Former Stanley Cup champion leaves North America, signs in KHL
After spending parts of nine seasons playing professionally in North America, mostly in the AHL along with nearly 100 NHL games, Gemel Smith has signed in Russia.
According to reports, Smith has agreed to a contract for the 2023-24 season with the Dinamo Minsk, Belarus' lone KHL club.
Smith, 29, was selected 104th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. He went on to appear in 91 games in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings, tallying 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists), 58 penalty minutes and is a plus-one.
In 2021 as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Gemel Smith hoisted the Stanley Cup. While he didn't meet the requirement to have his name on the Cup, he joined the team on the ice following their Game 5 win over the Montreal Canadiens to celebrate.