(Caps Outsider)
There was never a real proper goodbye for the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals unsung hero, Devante Smith-Pelly, but with news of him signing a professional tryout offer with the Calgary Flames, it’s long overdue for us to wish him the best of luck with his career outside of Washington.
Originally brought in to fill a roster spot for little money back in 2017, he and Alex Chiasson both did, I believe, just enough to stay with the team during the 2017-18 season. Smith-Pelly scored 7 goals and added 9 assists for 16 points in 75 games, numbers that don’t normally get one re-signed, even for chump change.
Of course, we all know what happened next. Smith-Pelly scored 7 goals, including a crucial one in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and helped the Caps win their first championship in franchise history.
He was a champion and all of Washington loved him.
After that season, he was unsigned, and for a while it was unclear what the Caps would do with him. Some fans were frustrated that the Caps didn’t instantly sign him, but the two sides eventually agreed to a million bucks for a year.
Unfortunately, Smith-Pelly had a lackluster training camp in 2018 and only ended up playing 54 games that season, scoring four goals, and finding his way to Hershey. He was only brought back during the playoffs because of an injury to T.J. Oshie, and then the Caps got knocked out. Nothing short of another magical run would’ve made the Caps even consider signing him again, but that didn’t happen and changes were inevitable.
Let’s just hope now he makes it with Calgary, and continues his NHL career.
Either way, we’ll never forget him and forever be grateful for his contributions here in Washington. He’ll never have to buy himself a drink in this town again.
Best of luck, Devante Smith-Pelly. Sincerely, all Caps fans.
To Many, Smith-Pelly Represents More Than Just a Caps Championship
