Smith Named to Postseason All-Rookie Team

According to Chris Wescott of the Devils’ official site, defenseman Ty Smith has been named to the NHL All-Rookie Team today.

Tom Gulitti shared on Twitter that Smith finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting as rookie of the year. He received one third place vote, three fourth place votes and 11 fifth place votes, edging just ahead of the Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stutzle. Yegor Sharangovich finished one place below Stutzle with one second place vote, once fourth place vote and seven fifth place votes. The Calder Trophy was ultimately won by Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild.

Smith was named to the team by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, the same men and women who vote for the Calder Trophy winner.

Smith led all NHL rookie defensemen with 21 assists and 23 points. Wescott also mentioned that he also led in power play assists with six and power play points with seven.

Wescott mentions in his article that Smith “averaged 20:07 of ice time in 48 games.” He also “became just the sixth defenseman in League history to begin his career with a point streak of at least five games.”

Smith was picked 17th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. He made the Devils this year after being a late-camp cut in 2019 – when he was sent back to the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. He followed up his final junior season by making the New Jersey club and posting the numbers that got him a spot on the 2020-21 All-Rookie Team.

Joining him on the 2020-21 NHL All-Rookie Team are: goalie Alex Nedeljkovic of the Carolina Hurricanes, fellow blueliner K’Andre Miller of the Rangers, forward Kaprizov, forward Josh Norris of the Senators and forward Jason Roberson of the Dallas Stars.