Will Smith has spent a lot of time playing second-fiddle.
When he was drafted by San Jose, a large chunk of fans were incredulous that General Manager Mike Grier didn’t take Matvei Michkov instead (ignorant of the reality that Michkov almost certainly didn’t want to come to the Sharks, given that he said no to Washington and Arizona).
When he spent his post-draft year with Boston College, NHL scouts focused on his linemates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault instead, ignoring the reality that it was Smith’s playmaking and play-driving ability carrying the line.
When he set a record for points ever scored by a Boston College freshman, with 71 points in 41 games, it was Macklin Celebrini who (deservedly) got the Hobey Baker instead, with Smith getting virtually no credit from scouts for a historic season (some of whom thought Quentin Musty was better than him).
And when he made his NHL debut, it was Celebrini who correctly took the honors as the superstar, with Smith struggling for the first half-season before putting up 30 points in his last 34 games.
All of this means we often ignore something: Smith is a really, really good player, with elite, superstar-level production at every pre-NHL level. In most other NHL organizations, he would be the top prospect by a country mile. That the Sharks have Celebrini means that this is not the case in San Jose, but it doesn’t change the fact that the team has a uniquely gifted offensive forward, with loads of potential to become a superstar in the league one day.
Position: Forward (more on that later)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 180 pounds
Age: 20
Date of Birth: March 17, 2005
Draft Year: 2023 (4th overall by the San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Right
2025–26 Team: San Jose Sharks
What we like
Smith is an incredibly gifted offensive player with vision and creativity to rival the best prospects in hockey. There were a few games last season when he outshone even Celebrini in the opposition’s end, with his slippery moves and his surprisingly crafty passes splitting defenses.
In juniors, Smith was very good at creating separation on the ice, frequently stretching defenses with his movements and breaking on the rush. What’s surprised observers is his ability to keep doing that at the NHL level — most scouts doubted that it would translate, but after a rough half-season to start with, the game seemed to slow down for him and he found his footing. He ended the season on an absolute tear, finding a place on Celebrini’s line and solidifying the funniest friendship in hockey.
Areas of improvement
The question for Smith is what his best position actually is. He’s not exactly a very good center at the NHL level just yet, with the physicality and two-way demands of the position overpowering him. His stint down the middle didn’t go too great last year either, and his offensive surge coincided with him getting shunted to the wing, where he found a natural home and instant chemistry with Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli.
But he’s played that position for years, and it’s clear that the Sharks don’t want him to give it up just yet. Instead, the move may be to let Smith grow as a winger for a bit more before moving back to center at some point in the future. In order to succeed at that, he’ll need a lot of defensive improvement and will need to be able to play a bit stronger than he currently does.
(As a bonus, Smith moving to wing opens up the second-line center spot for Michael Misa, allowing him to play with Jeff Skinner and William Eklund.)
What’s next for Smith?
Smith will play on the Sharks this year, looking to build on his exceptional second half. He’ll start the season with Toffoli and Celebrini on the top line. A successful season for Smith likely means something like 20 goals and 60 points, and the hope for the Sharks is that he continues to build on the improvements he started to rapidly display in the spring of last year.
Highlight
What would be better than Smith’s first NHL goal? After a rough start to the season, Smith exploded for two goals in the ninth game of the year, against the Blackhawks.
