Signed as a free agent, May 22, 1980. Traded to Minnesota North Stars for Don Barber, November 7, 1990.
The Jets signed Doug Smail in the summer of 1980 following three stellar seasons at the University of North Dakota. He played ten full seasons with the Jets before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars in November 1990. He moved on to play for two more NHL seasons before winding up his playing career with three seasons in Britain. Smail was a standout penalty killer and was a popular player during his tenure with the Jets. He also had a good scoring touch and scored a career-high 31 goals in 1984-1985. He originally wore number 9 until switching to number 12 upon the retirement of number 9 in honor of Bobby Hull. He holds the NHL record for the fastest goal to start a game, scoring five seconds into a game against the St. Louis Blues on December 20, 1981.
