The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Smith completed his second NHL season in 2021-22, appearing in 66 games and recording five goals, 15 assists and 20 points while averaging 17:30 minutes of time-on-ice per game. His 66 games played, five goals, 45 hits and 73 blocked shots were all career bests.
The left-handed shooting Smith has played in 114 career NHL contests over two seasons where he's notched seven goals, 36 assists, and 43 points. Smith was named to the NHL's 'All Rookie Team' in 2020-21 after leading all rookie blueliners in assists (21), points (23), and power-play points (7) that season.
Prior to his time in the NHL, Smith enjoyed a four-plus season junior hockey career with the Spokane Chiefs from 2016-20. With the Chiefs, Smith recorded 235 points (45G-90A) in 240 games and won the Bill Hunter Trophy, awarded to the top WHL defenseman, in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. He was also named the WHL (West) All-Star team in each of his last three seasons with the club and was also named the CHL's Defenseman of the Year in 2018-19.
A native of Lloydminster, Alberta, Smith has represented his home country on multiple occasions, including winning gold medals with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2020 and Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2018.
Smith was originally drafted by New Jersey in the first round (17th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft.
The acquisition of New Jersey's 2023 third-round pick gives Pittsburgh nine selections in the 2023 NHL draft - one in each of the first six rounds and three in the seventh round.
