Monday, July 1, 2013

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have re-signed goaltender Mike Smith to a six-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Smith

"We are pleased to sign Mike to a multi-year contract," said Maloney. "Mike has emerged as a top NHL goaltender with his size, athletic ability and strong work ethic. He is capable of leading us to a Stanley Cup championship, the goal of our franchise. This is an important signing for our Club."

Smith, who originally signed with the Coyotes as a free agent on July 1, 2011, went 15-12-10 with a 2.58 goals against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage (SV%) in 2012-13. His five shutouts were tied for first in the NHL. The 31-year-old netminder has posted a 53-30-15 record with a .924 SV% and a 2.33 GAA in two seasons in Phoenix. His 13 career shutouts with the Coyotes rank fifth all-time in franchise history.

"I'm thrilled to re-sign with the Coyotes," said Smith. "We have a great young team and an excellent coaching staff and management team. I've really enjoyed playing in the Valley the past two seasons and this is where I wanted to stay."

Smith registered a 38-18-10 record with a 2.21 GAA and a .930 SV% in a career-high 67 games in 2011-12. His career-high 38 wins ranked fourth in the NHL while Smith’s eight shutouts finished tied for third in the league and matched the single-season franchise record. The Kingston, Ontario native established a new single-season franchise mark in SV% while his GAA and wins ranked second on the single-season franchise list.

Smith was named the NHL’s First Star of the Month for February when he went 11-0-0 and set a franchise record with an 11-game winning streak. He posted a 1.42 GAA, a .952 SV% and two shutouts in February and was also named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Feb. 13.

The 6’4”, 215-pound Smith was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Apr. 8 after he recorded a 0.67 GAA and a .982 SV% in three consecutive wins to help Phoenix capture its first Pacific Division title in franchise history. Smith began the week by establishing a new NHL record for saves in a regular-season shutout with 54 saves in a 2-0 win vs. Columbus on Apr. 3.

Smith registered a 9-7-3 record with a 1.99 GAA and a .944 SV% in 16 postseason starts. His three shutouts ranked tied for first among all playoff goalies. In the Western Conference Quarterfinal against Chicago, Smith led the Coyotes to their first playoff series win since moving to Arizona in 1996. In six games versus the Blackhawks, he registered a 1.81 GAA and a .950 SV% along with his first career playoff shutout in Game 6 at Chicago.

Smith started all five games against Nashville in the Western Conference Semifinals. He recorded a 25-save shutout in Game 4 and finished the series with a 1.73 GAA and a .943 SV% as Phoenix advanced to the Western Conference Final for the first time in team history.

Prior to joining the Coyotes, Smith played in 162 NHL games throughout six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars, posting a 67-66-19 record with a 2.71 GAA and a .906 SV%.

In 2010-11, Smith appeared in 22 games with the Lightning registering a 13-6-1 record with one shutout, a 2.90 GAA and a .899 SV%. In three playoff games with Tampa Bay, he posted a 1-1 record with a 1.00 GAA and a .958 SV%. He played in a then career-high 42 games for the Lightning recording 13 wins in 2009-10. Smith was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week on Jan. 4 after going 2-0-1 with a 1.31 GAA and a .957 SV% .

Smith was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in the fifth-round (161st overall) in the 2001 Entry Draft. He played two seasons with the Stars (2006-2008) before being acquired by Tampa Bay with Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern and a fourth-round pick in 2009 in exchange for Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist on Feb. 26, 2008.