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Did the Anaheim Ducks underestimate Devante Smith-Pelly?

By Jacob Robles |
LAS VEGAS, VA - JUNE 7:Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) skates with the Stanley Cup after winning Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday, June 7, 2018. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, VA - JUNE 7:Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) skates with the Stanley Cup after winning Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday, June 7, 2018. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Former Anaheim Ducks forward Devante Smith-Pelly is now a Stanley Cup Champion. Anaheim fans are asking a familiar question. Did the Ducks give DSP enough of a chance to succeed before trading him away?

The sting of watching a former player win a Cup hurts. Watching a former player that came through your system hurts even more. Enter former Anaheim Ducks player, Devante Smith-Pelly.

History

Drafted 42nd overall in 2010, Smith-Pelly spent almost four years in the Anaheim system before being traded to Montreal in late 2015 for Jiri Sekac. From Montreal, went to New Jersey and finally landed in Washington this past season. DSP and the Caps obviously went onto to claim Lord Stanley this postseason, and it begs the question: Did the Ducks give Smith-Pelly enough of a chance to prove himself?

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I’m not a huge fan of proposing questions like this because there’s no way we can control what a player does on the ice. Athletes don’t always fit into their team’s style of play, nor are they guaranteed to be bonafide superstars. That’s just how it is.

Trade to Montreal

In hindsight, I don’t think the Anaheim Ducks gave Devo enough of a chance to succeed. His trade away from the Anaheim Ducks for Sekac, a winger who barely got any ice time is a killer. As much as I like Sekac, and still wish he was with the club, the trade to acquire him from Montreal was nowhere near worth it.

When you also consider Sekac left for Russia shortly after being hot potato-ed between Chicago and Arizona, it makes it that even harder to swallow. Is this kind of an overreaction over a player who’s not always on the scoresheet? Well, yes most likely. What else can we think?

It’s hard watching guys you grew attached to succeed somewhere else. But, hockey is a business and that’s just how things are. This is one of those offseasons where it’s been talked about the Ducks missing certain players who used to be a part of the team. The emergence of William Karlsson with the Golden Knights is a prime example.

As much as it may hurt watching these former Ducks do well, the best we can do is wish them the best. We can’t undo what’s been done. It’s not every day that you see players given a fresh start and make the most of the opportunity.

In Conclusion

Now for my final verdict. Yes, I do believe Anaheim missed the mark with Devante Smith-Pelly. While he’s not posting superstar numbers by any stretch, DSP plays with a lot of heart. He’s produced when it’s mattered most and on an international stage.

Next: Does Jakob Silfverberg have a long-term future in Anaheim?

Who would’ve thought that the guy with seven goals all season long would come in and score some of the biggest goals of the postseason? It’s what the playoffs are all about. Congrats on the Cup, Devo.

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