San Jose has the number four pick in this year’s draft. In any other year, there’d be a lot of debate once the top one or two players were off the board. However, 2023 is a little different. Scouts will tell you there’s approximately five NHL top-line players in this year’s draft.
That’s good news for the Sharks since it means San Jose is guaranteed the chance at a future NHL star.
But who do the Sharks choose? We’re assuming that Chicago picks Connor Bedard at number one. (Could you imagine the chaos in Chicago if the Blackhawks passed on Bedard or even traded away the first overall pick?) Adam Fantilli seems like a lock for Anaheim at number two, but even if he’s not, it’s hard to see the Columbus Blue Jackets passing on Fantilli.
That leaves three players with a legitimate chance of falling to fourth overall. In a previous post, we looked at whether the major downsides of drafting a player like Matvei Michkov outweigh the young forward’s talent. We also looked at the one downside to 6-foot-3 Leo Carlsson’s game.
Today, we examine the future Boston College Eagle, Will Smith.
Will Smith, C – Boston College
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 172 lbs.
Age/DOB: 18, March 17, 2005
Shoots: Right
U18 World Juniors: 7 games, 20 points (9 G, 11 A)
US National U18 Team: 60 games, 127 points (51 G, 76 A)
The scouting reports
Smith is a little younger than the other potential draft picks highlighted. He just turned 18, while the other two (Michkov and Carlsson) will turn 19 in December. But even at his young age, the forward is electric.
“It’s not hard to see the appeal with Smith. He’s one of the draft’s most gifted puckhandlers, a human highlight reel almost every time he steps onto the ice,” wrote Elite Prospects. “His ability to turn the mundane – like a pass reception on the breakout or a puck retrieval along the wall – into something special is really something to behold.”
One of the best things about Smith is he’s 200-foot player, as Ben Kerr at Last Word on Sports reports.
“Smith also plays a 200-foot game and works hard in the defensive end. He backchecks effectively, bringing back pressure to support the defence against the rush as well as supporting the defence down low. His size and strength allow him to win battles in all three zones at the junior level,” wrote Kerr. “However, Smith will need to add muscle to his frame in order to continue to be successful at this at the pro level. He also does a good job of reading the play and using his stick to cut down passing and shooting lanes. When a turnover is created, Smith is quick to move the puck up the ice and create offence on the rush. He is also good in the faceoff circle.”
Smith’s elite puck handling skills was also highlighted by Chris Peters of FloHockey.
“With elite puck skills and the creativity to open up space for himself and others, Smith has turned himself into one of the premier playmakers in this draft class,” wrote Peters. “He processes the game at a remarkable pace, which allows him to play faster than many of his peers, even if he’s not an explosive skater. He’s the kind of player that can make something out of nothing and makes everyone around him better.”
The way Smith came out of nowhere to move up the draft board might seem like a fluke, but NHL Central Scouting Vice President Dan Marr says don’t count Smith out.
“He deserves to be where he’s at. He just goes out on the ice and makes things happen. He makes things happen when you need a goal,” Marr told NHL Draft Class. “He does the right things when you’re defending the lead. But he has that explosive offensive game that makes him a difference maker out there. When you add in the speed that he has, and he’s a pretty focused and pretty competitive individual out there, it just adds up to being an all-around all-star NHL prospect.”
The case against Smith
As a younger member of this draft class, Smith isn’t going to wow you with his size. While he clocks in at 6-foot-0, he’s still looking to pack on some muscle. Let’s call him wiry.
According to Corey Pronman of The Athletic, that slight stature may also contribute to the “wart” in Smith’s game.
“The only real wart in his game is I wouldn’t call him an overly physical or high-energy player. I don’t think he lacks effort. He’s around the puck a ton whenever he’s on the ice and even at times killed penalties for the program,” wrote Pronman.
College will give Smith a few years to bulk up and maybe learn to add some grrr to his game. Sharks fans should know that if the team drafts Smith, it will be a few years before they see him in teal. This is not a jump to the NHL player.
Another thing to keep an eye on is Smith’s skating. Some scouts say he’s NHL average, which could be overlooked in any year but this one. Smith is up against some elite players who skate better than he does.
The case for Smith
As with all the players the Sharks are looking at to draft at number four, the “case against” is minor at best. All three – Michkov, Carlsson and Smith – are elite players projected to be in the top tier of the NHL. They are gems and the Sharks are lucky to have such a high draft pick in such a top heavy draft.
Smith wasn’t always projected to be drafted this high, but maybe that’s also a testament to the player. He is coming off one of the most productive seasons in U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) history. Smith scored 127 points (51 G, 76 A) in 60 games. That’s the second best point total ever in the U.S. program behind only Gabe Perreault, who is also draft eligible this year.
Other players to work through the USNTDP include Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes.
There are two other standouts for Smith when compared to the other options for the number four pick. He is likely the best two-way forward of the three. Moreover, his Hockey IQ may be higher than the other two.
“He has tremendous puck skills, vision and overall offensive creativity and projects to be a major asset on an NHL power play,” wrote Pronman. “He skates well and makes so many high-difficulty plays at a strong pace, which lends well to his pro projection. Smith is a high-end passer who is also able to finish chances from the dots.”
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