Capitals invite Devante Smith Pelly to upcoming game

In celebration of Black History Month, the Washington Capitals are bringing back one of their most famous and clutch African American players in franchise history. Welcome back Stanley Cup champion Devante Smith Pelly during their game on Feb. 25 against the New York Rangers for Black History Day.

DSP will participate in a ceremonial puck drop prior to the game and at warmups the Caps will wear special Black History warmup jerseys designed by Robert Generette III also known as Zilla. They’ll be signed and auctioned off to benefit the Capital Impact Fund.

Smith Pelly is an eight year NHL veteran that announced his retirement from professional hockey on December 30. Drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round at 42nd overall in the 2010 NHL Draft, DSP became the third youngest player in Ducks history to appear in an NHL game when he made his debut on Oct. 7, 2011.

He signed with the Capitals as a free agent on July 3, 2017 and played two seasons with Washington. In his first season with the Capitals, Smith Pelly registered 16 points with seven goals and nine assists in a career high 75 games.

The Scarborough, Ontario native appeared in all 24 games during Washington’s run to the Stanley Cup, recording eight points with seven goals and one assists. DSP scored a goal in the final three games of the Stanley Cup Final, including the game winning goal in Game 4 and the game tying goal in Game 5.

Smith Pelly’s three goals in the Stanley Cup Final were tied with Alex Ovechkin for the most on Washington. In 395 career games with the Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, and New Jersey Devils, DSP recorded 101 points with 44 goals and 57 assists.

Learn more about what the Capitals are doing to celebrate Black History Month, by clicking here.

Smith Pelly recently chatted with Mike Vogel of WashingtonCaps.com on his upcoming reunion and his retirement:

“Grateful, grateful. Really grateful. When I announced it, so many of the ex-teammates and ex-coaches and people that I got to meet all along the way, they reached out. I’m just grateful that I was able to fulfill my lifelong dream of playing. Obviously, my dream was to play one game, but I ended up playing almost 400 and winning the Stanley Cup. But I’m just grateful and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Be sure to buy tickets to that upcoming game for your chance to say welcome back to Devante Smith Pelly.