Reilly Smith Bio
Reilly Smith is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on April 1, 1991, in Etobicoke, Ontario, he developed through junior and collegiate programs before becoming a reliable top-six NHL forward. He won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023, scoring the Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 against the Florida Panthers, and later returned to Vegas in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Smith was born on April 1, 1991, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, to parents Lester and Deirdre Smith. He grew up in a highly athletic household and is the younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Brendan Smith and professional lacrosse player Rory Smith. All three brothers played minor hockey in the Etobicoke neighborhood of Mimico with the Faustina Sports Club before moving on to the St. Michael’s Buzzers minor juniors.
Smith attended St. Michael’s College School in Toronto, where he captained the team and was named Most Valuable Player in his final season after recording 75 points. He also played for the Toronto Nationals U16 AAA program and participated in the CJHL All-Star Game. In 2008, he won a bronze medal at the World Junior A Challenge, which helped raise his profile ahead of the next year’s NHL Draft.
Path to Hockey
Smith was selected 69th overall in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars while still in junior hockey. He then enrolled at Miami University, where he played three seasons of NCAA Division I hockey for the RedHawks in the Central Collegiate Hockey Conference (CCHA) and majored in sport studies. As a freshman, he recorded 20 points in 43 games and was invited to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp.
His sophomore year marked a clear breakthrough, as Smith tallied 54 points in 38 games and led the nation’s underclassmen in goals and points. He was named first team All-CCHA, a College Hockey News Second-Team All-American, and an INCH Third-Team All-American. In his junior season, he posted a career-high 30 goals in 39 games, was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, and earned First-Team All-America honors.
Reilly Smith Career
Early Career (2011-2013)
On March 25, 2012, Reilly Smith signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars and made his NHL debut on March 28, 2012, against the Edmonton Oilers. He appeared in three late-season games for Dallas before beginning the following year in the American Hockey League with the Texas Stars. After a strong start in the AHL, he was recalled in January 2013 and scored his first NHL goal on February 15, 2013, against Cory Schneider of the Vancouver Canucks.
During his time in Dallas, Smith played 28 games and recorded six points, but his most memorable moment in a Stars jersey came through his inclusion in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Bruins in July 2013, which sent Smith, Loui Eriksson, Joe Morrow and Matt Fraser to Boston in exchange for Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Ryan Button.
Boston Bruins Era (2013-2015)
Smith settled quickly into the Bruins’ lineup and was eventually promoted to a line with Patrice Bergeron and Loui Eriksson after injuries opened a top-six role. He finished his first season in Boston with 19 goals and 30 assists, including 17 points in November, and was named the 45th annual 7th Player by the New England Sports Network for exceeding expectations. The following year, he added 13 goals and 27 assists in the regular season and contributed four goals and an assist in 12 playoff games.
Florida Panthers Era (2015-2017)
On July 1, 2015, Smith was traded to the Florida Panthers, along with Marc Savard’s contract, in exchange for Jimmy Hayes. In his first season in Florida, he set a new career high with 50 points in 82 games and tied for third on the team in goal scoring. On July 3, 2016, he signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Panthers, though he later called his 2016-17 season disappointing after recording 15 goals and 22 assists.
Vegas Golden Knights Era (2017-2023)
On June 21, 2017, Smith was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL expansion draft and quickly formed a productive line with William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault. He recorded a career-high 60 points in the regular season and added five goals and 17 assists during the Knights’ run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. The following season, he surpassed the 50-point mark again and reached the milestones of 100 career NHL goals and 500 career NHL games.
Smith was named an alternate captain alongside Alex Pietrangelo after Mark Stone was named team captain, and on May 9, 2021, he recorded his first professional hat-trick in a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. In the 2022-23 season, he was one of six remaining original members of the Golden Knights and helped the team win the Stanley Cup over the Florida Panthers in five games, scoring the Cup-clinching goal.
Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers (2023-2025)
On June 28, 2023, Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a move tied to the Golden Knights’ salary cap plans. During the 2023-24 season opener, he and Bryan Rust scored in the first 41 seconds of the third period, becoming the second-fastest Penguins teammates to score at the start of a period in franchise history. On July 1, 2024, he was traded to the New York Rangers for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 and a second-round pick in 2027.
Return to Vegas (2025-Present)
On March 6, 2025, the Rangers traded Smith back to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Brendan Brisson and a third-round pick in 2025. After the season, he signed a one-year extension to remain in Vegas, avoiding free agency and completing a full-circle return to the franchise where he won the Stanley Cup.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith is widely regarded as a versatile two-way winger with reliable offensive instincts, strong skating, and effective puck distribution on the rush. He has built his best seasons alongside creative linemates such as William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, where his off-puck movement and ability to find soft ice in the offensive zone translated into consistent point totals. Coaches have valued his experience, defensive responsibility, and willingness to play in all situations, including the penalty kill.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Smith’s signature moments is his Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the 2023 Final against the Florida Panthers, a milestone that capped the Golden Knights’ championship run. He also recorded his first professional hat-trick against the St. Louis Blues in 2021, reached 100 career NHL goals in 2018, and appeared in his 500th career NHL game the same year.
Reilly Smith Career Wins
Reilly Smith’s most prominent career win is the 2023 Stanley Cup championship with the Vegas Golden Knights, earned after a five-game series victory over the Florida Panthers. He has also celebrated individual milestones such as his first NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks in 2013, his first professional hat-trick in 2021, and his 100th career NHL goal in 2018.
Stanley Cup and Playoff Highlights
Smith played a central role in the Golden Knights’ 2018 run to the Stanley Cup Final, where he posted five goals and 17 assists, and again in their 2023 Cup win, where he scored the decisive goal in the clinching game. Across his NHL career, he has been a steady playoff contributor, combining offensive touch with responsible two-way play in high-pressure matchups.
Other Wins and Performances
Smith won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge while developing as a junior player, and earned multiple All-America and All-CCHA honors during his three seasons at Miami University. He was also named the Bruins’ 7th Player in 2013-14 and recognized as the NHL Third Star of the Month in February 2018 during his first season with the Golden Knights.
Reilly Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Racing is not part of Reilly Smith’s background; instead, hockey runs deep in his family. His older brother Brendan Smith is a defenseman who has played in the NHL, while brother Rory Smith has competed in the National Lacrosse League. All three brothers grew up playing minor hockey in the Etobicoke neighborhood of Mimico before pursuing professional sports careers.
Personal Life
Reilly Smith is the son of Lester and Deirdre Smith, who supported his early development through Toronto-area youth programs. He attended St. Michael’s College School and later Miami University, where he studied sport studies while building his hockey career.
2025 Season Performance
Reilly Smith’s 2025 season began with a midseason homecoming when he was traded from the New York Rangers back to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 6, 2025. The deal sent Brendan Brisson and a third-round pick in 2025 to New York and reunited Smith with a franchise where he had already won a Stanley Cup. After the season, he signed a one-year extension to remain in Vegas, signaling the team’s interest in his playoff experience.
Throughout 2025, Smith continued to serve as a versatile two-way winger and alternate leader in a deep Golden Knights forward group. His familiarity with head coach Bruce Cassidy’s system and linemates such as William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault helped stabilize Vegas’ middle-six scoring. The Knights remained in the Western Conference playoff picture, and Smith’s veteran presence was seen as an asset for a potential postseason run.
Looking ahead, Smith’s one-year extension keeps him under contract beyond the trade deadline, and the Golden Knights will look to him for secondary scoring, penalty killing, and leadership. With another deep playoff push in mind, Smith’s blend of experience and offensive touch positions him as a key piece of Vegas’ pursuit of another Stanley Cup.
