2023-07-18 02:28:22
William Smith is often described as a spectacular game machine who can create something out of nothing, and the 18-year-old center was quick to demonstrate that when the San Jose Sharks held their development camp a week after selecting him with the fourth pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
“A lot of skills,” commented John McCarthy, coach of the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks’ American Hockey League (AHL) farm club, during the first day of camp. “You can see the reason why he was selected so high. He is elusive with the puck. He knows how to make plays that other players can’t. »
READ ALSO: Easton Cowan, a tenacity that comes from his family
A native of Lexington, Mass., Smith is coming off a successful campaign with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 team, where he tallied 127 points (51 goals, 76 assists) in 60 games. He was also the leading scorer for the United States (9-11-20, 7 MJ), which won gold at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
During the Sharks Prospects intrasquad game at SAP Center, Smith scored a goal after stealing the puck in front of the opposing net.
“I definitely see Will’s ability,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “The speed at which he plays, his throw and his visual intelligence. »
But Smith isn’t done developing his game. He’ll begin his college career at Boston College this fall, and his goal is to add power to his game.
“I need to gain muscle mass and add more power to my skating,” said Smith (6-foot, 181 pounds). It’s something I’m still working on. »
The Sharks want to be a bigger team at both ends of the ice, so Smith has identified the right goals.
“Over the past four or five years, we’ve gotten a little bit smaller as an organization,” Quinn said. We all talk about speed and skill in hockey, and it’s all improved, but when playoff hockey starts, it’s better to have big players. »
The same could be said for the AHL.
“If you want to defend your net hard and attack the net the same way, you’ll need big players to move opponents in front of your net and create second chances in front of theirs,” McCarthy said.
Smtih pointed out that the tide was running between him and the Sharks as he approached his fourth-round selection, the Sharks’ highest first-round pick since they selected Brad Stuart with the third overall pick in the 1998 draft. NHL.
“There was a lot of speculation following the draft as to which team was going to pick me and how it was going to play out,” Smith told Sharks Audio Network during camp. “I had a lot of conversations with the Sharks – they took me out to dinner during the (NHL prospects) judging session, I knew they loved me and I loved them a lot too. Fortunately, I ended up here. »
Right now, Smith is under no pressure to be ready to play in the NHL, as development camp is only the first step in his journey through the organization.
“We’re looking to hear more about their approach,” McCarthy said of the prospects. “Do they behave like pros? Do they arrive at the rink ready to work? Are they involved during meetings? Are they withholding information? Some players have been doing the same thing for five years now, so we expect them to have a head start. But for other players, it’s their first chance. »
1689656591
#Smith #talent #finished #impressing #Sharks