Gemel Smith Bio
Gemel Smith is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who was born on April 16, 1994, in Toronto, Ontario. Standing 178 cm and weighing 88 kg, he has built a versatile career across the National Hockey League (NHL), the American Hockey League (AHL), and several international leagues. He is best known for his time in the NHL with the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Tampa Bay Lightning, and currently competes for the Grizzlys Wolfsburg in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Selected 104th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, Smith has been a professional since 2014. Across more than a decade in the sport, he has earned a reputation for his work ethic, offensive touch at lower levels, and willingness to embrace new opportunities abroad when his North American path shifted.
Early Life and Background
Gemel Smith was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, growing up in one of Canada’s most hockey-saturated markets. He is of Jamaican descent through both parents, a heritage that has shaped his identity away from the rink.
His early exposure to organized hockey came through midget programs in the Greater Toronto area. Smith first played midget hockey with the Markham Majors before progressing to the North York Rangers of the Greater Toronto Major Midget Hockey League. Those developmental years provided the foundation for his jump to major junior hockey and, eventually, the professional ranks.
His younger brother, Givani Smith, has also carved out a professional career. Givani was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and has played in the NHL, including time with the Colorado Avalanche, giving the Smith family a notable presence in professional hockey.
Path to Professional Hockey
Smith’s route to the NHL began in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was selected 120th overall in the OHL’s 2010 Priority Selection by the Owen Sound Attack. In his first major junior season of 2010–11, he finished with 16 points in 66 games, signaling a steady rather than spectacular start to his development.
He completed his OHL career with the London Knights, a program known for producing NHL-ready players. His progression through the Attack and the Knights helped him earn an NHL opportunity, and on May 31, 2014, the Dallas Stars signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. That deal marked his official transition to the professional game.
Gemel Smith Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Smith made his professional debut in the 2014–15 season after being assigned by the Dallas Stars to their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. As a rookie, he contributed 10 goals and 27 points in 68 games, a solid introduction to the pace and physicality of professional hockey.
He spent the next season and a half refining his two-way game in the AHL, learning the systems that would eventually earn him a look in Dallas. The Stars’ development plan gave him time to grow without rushing him into the NHL lineup.
NHL Breakthrough with the Dallas Stars (2016–2018)
Smith’s first NHL opportunity arrived in the 2016–17 season, when a rash of injuries in Dallas led to his recall on October 22, 2016. He made his NHL debut that night, skating on the fourth line in a 3–0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his seventh game with the Stars, he scored his first two NHL goals in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on November 6, 2016.
On July 11, 2017, the Stars re-signed Smith to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000. In his first full NHL season, he recorded six goals and 11 points in 46 games, often serving as a healthy scratch when the lineup was full. On August 3, 2018, he was re-signed to a one-year, $720,000 contract extension, but his time in Dallas was nearing its end.
Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning (2018–2021)
During the 2018–19 season, on December 6, Smith was claimed on waivers by the Boston Bruins. He appeared in three games with Boston before being reassigned to the Providence Bruins on December 19, 2018. In Providence, he was an offensive presence, contributing 40 points in 47 games.
As a restricted free agent, Smith was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Bruins and became an unrestricted free agent on June 25, 2019. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 8, 2019. He was one of eight players called up to the Lightning’s training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and was part of the organization during back-to-back championship runs in 2020 and 2021, even though he did not play in every postseason game.
Late NHL Stops and AHL Resurgence (2021–2023)
Smith began the 2021–22 season on long-term injured reserve with the Lightning. After returning to health, he was claimed on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings on January 19, 2022, and was sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins for a conditioning stint on January 23, 2022. On February 19, 2022, the Lightning reclaimed him on waivers.
In 2022–23, Smith remained within the Lightning organization, playing for the Syracuse Crunch, where he finished third in team scoring with 37 points in 35 games. On February 16, 2023, he was loaned to the Henderson Silver Knights, the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, and posted 5 goals and 16 points in 19 games to close the season.
European Venture and Return to North America (2023–2025)
As a free agent from the Lightning, Smith signed a one-year contract with Belarusian club HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL on July 20, 2023. He collected 4 goals in 15 appearances before being released and promptly signing with Chinese KHL outfit Kunlun Red Star on November 29, 2023, for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.
Returning to North America, Smith signed a professional tryout with the Syracuse Crunch on October 8, 2024. His third stint with the Crunch was short, as he was released from his PTO after 7 appearances and 4 points on October 29, 2024. On December 13, 2024, he signed a tryout with the Bridgeport Islanders, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, before ultimately joining the Grizzlys Wolfsburg in Germany’s DEL.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith is recognized for his offensive touch at the AHL level, his willingness to play a responsible two-way game, and his ability to slot into a bottom-six role when called up to the NHL. His skating, work along the boards, and penalty-killing reliability have made him a useful depth forward for several organizations, while his career-best AHL seasons have showcased a creative playmaking side that did not always translate to the NHL score sheet.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Smith’s career are his first two NHL goals against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 6, 2016, and his role in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization during their 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup championships. His 40-point campaign with the Providence Bruins in 2018–19 and a 37-point output with the Syracuse Crunch in 2022–23 stand out as his most productive AHL seasons.
Gemel Smith Career Wins
Gemel Smith is a two-time Stanley Cup champion as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, having been part of the roster group that won back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021. Across the AHL, NHL, KHL, and DEL, he has consistently produced offensively at the second-tier level while serving in a depth role at the top tier.
NHL and AHL Highlights
Smith’s NHL career includes stints with the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Tampa Bay Lightning, with his first two goals coming against the Chicago Blackhawks in November 2016. In the AHL, he has been a top producer for the Texas Stars, Providence Bruins, Syracuse Crunch, and Henderson Silver Knights, including a 40-point season in Providence and a 37-point season in Syracuse.
International Performances
Abroad, Smith has suited up for HC Dinamo Minsk and Kunlun Red Star in the KHL, and has joined the Grizzlys Wolfsburg in Germany’s DEL, continuing to extend his professional career into his early thirties.
Gemel Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Smith is of Jamaican descent through both parents. His younger brother, Givani Smith, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and has played in the NHL, including with the Colorado Avalanche, giving the Smith brothers a shared presence in professional hockey.
Personal Life
During the 2018–19 NHL season, Smith openly discussed battling depression-like symptoms and difficulty sleeping, describing himself as being in a sunken place. While with the Boston Bruins, teammate Patrice Bergeron encouraged him to seek help, an experience Smith has spoken about as a turning point in his personal life.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Gemel Smith is with the Grizzlys Wolfsburg of Germany’s DEL, a new chapter after his most recent AHL stops with the Syracuse Crunch and Bridgeport Islanders. The move to one of Europe’s top leagues gives him a fresh opportunity to play a featured role and contribute offensively on a nightly basis.
His early-season storyline in Wolfsburg will likely focus on adjusting to the larger international ice surface and the structured, puck-possession style common in the DEL. Consistent production and healthy availability will be key markers of his adaptation to a league where North American imports often need a period of adjustment.
Long term, Smith’s 2025 campaign serves as a bridge year, with the goal of reviving his offensive game and positioning himself for another run at an NHL contract or a longer-term deal in Europe. His track record of scoring in the AHL and KHL suggests he has the skill set to deliver if given the opportunity.