After being released from his professional try out by the Calgary Flames ahead of the 2019-20 season, forward Devante Smith-Pelly has found a new team. It is not in the NHL.
R-Sport Russia has reported that the Stanley Cup champion is heading to China to play for the Kunlun Red Star of the KHL.
DSP is not the only former NHLer to join the team in China. Just recently Ryan Sproul and Griffin Reinhart also signed with Kunlun.
This might come as a surprise to some fans, especially the ones in Washington as Smith-Pelly scored seven goals during the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run in 2018. Over this past offseason, the Capitals opted to not bring DSP back as he hit unrestricted free agency without a deal.
He managed to ink a PTO with the Flames however did not manage to impress and crack the roster.
A 2010 second-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks,Smith-Pelly has recorded 44 goals and 57 assists over 395 games with the Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Capitals.
