It’s over for Stanley Cup hero Devante Smith-Pelly

Devante Smith-Pelly’s NHL career has come to an end. On Friday, the veteran forward announced on his Instagram page that he was hanging up the skates.

“I have decided to end this chapter of my life and retire. I’m grateful for the opportunity to live out my dream of playing in the NHL. Throughout my career I’ve experienced the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. I was able to travel to places I never thought I’d see and played along side and against some of the best players in the world of hockey. I am so proud to say a kid from Scarborough Ontario leaves a Stanley Cup champion. I will be forever grateful for my experiences.

I want to thank my first agency O2K for believing in me when they took me on as a client. Anaheim who drafted me, Montreal and New Jersey as well. And Washington. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I will always be connected to my teammates, the fans and the city. We made history.

My family has been my rock through all the ups and downs my mother, father, and siblings have been my fiercest supporters. They’ve made biggest sacrifices so that I could live out my dream.I can’t put into words how grateful I am for them.

Lastly thank you to Anthony and Chris Stewart, Wayne Simmonds, Joel Ward. They lead the way for my generation and showed that it was possible to make it from where we are from. I hope I had the same impact to the young kids after me, as they did for me

I’m excited for my next chapter and the opportunities to come. Devo.”

Earlier in 2022, the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate Laval Rocket had signed DSP to a professional tryout (PTO) contract. He hadn’t played in the NHL since 2018-19 with the Washington Capitals, the team he scored the Stanley Cup winning goal with in the spring of 2018.

Smith-Pelly was known and respected for his heart and soul across the league, and we here at Hockey Feed wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

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