Spark Plug

Throughout the 2017-18 season, it's been well documented that right wing Tom Wilson has been a reliable player who head coach Barry Trotz often turns to whenever he wants to jumpstart a certain line. But another Capitals winger who has proven to be just as versatile is Devante Smith-Pelly.

Smith-Pelly, who signed with the Capitals in July, was initially brought in to provide organizational depth at forward. But instead of being a player without a defined role, Smith-Pelly has become a key player for the Capitals, who has played in all but two games for Washington this season.
Because of his versatility, Smith-Pelly has been able to move up and down the lineup for Trotz, as he's seen time on the Capitals fourth line, but has also recently earned time on the Capitals top line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
"With my style of play, I try to get in on the forecheck and create a little bit of space," Smith-Pelly said. "That meshes well with guys who are similar to me and the skill guys. I try not to change my game regardless of who I'm playing with, and I think my style fits with a bunch of different guys regardless of their style."

Although Smith-Pelly makes an effort to keep his play the same regardless of which line he's on, he admits that it's easy to get caught up in trying to match the skill of Ovechkin and Backstrom when he's alongside them on the Capitals top line.
"It's kind of tough when you're playing with Backy and Ovi you want to get a hat trick to show that you belong," Smith-Pelly said. "I try not to change but obviously it's tough sometimes. I'm always trying to get the puck and put it in Backy's hands, and Ovi's hands as well, because he's a very underrated passer. I want to create space so I can allow those two guys to make some plays."

Smith-Pelly has earned his way onto the top line by having success all over the Capitals lineup. One night he could be using his skill to set up a teammate for a scoring chance, another he can lead the team in hits, as he's done in each of the Capitals' last two games and three times over the last five games. He's even willing to mix it with the opposition, dropping the gloves with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton after he threw a bit hit against Brooks Orpik on Jan 9.
The Scarborough, Ontario native has proven his value to Trotz, who didn't know much about Smith-Pelly before he came to Washington.
"I wasn't sure on him (Smith-Pelly), to be honest with you," Trotz said. "Just because of not seeing him enough and not knowing him, I knew there was something there, but to be honest with you, I wasn't a big fan. But as you got to know him, and you got to see what he can do, I am a fan."

Halfway through the season, it's no surprise that Trotz has grown to love Smith-Pelly's game and how he fits with the rest of the team. In 43 games played, Smith-Pelly has scored 13 points (6g, 7a), which puts him on pace to post his third career 20-point season.
Smith-Pelly has played on three teams in the past three seasons, but with the Capitals he's found the confidence that has allowed him to play without having to look over his shoulder after a bad play.

"I've played other places where a mistake or a bad game would get me taken off a line," Smith-Pelly said. "I learned pretty early here that Trotzy just wants us to play. In my first game here, I had a giveaway and the other team scored to take the lead, and I came to the bench kind of expecting that that was probably my last shift of the third period. But I kept playing after that, I might have even played more after that. The next day Trotzy came up to me and said, 'that stuff is going to happen, don't worry about it. You were trying to make a play and it just didn't work. Just keep trying to make plays and keep doing what you're doing.' So hearing that after the first game, as the new guy on a new team, gave me the confidence to just go and not worry about mistakes like I would have in the past."
Smith-Pelly was an underrated signing over the summer who didn't generate much buzz, but after the contributions he's made through the first half of the season, it's hard to overstate how important he's been to the team's success.