Will Smith is at the same 2 points per gane pace vs.USHL competionthat Jack Hughes put up in his draft year ..
In any other draft year Will Smith woukd go#1overall justvlije Hughesxdid(only Smith is bigger....6'0 vs.5''10....and better defensively..and more versatile...you can aksobyse hom on the pk as well as pp and evens as tge #1C...
.of course Bedard is geberational and Hughes and Smith merely elite stars but not generationsl lije Bedardvor McDavid..
But my point is I am not sure Will Smith is right there if not ahead of Fantilli as the next brst prospect after Bedard...He has earned the discussion to be considered if he is better than carlsdon or Michkov to build a team with to drive your scoring.
Does anyone think Carlsson will be a 109+ points giyvlije Jack Hughes is on pace for?Does anyone think Fantill coukd be a 100+points guy?or Michkov(who is nitceven a center)?
But the oiubtvis...Smith us matching Jack Hughes pace vs USHK conoerition...so you have a comparable measure to assess Smith vs.Highes and tgdir ceilings..
Neither will pit uo 150+points in tge NHL when mature like McDavudcus on pace for...but I do not think the Hawks would nit be very happy with a "consolation prize" of a 100+ ceiling guy like Hughes is be this seadinin the NHL if heplays remaining games.. I am notcsure if Carksdon or Michkov ever becomes a 199+points giyv...but Smith looks kije he coukd do what Hughes is doing...Doesvitcdiferentky but tgexstats back up this projection..
Can Fantiilli be a 100 pts guy or will he settle as a 80+ guy?
He certainly is tearing up the NCAA but there is a lot less games to pkayvin a week than in Juniors...so notcasxtaxibg on the body..
Still...most consensus is that if you find an elite Big Center you grab that...too hardcti find.
So as with the consensus ranking,I will go with Fantilli at #2 after Bedard is taken at #1 but I will put Will Smith aheadv fofCarlsson and Michkov or anyone else as the 3rd best prisoectvi this draft..
I am just unsure of what Carlsson's ceiling is...Maybe it will be clearer by next season ...
And with Michkov you are supposed to get tge bestRusduan draft eligibkex goal scorer since Ovechkin..but hevysxaxshromo...Ovechkin is a big winger...so if tge bat size issue ...not to mention tge 3 more seasons after the draft wait before he can cone affter his KHL cobtract ends ,or even if even he can leave Russia to transfer to the NHL then?
So in my opinion the Hawjs should take Smith if they do not get Bedard or Fantilli...
I am not sayong Carlsdon or Michkov will bust...but just that you will get lots of production from your top 2 lines if Smith and Nezar ate the 1C and 2Cs...Yourt lines willbe driven to score lots.
I do think you need to graban elite Cto add to Nezar ..ifvut t is Bedard( or Fantilli we of course hope...But if no,t Smith is not chickeneed.He would be a #1 equal to Hughes in any other draft that did nott have Bedard and Fantilli.
Still would take Fantill 2nd overall because a Big more physical C is ideal in combo with a smaller skilled C like Nezar ...but if you do not get your big elite C, then having an average size 6 ft size C who is even better than Nezar is nota bad option...you get a 1-2 center combo driving offense of your top 2 lines...Smith is a fantastic consolation prize abd may actually be tge next brst points producer after Bedard intbis draft.
It has been said Smith is good at everything but not elite in any 1 aspect ....well he is elite scoring points ,responsible defensively, maybe the best slot passer in the draft, ekite hockey IQ,wekk above average in skating aspects,high compete level...it is just hard not to see him as #1worthy if this draft did not contain a generational like Bedard (who is not a great defensive C...but who cares because the puck in the o-zone so much when he is on) ..
Fantilli and Carksdon represent the Big C prizes so rare to draft ...socouts have to project then as must grabs ahead od smaller Cs unless the smaller Cs are generational like Bedard is.
.so you need to realize if it was Hughes in place of Smith this draft crop he too probably gets ranked behindc the 2 Big Cs Fantilli and Carlsson for pro projection celing..
I am just less certain about what Carlsson's NHL ceiling but Ifeel very confident Smith can match Jack Hughes ceilingof production as an NHL pro.
Bedard=McD value=Generational
Fantilli and Carlsson = Draisaitl value (they hope)
Smith = Jack Hughes value expeot Smith isxa mich better 2 way player ...better defensively with equal offensive ability.