Canadian defenseman Ty Smith, 25, has signed a one-year contract with Belarus-based KHL club Dinamo Minsk, Russian sports website Championat.com reported on Thursday.

This is Smith’s first contract to play overseas.

Born in Lloydminster, Alta., Smith played junior hockey for the Spokane Chiefs, whom he captained for two years and won the WHL and CHL defenseman-of-the-year awards in 2018-19.

Smith was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2020 and 2025, he played 131 NHL regular-season games for the Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes, recording 49 points and 52 penalty minutes.

Smith played the vast majority of his NHL games over two seasons with New Jersey, and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2021. Since being traded to Pittsburgh for John Marino in 2022, he has only played a total of 17 NHL games.

Another Goalie Moves From NHL To KHL Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Thursday.

Internationally, Smith represented Canada at two IIHF U-18 World Championships and two World Junior Championships, winning a World Junior gold in 2020.

Dinamo Minsk, the only Belarus-based team in the KHL, finished fourth in the Western Conference last season and won a playoff round for the first time since joining the league in 2014. Smith joins a team that includes fellow ex-NHLers Xavier Ouellet, Nicolas Meloche, Darren Dietz, Vadim Shipachyov and goaltender Zach Fucale.

Photo © James Guillory-Imagn Images.

French-Born Ex-Wing, Hab Signs Contract Extension In KHL French-born Canadian defenseman Xavier Ouellet, 31, has signed a two-year contract extension with Dinamo Minsk,