Hey guys, we should probably pick up for matsblue and all of the new GMs and make sure that everybody gets PMed. I didn't get one, which doesn't matter because I'm here, but we should just watch out for that.
Anyway, the Gwinnett Gladiators are very pleased to select center/right wing/defenseman
Hooley Smith.
Smith will play right wing on the Boucher line for us, where his great speed, physicality and tenacity, defensive game and all-around offense will make him a key cog in the Gwinnett machine. A few facts on Smith, as he is somewhat lesser-known than the top-100 players.
Scoring finishes:
Goals: 4th, 7th, 10th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 15th
Assists: 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 6th, 6th, 7th, 7th, 11th, 11th, 18th
Points: 4th, 4th, 6th, 8th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 16th
As these scoring credentials should make clear, Hooley was rarely an elite scorer in the league, but he was a very good, well-rounded offensive player for quite a long time, before switching to the blueline for the last few seasons of his career. Smith is also among the leaders in Hart trophy voting in the pre-war period. Here are the leading Hart trophy vote-getters for the period before 1941 (sorted by top-5 Hart finishes):
Shore: 8 (1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th)
Clancy: 5 (3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 5th)
Morenz: 4 (1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd)
xxxxxxx: 4 (1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th)
Stewart: 3 (1st, 1st, 5th)
Joliat: 3 (1st, 5th, 5th)
Smith: 3 (2nd, 4th, 4th)
...and a bunch of guys tied at 2
Smith also spent time at defense even during his prime offensive years, being mentioned as a defenseman as early as 1927 (in the beginning of his career). From the New York Times - October 18, 1927 (it is unfortunately a Times article, so I can't post a link that everyone can read):
Life Ban on xxxxxx, Hockey Star, Stands; Also Hooley Smith's 30-Day Suspension
Suspension meted out to xxxxxxx of the Boston Bruins and Hooley Smith, star of the Ottawa world champions hockey team, will not be lightened, governors of the National Hockey League decided in a meeting here today.
xxxxxx was suspended for life and Smith for thirty days following the last game of the championship at Ottawa last year, when the two players engaged in a fist fight. The governors, representing every club in the league outside of Ottawa, who met here in connection with the formal opening of the Olympia Stadium, adopted a new rule regarding holdouts. They decided players failing to report to their clubs on the date ordered would be suspended without pay by the league.
Smith, who is considered one of the greatest stars in the game, was purchased recently by the Montreal team. It is reported that the Maroons paid Ottawa $22,500 for him in addition to the contract of xxxxxxx, a Maroon star. Smith is noted for his versatility on the ice and is a brilliant performer at right wing, centre or on defense.
Smith will play a somewhat unique role on the Gladiators, rotating down to pick up what would normally be a defenseman's check along the boards in the defensive zone, freeing up Paul Coffey to play up high and pressure the point. Smith's great strength and aggressiveness combined with his long experience on defense make him ideal for this role (and maybe the only legitimate scoringline forward who can fill it), and allow Gwinnett to relieve Coffey of duties in the weakest area of his game.