Devante Smith Pelly hangs up his skates
Over the weekend Washington Capitals 2018 Stanley Cup champion Devante Smith Pelly announced his retirement from the NHL after eight seasons. DSP played for four franchises including two seasons with the Caps before leaving in 2019.
Smith Pelly wrote on his Instagram:
“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.”
DSP joined the Caps on a one year deal at the league minimum but he gained the maximum hockey experience imaginable being a key piece of a Stanley Cup winning team.
He was on the fourth line right wing most of the time. After 16 points in the regular season he had seven goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs including three goals in the finals. One was a game tying goal in the Cup clincher in Game 5.
The Caps re signed him that offseason and the next year he spent time with the Caps and their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears. Then he went to the KHL in Russia before playing in the American Hockey League each of the last two seasons.
He retires at 30 and finishes his career with 44 goals and 57 assists in 395 games for the Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, and New Jersey Devils.
DSP talked about his time with the Capitals:
“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.”
Even though Devante Smith Pelly’s time with the Caps was short, he’ll always be a part of the franchise. It was more than just the clutch goals in the playoffs. It was also his lasting impact on the community.
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There’s a reason DSP became a proud chant and he’s as classy as it gets. We wish him the best in his retirement and we can’t wait to see him at the Cup reunion.