Mike Smith
2020-21 Edmonton Oilers Game Worn Alternate Set 2 Jersey
What you are looking at right now is a 2020-21 Edmonton Oilers Alternate Set 2 jersey worn by Mike Smith in the latter half of the season and into the NHL playoffs from March 6, 2021 to May 15, 2021. Wear is solid and is comprised of visible post-paint transfer on the sleeve, abrasions on the rear numbers, some pronounced and visible puckmarks, some pilling in the cuff of the sleeves, as well as a team repair above the crest. As Smith wore two jerseys per game, and with the challenge of picking out wear on dark jerseys in photos, combined with photography that is sometimes limited to a period of action in which another jersey was worn, the jersey could thus far only be definitively photomatched to a handful of games including action in both home playoff games that he played vs the Winnipeg Jets, though further research is ongoing.
Born on March 22, 1982, in Kingston, Ontario, Smith was drafted 161st overall by the Dallas Stars in 2001 after proving himself to be a reliable netminder while with Sudbury in the OHL. Smith transitioned to the pro ranks in 2002-03, splitting the season in the AHL and ECHL. He also scored a goal while in the ECHL on October 26, 2002, while recording both a shutout and his first career pro win that day. That early evidence of his shooting and playmaking skills would become one of his trademarks in the NHL and make fans both excited and nervous right until the end of his playing career. By 2003-04, he became a full-time AHLer, even earning his first NHL recall, though saw no game action. After working his way up the ranks, Smith finally earned the full-time backup role to Marty Turco in 2006-07. He made his NHL debut for the Stars on October 21, 2006 vs the Phoenix Coyotes, and just as he did in the ECHL, he recorded a shutout win (22 saves, 4-0W) in his debut. That season, he went on to appear in 23 games, going 12-5-2, with 3 shutouts, a 2.23GAA and a 0.912% save average.
In February 2008, the Dallas Stars traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In four seasons in Tampa on a rebuilding Lightning squad, Smith appeared in 118 games, as well as three playoff games. Signed as a free agent by Phoenix in 2011, Smith had arguably the finest years of his career as their number one. In his first season there, he recorded career bests in almost all categories including games played (67), wins (38), shutouts (8), GAA (2.21), and save percentage (0.930%). In addition to that, he also led the Coyotes to the Western Conference Finals of the 2012 playoffs. He then led the NHL with shutouts in 2012-13 and also got to represent Team Canada in that off-season. 2013-14 was to be another memorable season for him. Though the Coyotes did not have a particularly strong season, Smith joined a small and exclusive club of goalies to score NHL goals. On October 19, 2013, while facing the Detroit Red Wings, Mike Smith fired the puck into the empty net to secure the 5-2 win. He was also the number three goalie for Team Canada in the Winter Olympics, earning a gold medal. The next season saw him have one of his toughest seasons as he only recorded 14 wins in 62 games, though he did lead Canada to the gold medal at the 2015 IIHF worlds. After two more seasons in Arizona, which included a trip to the NHL All-Star Game in 2017, he was acquired by the Calgary Flames. After two competent seasons with the Flames, Smith joined the Edmonton Oilers in 2019-20. In his first season in Edmonton, Smith fought Cam Talbot on February 1, 2020 and definitively won the bout. In each of his three seasons in Edmonton, Smith helped lead the team into the playoffs, ultimately highlighted by a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, where the Oilers were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup Champs. He missed 2022-23 while on LTIR and seems likely to retire. Though he won no NHL awards, he brought a lot of personality, grit, and nerve-wracking/bold plays to the game throughout his playing career and should forever be remembered for that.
In his NHL career, Mike Smith appeared in 670 NHL games, going 299-263-0-78 with 44 shutouts, 1 goal, 20 assists, a 2.70GAA, and a 0.912% save average. In 45 playoff games, he went 19-23 with 6 shutouts, 3 assists, a 2.68GAA, and a 0.924% save average.
A pair of photomatches of him wearing the jersey (the card photo is just a photo-reference to the style):
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mike-smith-of-the-edmonton-oilers-looks-on-during-the-news-photo/1319071992?adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mike-smith-of-the-edmonton-oilers-participates-in-the-news-photo/1319071970?adppopup=true
Acquired from: Edmonton Oilers, includes Oilers LOA
Dates of Game Use (research ongoing):
May 21, 2021 vs Winnipeg (35-36, 1-0 OTL)
May 19, 2021 vs Winnipeg (18-20, 4-1L)
*May 8, 2021 vs Vancouver (22-25, 4-3W)
*May 6, 2021 vs Vancouver (21-23, 6-3)
*May 1, 2021 vs Calgary (29-30, 4-1W)
April 29, 2021 vs Calgary (27-30, 3-1L)
April 21, 2021 vs Montreal (27-31, 4-3L)
April 19, 2021 vs Montreal (22-23, 4-1W)
March 20, 2021 vs Winnipeg (29-31, 4-2W)
*March 6, 2021 vs Calgary (34-36, 3-2W)
*Possible, though no definitive match found yet
Photomatched: Yes
Born on March 22, 1982, in Kingston, Ontario, Smith was drafted 161st overall by the Dallas Stars in 2001 after proving himself to be a reliable netminder while with Sudbury in the OHL. Smith transitioned to the pro ranks in 2002-03, splitting the season in the AHL and ECHL. He also scored a goal while in the ECHL on October 26, 2002, while recording both a shutout and his first career pro win that day. That early evidence of his shooting and playmaking skills would become one of his trademarks in the NHL and make fans both excited and nervous right until the end of his playing career. By 2003-04, he became a full-time AHLer, even earning his first NHL recall, though saw no game action. After working his way up the ranks, Smith finally earned the full-time backup role to Marty Turco in 2006-07. He made his NHL debut for the Stars on October 21, 2006 vs the Phoenix Coyotes, and just as he did in the ECHL, he recorded a shutout win (22 saves, 4-0W) in his debut. That season, he went on to appear in 23 games, going 12-5-2, with 3 shutouts, a 2.23GAA and a 0.912% save average.
In February 2008, the Dallas Stars traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In four seasons in Tampa on a rebuilding Lightning squad, Smith appeared in 118 games, as well as three playoff games. Signed as a free agent by Phoenix in 2011, Smith had arguably the finest years of his career as their number one. In his first season there, he recorded career bests in almost all categories including games played (67), wins (38), shutouts (8), GAA (2.21), and save percentage (0.930%). In addition to that, he also led the Coyotes to the Western Conference Finals of the 2012 playoffs. He then led the NHL with shutouts in 2012-13 and also got to represent Team Canada in that off-season. 2013-14 was to be another memorable season for him. Though the Coyotes did not have a particularly strong season, Smith joined a small and exclusive club of goalies to score NHL goals. On October 19, 2013, while facing the Detroit Red Wings, Mike Smith fired the puck into the empty net to secure the 5-2 win. He was also the number three goalie for Team Canada in the Winter Olympics, earning a gold medal. The next season saw him have one of his toughest seasons as he only recorded 14 wins in 62 games, though he did lead Canada to the gold medal at the 2015 IIHF worlds. After two more seasons in Arizona, which included a trip to the NHL All-Star Game in 2017, he was acquired by the Calgary Flames. After two competent seasons with the Flames, Smith joined the Edmonton Oilers in 2019-20. In his first season in Edmonton, Smith fought Cam Talbot on February 1, 2020 and definitively won the bout. In each of his three seasons in Edmonton, Smith helped lead the team into the playoffs, ultimately highlighted by a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, where the Oilers were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup Champs. He missed 2022-23 while on LTIR and seems likely to retire. Though he won no NHL awards, he brought a lot of personality, grit, and nerve-wracking/bold plays to the game throughout his playing career and should forever be remembered for that.
In his NHL career, Mike Smith appeared in 670 NHL games, going 299-263-0-78 with 44 shutouts, 1 goal, 20 assists, a 2.70GAA, and a 0.912% save average. In 45 playoff games, he went 19-23 with 6 shutouts, 3 assists, a 2.68GAA, and a 0.924% save average.
A pair of photomatches of him wearing the jersey (the card photo is just a photo-reference to the style):
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mike-smith-of-the-edmonton-oilers-looks-on-during-the-news-photo/1319071992?adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mike-smith-of-the-edmonton-oilers-participates-in-the-news-photo/1319071970?adppopup=true
Acquired from: Edmonton Oilers, includes Oilers LOA
Dates of Game Use (research ongoing):
May 21, 2021 vs Winnipeg (35-36, 1-0 OTL)
May 19, 2021 vs Winnipeg (18-20, 4-1L)
*May 8, 2021 vs Vancouver (22-25, 4-3W)
*May 6, 2021 vs Vancouver (21-23, 6-3)
*May 1, 2021 vs Calgary (29-30, 4-1W)
April 29, 2021 vs Calgary (27-30, 3-1L)
April 21, 2021 vs Montreal (27-31, 4-3L)
April 19, 2021 vs Montreal (22-23, 4-1W)
March 20, 2021 vs Winnipeg (29-31, 4-2W)
*March 6, 2021 vs Calgary (34-36, 3-2W)
*Possible, though no definitive match found yet
Photomatched: Yes
