Ben Smith has been a proven winner in his hockey career to date.

At the time of writing, he is the only captain in Toronto Marlies franchise history to lift the Calder Cup trophy.

His journey to that moment was seemingly meant to be, as Smith only tasted success in his third separate stint in Toronto.

The North Carolina native spent his collegiate career with Boston and enjoyed success during his four years. Twice a championship winner and runner-up once.

Drafted 169th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2008, Smith turned professional with the Rockford Icehogs two years later and made his NHL debut in October of that year.

The USA forward would spend the best part of five seasons in the Chicago organisation, the highlight of which was winning a Stanley Cup in 2013.

On March 2, 2015, Smith was traded by the Blackhawks to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Andrew Desjardins.

He would spend the majority of his time with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate before being traded almost exactly a year later to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for James Reimer and Jeremy Morin.

In sixteen NHL games for Toronto, Smith accumulated six points but was put on waivers and reassigned to the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the AHL campaign.

Ben Smith’s first goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs:

The right-winger made an immediate impact with the Marlies, scoring four goals and registering two assists in five regular-season games.

Toronto’s AHL affiliate headed into the play-offs as huge favourites to win the Calder Cup and although Smith made a strong contribution of nine points in fifteen games the Marlies fell in the Conference Finals.

A free agent in the summer of 2016, Smith opted to sign a one-year, two-way deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
Despite making the Avalanche opening night roster, Smith’s stay in Colorado was a brief one.
Placed on waivers, Smith was picked up by the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 24 and would spend the entirety of the season in the NHL but only played 36 games.

Once more a free agent, Smith opted to re-sign with Toronto.
It was likely with the knowledge he wasn’t going to be in the Leafs’ plans, which played out as he received no time in the NHL during the 2017-18 campaign.

In the American League, Smith was part of a Marlies team that proved irresistible, winning 54 of 76 regular-season games.

Already an influential member of the leadership group, Smith was appointed captain on January 3, 2018, and he led from the front offensively, recording 59 points (27-32-59) in 73 games.

After the disappointing 2016 playoff run which many thought should have culminated with Toronto crowned champions, there would be no mistakes made this time around.

Yet again Smith was at the forefront offensively, recording sixteen points in twenty playoff games but none as important as the last that he recorded as a member of the Toronto Marlies.

Sinking the fifth goal in the deciding game seven, an empty-net tally, leaving no doubt that he would be hoisting the Calder Cup several minutes later.

Earlier in the championship season, Toronto’s captain had already agreed to depart North America, signing with German team Adler Mannheim.

Smith took like a duck to water to European hockey in the top German league, helping himself to 35 points in 52 games before yet again rising to the occasion come playoff time.
Fourteen points in as many games for Mannheim meant he was tasting another championship success.

A second successive championship looked to be on the cards for Smith and Mannheim, with the right-winger on an offensive tear with 45 points in 52 games.

The CoVid19 pandemic put paid to that and to the commencement of the 2020/21 DEL season, which was delayed until December.

With that in mind, Smith was allowed to go out on loan and played a short stint in Sweden.

With Rögle BK of the SHL, the US forward accrued four points in ten games before returning to Germany as the new captain of Adler Mannheim.

Ben Smith’s record with the Toronto Marlies.

Regular Season:

78 Games 31-34-65

Playoffs:

35 Games 9-16-25

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