Smith Hangs Up Skates

Defenseman Steve Smith, who spent the past six seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks after seven seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, will announce his retirement today, ending a 13-year career that is most remembered for a gaff that cost his team a playoff series in 1986.

In his first full season with the Oilers, Smith accidentally banked the puck off Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr’s skate and into the team’s net, giving the Calgary Flames a 3-2 win in Game 7 of their division finals series. That year was the only season Edmonton didn’t win the Stanley Cup from 1984 to 1988.

Smith, 34, played on Edmonton’s Stanley Cup championship teams in 1987, 1988 and 1990.

The NHL and its referees and linesmen have agreed in principle to a deal that will run through the 2000-2001 season.