Jason Smith (hockey)
Encyclopedia
Jason Matthew Smith is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
defenceman
. He played in the National Hockey League
from 1993–94 to 2008–09
.
by the New Jersey Devils
. As a member of the Regina Pats
, he was named to the Western Hockey League
's all-rookie team in 1992 and WHL first all-star team in 1993. He won the Bill Hunter Trophy
as the WHL's top defenseman. Smith was a member of the gold medal winning Canadian
team at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in 1993.
He made his NHL debut with the Devils during the 1993–94 NHL season, though the majority of the season was spent in the AHL
with the Albany River Rats
. He missed the majority of the 1994–95 season because of a knee injury, but played in one playoff game before returning to captain the River Rats to a Calder Cup
championship in 1995, in the same year that the Devils captured their first Stanley Cup
. Smith then moved up to the NHL for good, playing with the Devils until 1997 when he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs
.
On February 25, 1997, he was involved in a blockbuster trade, going to the Maple Leafs along with Steve Sullivan
and the rights to Alyn McCauley
in exchange for Doug Gilmour
, Dave Ellett, and New Jersey's 4th round choice in 1999
. Smith spent parts of three seasons in Toronto before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers
in 1999. When Oilers' team captain Doug Weight
was later traded to the St. Louis Blues, Smith's strong leadership resulted in his being handed the 'C'. He would tie Wayne Gretzky
as the longest serving captain in Oilers history at five seasons, wearing the 'C' from 2001 to 2007, excluding the 2004-05 NHL lockout
.
Smith captained the Edmonton Oilers to a largely unexpected
run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals
, in which they faced the Carolina Hurricanes
, another dark horse
team. However, the Oilers lost in the final game of a grueling seven game series to the Hurricanes. Smith contributed 1 goal and 4 assists during Edmonton's surprise playoff run.
On July 1, 2007, Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe
traded Smith, along with forward Joffrey Lupul
, to the Philadelphia Flyers
for Joni Pitkanen
and Geoff Sanderson
, and Philadelphia's 3rd round choice in 2009
.
In his first and only season in Philadelphia, Smith captained a rebuilt Flyers squad to an Eastern Conference
showdown against their inter-state rivals from Pittsburgh
. Despite the fact that the Penguins won the series, the Flyers' turnaround from the worst team in the league to their status in 2007–08 was a credit to Smith's leadership abilities.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
. He played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
from 1993–94 to 2008–09
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
.
Playing career
Smith was drafted in the first round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft1992 NHL Entry Draft
The 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
by the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. As a member of the Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
, he was named to the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
's all-rookie team in 1992 and WHL first all-star team in 1993. He won the Bill Hunter Trophy
Bill Hunter Trophy
The Bill Hunter Trophy was presented to the World Hockey Association's scoring leader in the regular season.It was named in honour of Bill Hunter, who founded the Alberta Oilers hockey club ....
as the WHL's top defenseman. Smith was a member of the gold medal winning Canadian
Canadian national men's hockey team
The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...
team at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in 1993.
He made his NHL debut with the Devils during the 1993–94 NHL season, though the majority of the season was spent in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
. He missed the majority of the 1994–95 season because of a knee injury, but played in one playoff game before returning to captain the River Rats to a Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
championship in 1995, in the same year that the Devils captured their first Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
. Smith then moved up to the NHL for good, playing with the Devils until 1997 when he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
On February 25, 1997, he was involved in a blockbuster trade, going to the Maple Leafs along with Steve Sullivan
Steve Sullivan
Steve Sullivan is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He has also played for the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators....
and the rights to Alyn McCauley
Alyn McCauley
Alyn Daniel McCauley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for ten years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and the Los Angeles Kings...
in exchange for Doug Gilmour
Doug Gilmour
Douglas Robert Gilmour is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who is the current general manager of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League . During his National Hockey League career, Gilmour played for 7 NHL clubs: the St...
, Dave Ellett, and New Jersey's 4th round choice in 1999
1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...
. Smith spent parts of three seasons in Toronto before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in 1999. When Oilers' team captain Doug Weight
Doug Weight
Douglas Daniel Weight is a retired American professional ice hockey player who is currently an Assistant Coach and Special Assistant to the General Manager for the New York Islanders. During his 19-year National Hockey League career, he played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina...
was later traded to the St. Louis Blues, Smith's strong leadership resulted in his being handed the 'C'. He would tie Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
as the longest serving captain in Oilers history at five seasons, wearing the 'C' from 2001 to 2007, excluding the 2004-05 NHL lockout
2004-05 NHL lockout
The 2004–05 NHL lockout was a lockout that resulted in the cancellation of what would have been the 88th season of play of the National Hockey League . It was the first time the Stanley Cup was not awarded since 1919, and the first time a major professional sports league in North America canceled a...
.
Smith captained the Edmonton Oilers to a largely unexpected
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals
2006 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2006 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2005–06 season. As a culmination of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers...
, in which they faced the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
, another dark horse
Dark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
team. However, the Oilers lost in the final game of a grueling seven game series to the Hurricanes. Smith contributed 1 goal and 4 assists during Edmonton's surprise playoff run.
On July 1, 2007, Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe
Kevin Lowe
Kevin Hugh Lowe is a retired defenceman and coach in the National Hockey League and the current President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers. As a defenceman, he played for the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers....
traded Smith, along with forward Joffrey Lupul
Joffrey Lupul
Joffrey Douglas Sheldon Lupul is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, to the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
for Joni Pitkanen
Joni Pitkänen
Joni Pitkänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and Geoff Sanderson
Geoff Sanderson
Geoff M. Sanderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Hartford Whalers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . Sanderson is currently a scout for the New York Islanders...
, and Philadelphia's 3rd round choice in 2009
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
.
In his first and only season in Philadelphia, Smith captained a rebuilt Flyers squad to an Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NHL)
The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
showdown against their inter-state rivals from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. Despite the fact that the Penguins won the series, the Flyers' turnaround from the worst team in the league to their status in 2007–08 was a credit to Smith's leadership abilities.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1990–91 | Regina Pats Regina Pats The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1991–92 | Regina Pats | WHL | 62 | 9 | 29 | 38 | 168 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Regina Pats | WHL | 64 | 14 | 52 | 66 | 175 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 39 | ||
| 1992–93 1992–93 AHL season The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... |
Utica Devils Utica Devils The Utica Devils were an ice hockey team of the American Hockey League. The team played in Utica, New York at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.-History:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1993–94 1993–94 AHL season The 1993–94 AHL season was the 58th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The St. John's Maple Leafs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Albany River Rats Albany River Rats The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :... |
AHL | 20 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 41 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 AHL season The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule... |
Albany River Rats | AHL | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 19 | ||
| 1994–95 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 64 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 57 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 21 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 81 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 60 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1999–00 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 120 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2001–02 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 74 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 68 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | ||
| 2003–04 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 68 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 76 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 84 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 | ||
| 2006–07 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 77 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 86 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 63 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1008 | 41 | 128 | 169 | 1099 | 68 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 60 | ||||
Transactions
- February 25, 1997 - Traded by New Jersey, along with Steve SullivanSteve SullivanSteve Sullivan is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He has also played for the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators....
and the rights to Alyn McCauleyAlyn McCauleyAlyn Daniel McCauley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for ten years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and the Los Angeles Kings...
, to Toronto for Dave Ellett, Doug GilmourDoug GilmourDouglas Robert Gilmour is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who is the current general manager of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League . During his National Hockey League career, Gilmour played for 7 NHL clubs: the St...
and a third-round draft pick - March 3, 1999 - Traded by Toronto to Edmonton for a fourth-round pick in the 1999 NHL entry draft and a second-round selection in the 2000 NHL entry draft
- July 1, 2007 - Traded by Edmonton, along with Joffrey LupulJoffrey LupulJoffrey Douglas Sheldon Lupul is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, to Philadelphia for Joni PitkanenJoni PitkänenJoni Pitkänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Geoff SandersonGeoff SandersonGeoff M. Sanderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Hartford Whalers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . Sanderson is currently a scout for the New York Islanders...
and a third-round pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft - July 8, 2008 - Signed as free agent by Ottawa Senators
- September 2, 2009 - Retired from the NHL.