Former Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman Signs in KHL with Dinamo Minsk

Back in the 2018 NHL Draft, the New Jersey Devils drafted defenseman Ty Smith out of the Western Hockey League with the No. 17 overall pick on the back of a very successful career with the Spokane Chiefs.

The pick was one that many believed would land the Devils a top-pairing defenseman for the future, but thus far it hasn't played out like that, as Smith has played in just 131 NHL games, tallying 49 points and a -31 point differential in that span.

However, even this past year, the 25-year old showed flashes in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves, tallying 28 points in 36 games played, but now, he's officially headed to the KHL, signing with Dinamo Minsk.

This is a move made to reinvigorate the career of Smith, who simply hasn't caught on in the NHL despite impressive production in the AHL, with many questions over whether he can truly compete on a nightly basis at the top level.

Since 2022, Smith has played in just 17 NHL games with Pittsburgh and Carolina, and despite so many teams out there needing depth on the blue line, it's become clear that he's just not cut out for the league at this stage.

At 25, there's still plenty of time for him to turn things around, and with the KHL being a jump over the AHL in competition level, he'll use this as a way to reinvigorate his career, and now, we'll see just how much he can impress in a brand new league.