He started out with the Montreal Maroons in 1931-32 but did not return to the NHL until 1934-35 with the Detroit Red Wings, In 1936-37 Smith won the Vezina Trophy and was named to the first all star team. Smith shut-out the Montreal Maroons in the NHL's longest game, a 176-minute, 30-second affair, on the way to a Stanley Cup championship in 1936.