Just a reminder of tge comparison introduction between draft year sts of Jack Hughes vs.Will Smith for thee USNTDP
tgecu1 8s pkay a 2 part scheduke...1 agaibst NCAa andcoreo teans in exhibition games and tgevother portion vs.USHK junior teams:
Here are therectotal stats (excludes international tournaments):
Jack Hughes 50GP 25g 75 a 100 pts +34
Will Smith 50GP* 41g 62a 103pts +58
"Smith still has a few games remaining vs.USHL teams so his totals will increase..
In thexstrictly USHL portion ofvtgeircseasonsthe totals are:
Jack Hughes 24GP 12g 36a 48pts +17
Will Smith vs USHL to date:
18GP 14g 27a 41pts +20
If you projected out for 24GP vs USHL to equal GP by Hughes vs USHL then Smith vs USHl would have::
* 24GP 19g 36a 55pts +27
Hughes of course went #1in 2019 draft...but2023 draft has Bedard,Fantilki Mychkov and Carlsson ..but tge point is in a normal draft wherevtgerisc1 consensus top pick only.. Smith woukd go #1..He certainly woukd bextaken beforexSlafkovsky if he were in lsst years draft.
You cannot ignore his numbers asxa #1Center.
Gabe Oerraukt his wibgervkinenate even has a couple mkreboiintsxtgan Smith..but youvalwaysxrank equivalent production players i thusvorder.....Centers are more valued than wingers ifcequal in production.
Nobody knows how many goals Mychkov or Carlsson woukd score ifvtgey played vs. A mixed schedukevof NCAA abd USHK teansvi theircdragt years but they are not the playmaker tgatcSnithbis.
He checks a lot of boxes you want ina #1cebter...except size ...He us bugger tgan Jack Hughes...And nobody is denying how good Hughes eventually turned out as a nNHL star.
So if Hawks do not get Bedard or Fantilki ....Smith woukd be a fantastic "consolation proze".
I think his ceilibgvforvproductiinnischigherctgan Carlsson...And Mychkov is notca Center plusctgevextrackibg wait +the risk of him being keotvin Ruusiacunless tge NHL -KHL Transfer Agreement getsxrestroed from current suspension.
In any case Hawks want/NEED a legit liberal driver 1C firvtgecre-buikd.
.so I put Smith into tge #3target if we landctgere.He will need 2 years of NCAA hockey (not to getcany better skilk wise...but rather to bulk up and get stringer.. Yes Carlsson will probably take just 1more season again in the SHL to improve on some aspects of his game like improving his oace) ...And Fantilli may want to go back to Michigan unless they win theFrizen Frozen Four this year....He too has a pro body to play now. But I think Hawks are planning 1 more season of Tank.. so really you also would expect them to keep Fantilli back 1 more season at Michigan to avoid mental stress of so much losing next seasoni Chicago.
Only Bedard, if Hawks lucky enough to get him in the lotto process,would pjay in the Show with the Hawks next season...nothing left to prove I Juniors and too young to play in the AHL ...so ...mental stress on a bottom feeder team side,Bedard willbecaskef to just scored and electrify the crowds..winning probably still not in the cards yet...and Bedard likely to have bad plus minus...but he should help Hawks offense and tge entertainment value ofca Hawks game will rose dramatically..Maybe he moves Hawks uoto 8th-10th worst instead of 2nd or 3rd or 4th worst team ...But Hawks will nitvcarevif they still are not contenders next season just by adding Bedard..They will be over the moon theyvgotca potential generational talent.Bit he stillhas a kitvti learn defensively...butbyiubcan always teach defense...offense is more natural...either you have "it" or you do not.
So Hawks may still lose a lot Bedard next season in that scenario...but then starting in 2924/25 and 2025/26 seasons the major injection of talent arrives in from the pipeline infuses in.. and then the Hawks start contending again...