Reilly Smith

Lore & Background

Smith grew up in Toronto and played junior hockey with St. Michael's College School before playing three seasons of NCAA Division I hockey with Miami University's RedHawks in the CCHA. He was drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2009 and joined the team in 2012, playing one full season before being included in a blockbuster trade that sent him, Loui Eriksson, Joe Morrow, and Matt Fraser to Boston in exchange for Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, and Ryan Button. After short stints with the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, Smith was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft due to salary cap issues. With Vegas, he formed a prominent line with William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, recording a career-high 60 points in the 2017–18 season and helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final. He won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023, scoring the Cup-clinching goal. After subsequent stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, Smith was traded back to Vegas in 2025.

Reader's Guide

Reilly Smith's career is notable for his role in a major trade that reshaped the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins, and for his integral part in the Vegas Golden Knights' rapid rise to Stanley Cup champions. Drafted by Dallas, he played only one full season before being moved in the 2013 blockbuster that sent Tyler Seguin to the Stars. Smith then developed into a consistent scorer with Boston, earning the team's '7th Player' award, and later with Florida. His acquisition by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft proved pivotal: he formed a top line with Karlsson and Marchessault that powered the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. Smith remained a key contributor, eventually scoring the Cup-clinching goal in 2023. His journey from a third-round pick to a Stanley Cup hero, and his multiple team changes including a return to Vegas, highlight his adaptability and value as a winger.

Did You Know?

• Smith scored the Cup-clinching goal for the Vegas Golden Knights in game five of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
• He is the younger brother of current Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Brendan Smith and professional lacrosse player Rory Smith.
• Smith recorded his first professional hat-trick in a 4–1 win over the St. Louis Blues.
• He was named an alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights alongside Alex Pietrangelo.