Gemel Smith

Lore & Background

Smith began his major junior career with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after being selected 120th overall in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. He later played for the London Knights before signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on May 31, 2014. He made his professional debut in the 2014–15 season with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL), recording 10 goals and 27 points in 68 games. Smith made his NHL debut with the Stars on October 22, 2016, in a 3–0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and scored his first two NHL goals on November 6, 2016, in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He was claimed on waivers by the Boston Bruins on December 6, 2018, and later signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 8, 2019. Smith was one of eight players called up to the Lightning for their training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. He was claimed on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings on January 19, 2022, and then reclaimed by the Lightning on February 19, 2022. In the 2022–23 season, he played for the Syracuse Crunch and was later loaned to the Henderson Silver Knights. After a stint in the KHL with HC Dinamo Minsk and Kunlun Red Star, Smith returned to North America and signed a PTO with the Syracuse Crunch in October 2024, then a tryout with the Bridgeport Islanders in December 2024.

Reader's Guide

Gemel Smith's NHL career spanned parts of seven seasons with four teams, most notably the Dallas Stars who drafted him. He was a depth forward who often moved between the NHL and AHL, and his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning included being called up for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, though he did not play in the postseason. Smith's career illustrates the journey of a player who was frequently claimed on waivers and moved between organizations, including two separate stints with the Lightning. His professional path also took him to the KHL and back to the AHL, reflecting the transient nature of a hockey career outside the NHL's top lines. Smith's younger brother Givani also plays in the NHL.

Did You Know?

• Smith scored his first two NHL goals in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on November 6, 2016.
• Smith is of Jamaican descent through both parents.