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  6. article_body => "<p>\u201cI didn't think I'd be here a year ago,\u201d Devante Smith-Pelly told the media Wednesday. \u201cThat's for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, Devante Smith-Pelly was a member of the New Jersey Devils and thought that\u2019s where he would play the 2017-18 season. Instead, Smith-Pelly was bought out of the final year of his contract, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/washington-capitals\/devante-smith-pelly-was-surprised-buy-out-confident-training-camp-approaches\" target=\"_blank\">something&nbsp;that he was not prepared for as he only received word of the team\u2019s decision on the same day they made the move<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>New Jersey\u2019s loss turned out to be Washington\u2019s gain as the Caps signed Smith-Pelly for one year and he proceeded to score seven goals during the Capitals\u2019 postseason run to the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously, at the start of the year, not knowing exactly where I would be to at the parade on Constitution, it's crazy,\" Smith-Pelly said. \"I haven't really sat down and taken it all in, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I had an amazing time this year. Obviously, it's the best year of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now as a restricted free agent, Smith-Pelly is hoping he has found a home in Washington.<\/p>\n<p>Despite being only 26-years-old, Smith-Pelly has already had somewhat of a journeyman\u2019s career. The Caps are the fifth team in which he has played for.<\/p>\n<p>The issue for much of Smith-Pelly's career has been consistency.<\/p>\n<p>The 2018 playoffs was not his first breakout performance. He scored five goals in just 12 playoff games for the Anaheim Ducks in 2014, but he failed to live up to that level of production again until this year\u2019s postseason with Washington.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don't think I needed to prove anything,\u201d Smith-Pelly said. \u201cI knew what I could do, it's just me getting a chance to do it and that's it. I got a chance here and I guess it worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Expecting him to score seven goals every 24 games in the regular season is likely unrealistic, but the Caps don\u2019t need him to do that. Smith-Pelly developed a role with the Caps being a bottom-six player, a role that he thrived in throughout the season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe's become a big part of the team,\u201d general manager Brian MacLellan said. \u201cHe brings good energy, he's a good teammate, he's well-liked. You could tell the teammates really migrate towards him, they like him and then the crowd also likes him. They're chanting 'DSP' all the time so it's been fun to watch how he's got everybody to embrace him and his personality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Given when Smith-Pelly was able to do in the postseason, it is no surprise that the Caps would be interested in keeping him around. But at what cost?<\/p>\n<p>Smith-Pelly was a bargain for Washington last season with a cap hit of only $650,000. He will be due a raise, but with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/john-carlson-wants-return-caps-want-him-back-can-they-make-numbers-work\" target=\"_blank\"> John Carlson expected to get a monster contract<\/a>, how much will general manager Brian MacLellan be willing to spend on a bottom-six winger like Smith-Pelly?<\/p>\n<p>Despite the phenomenal postseason, Smith-Pelly had only seven goals and 16 points in the entire regular season. When it comes to a new contract, MacLellan will likely want to pay for that player while Smith-Pelly will no doubt look to be paid like the player who scored seven times in 24 playoff games.<\/p>\n<p>As of Wednesday when he spoke with reporters, Smith-Pelly said he had not yet had any talks with the team about a new contract, but also noted that, as a restricted free agent, \u201cthere\u2019s no real rush.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Caps own Smith-Pelly\u2019s rights which helps their bargaining position. Smith-Pelly, however, is arbitration eligible and his postseason stats will undoubtedly bump his value when viewed by a neutral arbitrator.<\/p>\n<p>But there's a good chance it may not get anywhere close to that point.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the ice and off the ice I feel like this is the best situation I've been in,\u201d Smith-Pelly said. \u201cObviously, never know what's going to happen but I found a place and I want to be back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>MORE CAPITALS COVERAGE:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For the fans:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/celebrating-stanley-cup-fans-meant-everything-caps\" target=\"_blank\">Caps&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/celebrating-stanley-cup-fans-meant-everything-caps\" target=\"_blank\">acknowledge<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/celebrating-stanley-cup-fans-meant-everything-caps\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp;fans role&nbsp;in Cup run<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Humboldt Strong:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/chandler-stephenson-will-spend-his-day-stanley-cup-humboldt\" target=\"_blank\">Stephenson&nbsp;to bring the Cup to Humboldt<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Ouch:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/brooks-orpik-lost-part-his-pinky-final-he-did-not-lose-any-playing-time\" target=\"_blank\">Orpik lost part of pinky in the Stanley Cup Final<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Free agency:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/john-carlson-wants-return-caps-want-him-back-can-they-make-numbers-work\" target=\"_blank\">Can the Caps afford John Carlson?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Staying put?:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/barry-trotz-wants-return-caps-theres-no-deal-placeyet-0\" target=\"_blank\">Trotz wants to return to Washington<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

“I didn't think I'd be here a year ago,” Devante Smith-Pelly told the media Wednesday. “That's for sure.”

In 2017, Devante Smith-Pelly was a member of the New Jersey Devils and thought that’s where he would play the 2017-18 season. Instead, Smith-Pelly was bought out of the final year of his contract, something that he was not prepared for as he only received word of the team’s decision on the same day they made the move.

New Jersey’s loss turned out to be Washington’s gain as the Caps signed Smith-Pelly for one year and he proceeded to score seven goals during the Capitals’ postseason run to the Stanley Cup.

“Obviously, at the start of the year, not knowing exactly where I would be to at the parade on Constitution, it's crazy," Smith-Pelly said. "I haven't really sat down and taken it all in, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I had an amazing time this year. Obviously, it's the best year of my life.”

Now as a restricted free agent, Smith-Pelly is hoping he has found a home in Washington.

Despite being only 26-years-old, Smith-Pelly has already had somewhat of a journeyman’s career. The Caps are the fifth team in which he has played for.

The issue for much of Smith-Pelly's career has been consistency.

The 2018 playoffs was not his first breakout performance. He scored five goals in just 12 playoff games for the Anaheim Ducks in 2014, but he failed to live up to that level of production again until this year’s postseason with Washington.

 

“I don't think I needed to prove anything,” Smith-Pelly said. “I knew what I could do, it's just me getting a chance to do it and that's it. I got a chance here and I guess it worked out.”

Expecting him to score seven goals every 24 games in the regular season is likely unrealistic, but the Caps don’t need him to do that. Smith-Pelly developed a role with the Caps being a bottom-six player, a role that he thrived in throughout the season.

“He's become a big part of the team,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “He brings good energy, he's a good teammate, he's well-liked. You could tell the teammates really migrate towards him, they like him and then the crowd also likes him. They're chanting 'DSP' all the time so it's been fun to watch how he's got everybody to embrace him and his personality.”

Given when Smith-Pelly was able to do in the postseason, it is no surprise that the Caps would be interested in keeping him around. But at what cost?

Smith-Pelly was a bargain for Washington last season with a cap hit of only $650,000. He will be due a raise, but with John Carlson expected to get a monster contract, how much will general manager Brian MacLellan be willing to spend on a bottom-six winger like Smith-Pelly?

Despite the phenomenal postseason, Smith-Pelly had only seven goals and 16 points in the entire regular season. When it comes to a new contract, MacLellan will likely want to pay for that player while Smith-Pelly will no doubt look to be paid like the player who scored seven times in 24 playoff games.

As of Wednesday when he spoke with reporters, Smith-Pelly said he had not yet had any talks with the team about a new contract, but also noted that, as a restricted free agent, “there’s no real rush.”

The Caps own Smith-Pelly’s rights which helps their bargaining position. Smith-Pelly, however, is arbitration eligible and his postseason stats will undoubtedly bump his value when viewed by a neutral arbitrator.

But there's a good chance it may not get anywhere close to that point.

“On the ice and off the ice I feel like this is the best situation I've been in,” Smith-Pelly said. “Obviously, never know what's going to happen but I found a place and I want to be back.”

MORE CAPITALS COVERAGE: