Off the Post: Caps Win Big in Game 4, Devante Smith-Pelly Interview – The Washington Capitals are one win away from clinching the Stanley Cup. The team took a commanding 3-1 lead in their series against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 6-2 win on Monday evening. The Caps rushed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, and would go on to score six goals in the game. Capitals right-winger Devante Smith-Pelly played a key roll in the win by scoring the team’s third goal, his sixth of the playoffs. Smith-Pelly has flown under the radar this season and his entire career, but he’s shown up in the biggest of moments and has become a fan favorite in D.C. and across the nation.
Devante Smith-Pelly was born in Scarborough, Ontario and began his junior hockey career in 2008-09. That year, he scored 25 goals in 57 games for the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors in the OHL. The next year, he scored 62 points in 60 games. He was then selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the 42nd overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. From 2011-2013, Smith-Pelly bounced between Anaheim and the Norfolk Admirals before sticking with the team for the 2013-14 season. While he wasn’t a dominant performer for the Ducks, he did score five goals in 12 playoff games in 2014. Was this a sign of things to come?
You can find Smith-Pelly’s rookie cards
in Upper Deck products including 2011-12 Series 1 where you’ll see his Young Guns rookie card. You’ll also find his rookie cards in 2011-12 SP Game Used and Ultimate Collection.
The 2011-12 NHL season was a year when Panini held an NHL license. You can find Smith-Pelly cards among many of their products from that year. Look for rookie cards in 2011-12 Score, Elite, Limited, and Certified to name a few.
Smith-Pelly was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2015 where he would play two seasons. During that time he produced sparingly, scoring 15 points in those two years. He was eventually traded to the New Jersey Devils in February 2016. Smith-Pelly would play two seasons for the Devils, scoring 22 points across 71 games. He would be placed on waivers in the summer of 2017, and would sign a one-year deal with Washington on July 3rd, 2017.
In 75 regular season games for the Capitals, Smith-Pelly scored 16 points. Everything would change in the playoffs, as he’s exploded for six goals in 22 games and has his team within one win of the Stanley Cup. The market for his cards is growing, but unfortunately you currently can’t find cards of him in a Capitals uniform (outside an e-pack release). His underwhelming play over the years has relegated him to appearances in products with larger base sets. His 2017-18 O-Pee-Chee card features him in his New Jersey Devil uniform. This is bound to change, as Smith-Pelly has become a playoff hero for the Caps. At the very least (if the team doesn’t retain him for the 2018-19 season) he’ll be featured in commemorative team sets/products when (or if) the Capitals win the cup.
Here is a look at some of Smith-Pelly’s cards as he talks about the Capitals 6-2 win on Monday with our own Russ Cohen. You can listen to the Off the Post podcast HERE.
Off the Post: Caps Win Big in Game 4, Devante Smith-Pelly Interview – Image Gallery
Off the Post: Caps Win Big in Game 4, Devante Smith-Pelly Interview
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