Following the team's relocation to Phoenix, Arizona, he was appointed the associate general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, some pundits viewed him as being the de facto GM to team president Ken Dryden.
Following the team's relocation to Phoenix, Arizona, he left the organization. Smith was appointed the associate general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and some in the news media viewed him as being the de facto general manager to team president Ken Dryden.