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| 1974 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Neil Smith
Selected in 13th round
No.
204 overall by New York Islanders
Born January
9, 1954
 | Position:
Defense
Height: 6-2 Weight: 190
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Brockville (Ontario Jr. A)
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
Hometown:
Don Mills, Ontario |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1973-74 |
Brockville | COJHL |
-- | -- |
-- | -- |
-- |
|
| NHL CAREER |
Never played in NHL.
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Stanley Cup: 1981, 1982 (N.Y. Islanders)
(scout) (name not engraved on Cup), 1994 (N.Y. Rangers) (as president/general
manager)
Hockey News NHL Executive of Year: 1993-94 (N.Y.Rangers)
Sporting News NHL Executive of Year: 1991-92 (N.Y. Rangers)
N.Y.
Rangers Good Guy Award (Media Vote): 1993-94
N.J.
Sportswriters' Assn. Executive of Year: 1994 (N.Y. Rangers)
Scouting Career: Named N.Y. Islanders part-time advance scout prior to
1980-81 season and remained in that position through 1980-81 season. ... Named
N.Y. Islanders pro scout prior to 1981-82 season and remained in that position
until July 1982.
Management Career: Named Detroit Director of Pro Scouting in July 1982,
had title upgraded to Director of Pro Scouting/Farm System prior to
1983-84 season, and remained in that position until June 5, 1985. ... Named
Detroit Director of Scouting/Player Procurement on June 5, 1985, and remained
in that position until July 17, 1989. ... Named N.Y. Rangers vice president
and general manager on July 17, 1989, had title upgraded to president and
general manager on June 19, 1992, and remained in that position until March
28, 2000. ... Named Anaheim consultant on Sept. 19, 2000, and remained in that
position through 2001-02 season.
Miscellaneous: Broke into NHL front office position in July 1982 when,
at age 28, he was hired by Detroit general manager Jim Devellano to run
Detroit's pro scouting department. Devellano's ties to Smith dated back to his
own days as a N.Y. Islanders scout, when he was instrumental in that
organization's drafting Smith. ... Was youngest chief scout in NHL when he
took over Detroit's amateur scouting department at age 31 in 1985. He remained
the league's youngest chief scout for the next four years. ... Became NHL's
youngest general manager when he took over N.Y. Rangers at age 35 in 1989. ...
Was runner-up in voting for 1989-90 Hockey News NHL Executive of the
Year award. ... Was first N.Y. Rangers president to also serve as team's
general manager. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams: Western Michigan (CCHA);
Kalamazoo, Saginaw (IHL); Cape Cod (NEHL); Hampton (EHL); Dayton, Milwaukee,
Muskegon (IHL)
World Cup of Hockey: 1996 (second place) (asst.
general manager)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
AHL Calder Cup: 1986, 1989 (Adirondack) (as
general manager)
AHCA College Division West All-America: 1974-75 (W. Michigan)
CCHA All-Star Honorable Mention: 1975-76 (W. Michigan)
Western Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame: Inducted 1991
Western Michigan Co-captain: 1975-76
Western Michigan Assistant Captain: 1976-77
1978-79: Played five games for Kalamazoo team that went on to win IHL
Turner Cup, but was not with team during postseason.
Management Career: Named Adirondack (AHL) general manager on June 5,
1985, and remained in that position until July 17, 1989. ... Led ownership
group that purchased Johnstown (ECHL) team in June 2002 and served as team's
majority owner into 2002-03 season.
Miscellaneous: Played role of a Rangers player in the 1983 TV movie Rage of Angels,
starring Jaclyn Smith. ... Was first hockey player named to Western Michigan
Athletic Hall of Fame. ... Received Western Michigan Distinguished Alumni
Award in 1998. ... Served on board of directors for National Child Abuse
Prevention Center. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '74 | | Total Selected: |
246 | | Forwards: |
138 | | Defense: |
84 | | Goaltenders: |
24 | | Major Junior: |
171 | | College Players: |
44 |
| Canadian: |
200 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
0 | | USA Citizens: |
40 | | U.S.-Born: |
39 |
| European: |
6 |
| Reached NHL: |
98 |
| Won Stanley Cup: |
15 | | Hall of Fame: |
2 |
| All-Star Game: |
21 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
5 |
| Olympians: |
5 |
| Picks Traded: |
13 |
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