Givani Smith

Givani Smith
Born	(1998-02-27) February 27, 1998 (age 26) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	San Jose Sharks Detroit Red Wings Florida Panthers
NHL draft	46th overall, 2016 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	2018–present

Givani Smith (born February 27, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 46th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Prior to turning professional, Smith played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. In 236 games between the Barrie Colts, Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers, he recorded 73 goals, 62 assists, and 411 penalty minutes. He led the league in penalty minutes in 2015–16 and 2016–17. During the 2018–19 season in his rookie year, he recorded six goals and seven assists in 64 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL).

On October 25, 2019, Smith was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to being recalled he recorded two goals and two assists in four games for the Griffins. ^[1] He made his NHL debut for the Red Wings later that night in a game against the Buffalo Sabres where he recorded two shots on goal and one hit in 11:01 time on ice. ^[2] Smith was assigned to the Griffins on October 30. He appeared in three games for the Red Wings, where he recorded four shots on goal and three hits in 10:32 average time on ice per game. ^[3] On December 31, 2019, Smith was again recalled by the Red Wings. Prior to being recalled he recorded four goals and nine assists in 22 games with the Griffins. ^[4] On January 14, 2020, Smith scored his first career NHL goal against Thomas Greiss of the New York Islanders. ^[5] On February 16, 2021, Smith was reassigned to the Griffins. Prior to being reassigned he recorded one goal and three assists, 11 penalty minutes, 10 shots on goal and 15 hits in 9:55 average time on ice in eight games for the Red Wings. ^[6]

On December 19, 2022, the Red Wings traded Smith to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Michael Del Zotto. Prior to being traded, he recorded two goals and three assists in 19 games for the Griffins during the 2022–23 season. He also appeared in two games for the Red Wings. ^[7]

On July 1, 2023, Smith left the Panthers as a free agent and was signed by the San Jose Sharks to a two-year, $1.6 million contract, beginning in the 2023–24 season. ^[8] He scored his first goal for the Sharks on November 16 against the St. Louis Blues, and in the process became the 300th Shark to score a goal for the franchise. ^[9]

Personal life

Smith is of Jamaican descent through both of his parents. ^[10] He is the younger brother of NHL player Gemel Smith. ^[11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013–14	Mississauga Senators	GTMMHL		26	9	8	17	71		7	4	4	8	4
2014–15	Barrie Colts	OHL		31	0	4	4	20		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Guelph Storm	OHL		30	7	8	15	56		9	2	3	5	10
2015–16	Guelph Storm	OHL		65	23	19	42	146		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Guelph Storm	OHL		64	26	18	44	139		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Guelph Storm	OHL		19	8	3	11	14		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Kitchener Rangers	OHL		27	9	10	19	36		18	11	7	18	22
2018–19	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		64	6	7	13	86		4	0	2	2	9
2019–20	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		37	9	10	19	75		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		21	2	1	3	9		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		16	1	3	4	21		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		25	9	6	15	54		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		46	4	3	7	108		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		19	2	3	5	45		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Florida Panthers	NHL		34	1	3	4	72		1	0	0	0	2
2022–23	Charlotte Checkers	AHL		3	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	San Jose Sharks	NHL		36	1	3	4	40		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				155	9	13	22	250		1	0	0	0	2

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Canada Red	U17	6th		5	0	0	0	16
Junior totals					5	0	0	0	16

References

1. "Red Wings Recall Givani Smith". griffinshockey.com. October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
2. Kulfan, Ted (October 25, 2019). "Red Wings' Givani Smith excited about making his NHL debut Friday at LCA". Detroitnews.com. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
3. Kujawa, Kyle (October 30, 2019). "Red Wings assign Smith to Griffins". NHL.com. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
4. Kujawa, Kyle (December 31, 2019). "Detroit recalls Smith from Grand Rapids". NHL.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
5. Wakiji, Dana (January 14, 2020). "Smith gets first NHL goal in loss to Islanders". NHL.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
6. Kujawa, Kyle (February 16, 2021). "Givani Smith reassigned to Griffins". NHL.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
7. "Florida Panthers Acquire Forward Givani Smith from Detroit Red Wings". NHL.com. December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
8. "Sharks Sign Forward Givani Smith". NHL.com. San Jose Sharks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
9. Goldman, Chelena (November 16, 2023). "Kahkonen makes 44 saves, Sharks cruise past Blues to end 3-game skid".
10. "For Gemel Smith mental strength goes a long way when dealing with racism in hockey". theupsetsports.com.
11. Kennedy, Ryan (August 25, 2016). "Detroit Red Wings Have a "Tank" in Prospect Givani Smith". The Hockey News . Retrieved October 25, 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database