The Buffalo Bandits today announced the team has signed forward Dhane Smith to a five-year deal, pending league approval.
Smith (6’2”, 207 lbs., 9/23/1992) returns to the Bandits for his 11th season with the team after posting a team-high 132 points (36+96) in 2022-23. The forward led the league in assists and ranked second among all NLL players in points. Smith’s 96 assists during the regular season broke his own NLL record for most assists in a single season (94) that he had previously set in 2021-22.
Smith led the Bandits to the 2023 NLL Championship after posting 49 points (15+34) in six games en route to being named the NLL Finals MVP. Smith set the NLL record for most points in a single postseason and became the fourth player in league history to record at least 150 career playoff points (154).
Smith has totaled 950 (346+604) points and 777 loose-ball recoveries in 161 career games as well as 154 (56+98) points in 25 career playoff games. He ranks third all-time in franchise history in regular-season goals (346) and points (950), trailing only John Tavares and Mark Steenhuis, respectively, in each category. Smith’s 604 assists rank second all-time in Bandits history behind Tavares (934). Smith ranks second all-time in franchise history in playoff goals (56), assists (98), and points (154), trailing only Tavares in each category.
The Bandits forward has been named the NLL MVP on two occasions (2016 and 2021-22). Smith’s 137-point (72+65) season in 2016 still holds the league record for most goals and points recorded in a single season in NLL history.
The Kitchener, Ontario native has represented Canada at an international level on numerous occasions, winning a gold medal at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in both 2015 and 2019. Most recently, Smith won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship. Smith was a first-round selection (fifth overall) of the Bandits in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.