| Round | Overall |
| 5 | 59 |
 |
 |
Left-hand shot
Pre-Draft Statistics
| Year | Team | League | GP | G | A | TP | PIM |
| 1967-68 | Brockville | Jr.B | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1968-69 | Cornwall | QJHL | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Pre-Draft Notes
Played for Cornwall in 1968 Memorial Cup tournament.
Career Vitals
| First contract: | 1969 |
| Debut: | October 9, 1974 (Washington at N.Y. Rangers) |
| Final NHL game: | November 18, 1979 (Winnipeg vs. Pittsburgh) |
| Retired: | 1983 |
| Stanley Cup: | Never won |
| Numbers worn: | 6, 8 (Washington); 29 (Winnipeg) |
Career NHL Statistics
Teams:
Washington, Winnipeg
Years: 1974-1979. Playoffs:
None
| Regular Season | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 6 years | 299 | 9 | 30 | 39 | 284 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 0 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Complete statistics available at NHL.com | |||||
Career Highlights
Won CHL Adams Cup with Omaha in 1970 after joining team during playoffs. ... Named to EHL North All-Star First Team with New Haven in 1970-71. ... Named to EHL North All-Star First Team with New Haven in 1971-72. ... Led all AHL defensemen in points (67) and assists (54) with Springfield in 1973-74. The 67 points were five short of an AHL record for defensemen at the time, and the two assists were two short of a record. ... Won Eddie Shore Award as AHL's outstanding defenseman with Springfield in 1973-74. ... Named to AHL All-Star First Team with Springfield in 1973-74. ... Played on first Washington Capitals team in 1974-75 and made his NHL debut in the first game in franchise history on Oct. 9, 1974, vs. N.Y. Rangers at Madison Square Garden. ... Named to AHL All-Star Second Team with Richmond in 1975-76. ... Played on first Winnipeg Jets NHL team in 1979-80 and appeared in team's first-ever NHL game on Oct. 10, 1979, at Pittsburgh. ... Named to CHL All-Star Second Team with Tulsa in 1979-80.
Transaction History
November 1969 -- Loaned by Salem (EHL) to New Haven in exchange for loan of Lynn Margarit. May 22, 1970 -- Signed with Los Angeles as an unrestricted free agent after New York opted not to offer him a contract for the 1970-71 season. June 12, 1974 -- Claimed by Washington from Los Angeles in NHL Expansion Draft. June 13, 1979 -- Claimed by Winnipeg from Washington in NHL Expansion Draft. Aug. 6, 1980 -- Rights sold by Winnipeg to N.Y. Rangers. January 1983 -- Signed with Maine (AHL) as an unrestricted free agent.
Significant Injuries
Missed start of 1980-81 season with separated shoulder, an injury suffered in the practice prior to New Haven (AHL) opening game in October 1980.
Life Outside the NHL
Full Name: Gordon
John Smith
Nicknames: "Truck",
"Smitty"
Also Known as: Gordie Smith,
Gordon Smith
Other Post-Draft Teams: Salem,
New Haven (EHL); Omaha (CHL); Springfield (AHL); Richmond (AHL); Hershey (AHL); Tulsa (CHL); New Haven, Maine (AHL)
Family: Older brother of Hockey Hall
of Fame goaltender Billy Smith. ... Younger brother of former
minor-leaguer Jack Smith.
Miscellaneous:
| Was 14th overall pick (and fourth defenseman taken) in 1974 NHL Expansion Draft. | Was famous for his ability to hip check to take down much bigger opponents in open ice. | One of only two Washington players to appear in all 80 games of the 1977-78 season. | Missed first half of 1982-83 season looking for a team to join, eventually going to Maine. |
| SNAPSHOT '69 | |
| Total Selected: | 84 |
| Forwards: | 58 |
| Defense: | 18 |
| Goaltenders: | 8 |
| Major Junior: | 68 |
| College Players: | 8 |
| Canadian: | 78 |
| Euro-Canadian: | 1 |
| American: | 4 |
| European: | 1 |
| Reached NHL: | 49 |
| Won Stanley Cup: | 10 |
| Hall of Fame: | 1 |
| All-Star Game: | 7 |
| Year-end All-Star: | 1 |
| Olympians: | 2 |
| Picks Traded: | 11 |
| 1969 PICKS BY TEAM | ||
| Boston | Chicago | Detroit |
| Los Angeles | Minnesota | Montreal |
| New York | Oakland | Philadelphia |
| Pittsburgh | St. Louis | Toronto |
OTHERS DRAFTED IN 1969