1973-74 O-Pee-Chee 126 Gary Smith Hockey Card (Front)
1973-74 O-Pee-Chee 126 Gary Smith Hockey Card (Back)
1973-74 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
The Canucks traded top prospect Dale Tallon to acquire Gary from the Chicago Black Hawks. He played several years with the California Seals, including one season in which he played 71 games. Gary’s father and brother also played professional hockey.
En Français
Les Canucks échangèrent la vedette Dale Tallon pour obtenir Gary des Black Hawks. Il joua plusieurs années pour les Seals, y compris une saison durant laquelle il participa à 71 joutes. Son père et son frère sont des anciens joueurs de hockey professionnels.
Details
On May 14, 1973, Gary Smith was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Vancouver Canucks along with Jerry Korab for Dale Tallon. He played two years in Chicago, sharing the Vezina Trophy with Tony Esposito in 1971-72.
In the 1970-71 season mentioned when he played 71 games, Smith set the NHL record of 48 losses by a goalie, a mark that still stands today. More on that record-breaking campaign can be found at our Substack page here: Gary Smith NHL Record.
1973-74, his first of three seasons with the Canucks, saw Smith lead the NHL in losses for a third time but with 15 less than his record season. Still, he allowed no more than seven goals in a single game and had three shutouts. In 36 of his 65 games, Smith faced 30 or more shots. In nine, it was 40 or more.
Gary’s father Des Smith played 195 regular season and 23 playoff games in the NHL between 1937-38 and 1941-42 with the Montreal Maroons, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. He was a Stanley Cup champion in 1940-41 with the Bruins.
Brother Brian Smith played 58 regular season and seven games with the Los Angeles Kings in 1967-68. The following year, he played nine games for the Minnesota North Stars, concluding his time in the NHL.
Between 1965-66 and 1979-80, Gary Smith played 532 regular season and 20 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Oakland Seals, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets. He also played 20 regular season and ten playoff games with the WHA Jets in 1978-79, helping them to an Avco World Trophy title.
NHL Hockey Trivia: Gary Smith
1. Gary “Suitcase” Smith earned his nickname for what reason?
2. Smith shared the 1971-72 Vezina Trophy with teammate Tony Esposito while playing for which NHL team?
3. In 1974-75, Smith was the starting goaltender for which expansion team that made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history?
4. Smith famously recorded a rare goaltender assist in the playoffs while with which team?
5. Over his NHL career, Gary Smith played for several teams. Which of the following was not one of them?