The following is a press release from the official site of the Detroit Red Wings.
Brendan Smith Re-signs with the Red Wings for two years
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today announced that they have re-signed defenseman Brendan Smith to a two-year contract. In accordance with club policy, additional details will not be disclosed.
Smith, 26, has played in a total of 195 games for the Red Wings in the past four seasons, recording 10 goals, 37 assists and 185 penalty minutes. The blueliner has also skated in 24 NHL playoff games for the Red Wings over the past three years, tallying two goals and three assists. Last year, Smith suited up in a career-high 76 games for Detroit and posted 13 points (4-9-13), along with 68 penalty minutes for the second-straight year.
Selected by the Red Wings in the first round (27th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Smith started his professional career with the Grand Rapids Griffins, logging a total of 152 games between three seasons in Grand Rapids and recording 86 points (27-59-86). During his rookie campaign with the Griffins (2010-11), Smith posted 32 points (12-20-32), finishing the season with the third-highest point total in franchise history for a first-year defenseman.
Prior to turning pro, Smith was a standout at the University of Wisconsin, totaling 87 points (26-61-87) in three seasons (2007-10) from the blueline. During his junior year at Wisconsin, Smith led all NCAA defensemen with 15 goals and 37 assists in 42 games en route to winning the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year award and being named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. The Mimico, Ontario, native also played two seasons in the OPJHL with the St. Michael’s Buzzers where he recorded 68 points (20-48-68) in 99 games.
Main Photo credit: Brendan Smith of the Detroit Red Wings prepares for a game in Anaheim against the Ducks. bridgetds via photopin cc
