DETROIT, MICH — The Red Wings have signed 2016 second-round pick Givani Smith to a three-year entry-level contract. Smith is in his fourth, and final season of junior hockey. He is expected to make the move to the pro-level next season.
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Smith, 18, was selected by Detroit in the second round (46th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y., in June. The 6-foot-2, 204-pound winger appeared in two games with the Red Wings during the preseason before returning to the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm for his fourth season of major junior hockey.
Through seven games with the Storm this season, Smith has tallied five points (2-3-5), 24 penalty minutes and 28 shots on goal. In his first full season with Guelph in 2015-16, he finished second on his team in goals (23) and points (42) while also leading the team in penalty minutes. Smith split his OHL rookie campaign between the Storm and Barrie Colts, totaling 19 points (7-12-19) in 61 total games. He recorded four points (0-4-4) in 31 games with Barrie and added 15 points (7-8-15) in 30 regular season games, also picking up five points (2-3-5) in nine postseason games.
