Brett Connolly celebrated his 27th birthday over the weekend and Devante Smith-Pelly was there for the festivities.
Smith-Pelly documented the party with two pieces of media on his Instagram Story.
With the Washington Capitals entering their offseason earlier than anticipated, the future of several players remains in flux, with restricted and unrestricted free agency coming up on July 1.
Devante Smith-Pelly has yet to secure a contract with the Capitals for the 2019-20 season, and there appears to be no plan to send him back to Hershey — who are playing the Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division Final — for the remainder of their Calder Cup run.
Smith-Pelly was called back up to the Capitals roster after a broken collarbone sidelined TJ Oshie. He was waived and sent to the Capitals AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, back in February. DSP tallied 14 points in 20 games with the Bears, including a hat trick in March against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
On breakdown day, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said that the Capitals were open to signing Smith-Pelly to another contract, but only if he met certain requirements.
By Donya Abramo 4 weeks ago
TJ Oshie is out of the Capitals’ lineup, but not out of their hearts.
Devante Smith-Pelly, who was recalled after Oshie fractured his collarbone in Game Four, wore TJ Oshie’s number 77 hoodie before the game.
By Brennin Weiswerda 1 month ago
When one man goes down, another must step up.
After the Capitals likely lost TJ Oshie for the rest of the postseason, the team called up one of their heroes from last season’s Stanley Cup triumph, Devante Smith-Pelly, from Hershey.
DSP’s reception back home has been powerful. After missing the team’s skate Friday, Smith-Pelly took the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex and got a loud ovation from fans.
By Ian Oland 1 month ago
Creative Caps’ fan Miranda is perhaps best known for her hair-larious Carl Hagelin sign. While she made that sign to welcome Hagelin to his new hockey team, her latest sign is welcoming a player back home.
Devante Smith-Pelly returns to the line-up for Game Five on Easter weekend. Of course Miranda had to let him know that she and the Capitals’ fanbase as a whole are happy that he’s risen all the way from Hershey back to DC with an Easter-themed poster.
“He could have gone anywhere after the Cup,” Miranda said, “but he chose to stay here. He knew how important it was for kids in the area to see someone that looks like them playing in their city in the NHL. I think it says a lot about him that that factored into his decision to stay.
“But also,” she added, “he really seems to have fun.” And this poster is nothing if not fun.
By Brennin Weiswerda 1 month ago
When TJ Oshie went down with an upper-body injury after Warren Foegele cross checked him into the boards, the Capitals worked quickly to bring Devante Smith-Pelly back to DC.
Although Smith-Pelly couldn’t make it onto the ice in time for Friday’s optional skate, Todd Reirden said that he will immediately slot into the lineup.
By Julia Karron 1 month ago
Everyone processes a separation from a loved one in different ways: some people delete their exes’ phone number, throw away old mementos, or cut them out of photos. Paisano’s Pizza’s unique solution was to edit spokesperson Devante Smith-Pelly out of a commercial when he was put on waivers and reassigned to the Hershey Bears in February.
Now that DSP has been recalled, Paisano’s is “rushing to make the edits to get him back on the air,” according to very, very excellent reporting by the Washington Post’s Scott Allen.
By Brennin Weiswerda 1 month ago
The Washington Capitals lost TJ Oshie to injury, likely longterm, after getting boarded in the third period of Game Four.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has responded by calling up Devante Smith-Pelly from the Hershey Bears. DSP had 14 points in 20 games with the Bears after being sent down in February. The forward tallied a hat trick in March against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
In a corresponding move, the Capitals sent down goaltender Vitek Vanecek.
Devante Smith-Pelly was a playoff hero for the Capitals during their first successful Stanley Cup run, registering seven goals and one assist during the twenty-four games played. This year he’ll start the postseason in the AHL.
After the Washington Capitals held practice Monday, general manager Brian MacLellan said that they had no plans to call up DSP ahead of the team’s first-round series.
By Julia Karron 2 months ago
Devante Smith-Pelly is officially on fire in the AHL.
The Hershey Bears forward now has goals in three straight games and points in five straight after registering a goal and an assist against the Toronto Marlies, Friday.
After falling behind 4-2, the Bears clawed back to tie before losing 5-4. Smith-Pelly scored the unassisted game-tying goal in the third period, which forced overtime.
By Ian Oland 2 months ago
