Ty Smith

Ty Smith (born March 24, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing under contract with HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2018 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils.

Playing career Smith was selected first overall by the Spokane Chiefs in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. In his rookie season with the Chiefs, Smith was named the team's Rookie of the Year and Scholastic Player of the Year. The following year, Smith had a breakout season setting a new franchise record for most points in a single game by a defenceman and being named the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year. Smith was also named the Chiefs Defenceman of the Year. Smith attended the Devils training camp but was reassigned to the Chiefs on September 28. On October 24, Smith was named co-captain of the Chiefs alongside Jaret Anderson-Dolan.

Smith made the Devils opening night roster for the 2020–21 season, making his debut on January 14, 2021, against the Boston Bruins and recording his first NHL goal in the Devils' 3–2 shootout loss. Smith would go on to record points in each of his first five NHL games, the second-longest streak ever for a rookie defenceman in the NHL behind only Marek Židlický. Smith continued his strong start to his rookie season, recording eight points in his first nine games before being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on February 2, along with 13 of his Devils' teammates. After the season Smith was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

On July 16, 2022, Smith was traded by the Devils, along with a 2023 third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman John Marino. He split the 2022–23 season between the Penguins and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Smith spent the entirety of the 2023–24 season in Wilkes-Barre. On March 7, 2024, Smith was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Jake Guentzel, in exchange for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, prospect Cruz Lucius, Vasili Ponomaryov, and two conditional 2024 draft picks. He remained in Wilkes-Barre following the trade, recording 43 points in 63 games.

On June 21, 2024, the Hurricanes signed Smith to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Hurricanes, Smith left North America and was signed to a one-year contract with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, on July 17, 2025.

International play

Smith was named the captain of Team Canada at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. The following year, he was named an alternate captain for Team Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2015–16 Lloydminster Bobcats AMHL 28 9 14 23 10 10 1 8 9 0 2015–16 Spokane Chiefs WHL 2 0 2 2 0 — — — — — 2016–17 Spokane Chiefs WHL 66 5 27 32 22 — — — — — 2017–18 Spokane Chiefs WHL 69 14 59 73 30 7 2 5 7 2 2018–19 Spokane Chiefs WHL 57 7 62 69 33 15 1 8 9 6 2019–20 Spokane Chiefs WHL 46 19 40 59 42 — — — — — 2020–21 New Jersey Devils NHL 48 2 21 23 22 — — — — — 2021–22 New Jersey Devils NHL 66 5 15 20 22 — — — — — 2022–23 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 39 7 17 24 20 — — — — — 2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 9 1 3 4 4 — — — — — 2023–24 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 63 9 34 43 36 — — — — — 2024–25 Chicago Wolves AHL 36 5 23 28 35 2 0 1 1 0 2024–25 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 8 1 1 2 4 — — — — — 2025–26 Dinamo Minsk KHL 68 5 41 46 32 8 0 4 4 2NHL totals 131 9 40 49 52 — — — — —KHL totals 68 5 41 46 32 8 0 4 4 2

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2016 Canada Black U17 6 2 2 4 2 2017 Canada IH18 5 0 3 3 0 2017 Canada U18 5th 5 0 1 1 4 2018 Canada U18 5th 5 0 0 0 4 2019 Canada WJC 6th 5 0 3 3 0 2020 Canada WJC 7 0 3 3 2Junior totals 33 2 12 14 12

Awards and honours Award Year RefAMHL First All-Star Team 2016 Top Defenceman 2016 Telus Cup Top Defensive Player 2016 WHL West First All-Star Team 2018, 2019 Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy 2018 Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy 2019, 2020 CHL Defenceman of the Year 2019 NHL All-Rookie Team 2021