils opening night roster for the 2020–21 season, making his debut on January 14, 2021, against the Boston Bruins and recording his first NHL goal in the Devils' 3–2 shootout loss. [7] Smith would go on to record points in each of his first five NHL games, the second-longest streak ever for a rookie defenceman in the NHL behind only Marek Židlický. [8] Smith continued his strong start to his rookie season, recording eight points in his first nine games before being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on February 2, along with 13 of his Devils' teammates. [9] After the season Smith was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. [10]
On July 16, 2022, Smith was traded by the Devils, along with a 2023 third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman John Marino. [11] He split the 2022–23 season between the Penguins and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Smith spent the entirety of the 2023–24 season in Wilkes-Barre. On March 7, 2024, Smith was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Jake Guentzel, in exchange for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, prospect Cruz Lucius, Vasili Ponomaryov, and two conditional 2024 draft picks. [12] He remained in Wilkes-Barre following the trade, recording 43 points in 63 games.
On June 21, 2024, the Hurricanes signed Smith to a one-year, two-way contract extension. [13]
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