C Will Smith - Boston College, NCAA (2023, 4th, SJS)

[wickedwitch]

Not trying to rile up Sharks fans but wasn’t sure where to put this.

Who is the straw that stirred the drink between Smith and Cutter Gauthier? Who was driving the line and the better play now and in the future for those that watched them a ton?

Thanks!

They didn't play on a line together regularly -- Smith generally played with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Between Leonard, Perreault, and Smith there have been literally dozens of pages of debate about who drives that line with no consensus.

 

[Gecklund]

Not trying to rile up Sharks fans but wasn’t sure where to put this.

Who is the straw that stirred the drink between Smith and Cutter Gauthier? Who was driving the line and the better play now and in the future for those that watched them a ton?

Thanks!

They didn’t play together.

 

[coooldude]

They didn't play on a line together regularly -- Smith generally played with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Between Leonard, Perreault, and Smith there have been literally dozens of pages of debate about who drives that line with no consensus.

The only thing to add to this good summary is that when Perreault was injured late season, Smith centered Leonard and Gauthier and it was a pretty lethal line, with Smith going on a points tear and probably having his best games of the season. At other times he looked for Perreault a little too much.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

As objective as possible the framing of their line would be that Leonard was the dirty work guy who dug pucks out, played more direct, went to the net, and got open for shots. Perreault was a playmaker often looking for open teammates, making quick puck decisions, and working to move the puck around, while Smith was a little bit of a combination of those two as the center on the line and maybe tilting a little more towards the type of game Perreault was playing.

They worked very well together, and all three benefit from playing with each other. We’ll see how each does when they aren’t playing together. Smith will be apart from the other two this season, and the two wingers will be without their center.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

As objective as possible the framing of their line would be that Leonard was the dirty work guy who dug pucks out, played more direct, went to the net, and got open for shots. Perreault was a playmaker often looking for open teammates, making quick puck decisions, and working to move the puck around, while Smith was a little bit of a combination of those two as the center on the line and maybe tilting a little more towards the type of game Perreault was playing.

They worked very well together, and all three benefit from playing with each other. We’ll see how each does when they aren’t playing together. Smith will be apart from the other two this season, and the two wingers will be without their center.

I mean, who is Smith even going to play with next year? I can’t imagine Smith and Celebrini play together on the same line other than PP.

San Jose better sign some decent vets. I think Smith is going to really struggle early on in the year.

 

[coooldude]

I mean, who is Smith even going to play with next year? I can’t imagine Smith and Celebrini play together on the same line other than PP.

San Jose better sign some decent vets. I think Smith is going to really struggle early on in the year.

I think he will struggle. Could play him with Eklund (Perreault) and Zetterlund (Leonard), but probably better to introduce him on the wing. Either way the sharks definitely need to sign some upgrades even if only moderate upgrades.

 

[themelkman]

Edit now know they didn’t play on the same line….still want to know why is the further better NHL playere

Well Will Smith scored a few more points, is a center and a year younger so I would say he is trending to be the more impactful NHL player. Cutter still looks really good though

I mean, who is Smith even going to play with next year? I can’t imagine Smith and Celebrini play together on the same line other than PP.

San Jose better sign some decent vets. I think Smith is going to really struggle early on in the year.

I could see Couture on his wing if he is able to play. Eklund and Zetterlund could also be an interesting pair of wingers for him, but would leave Celebrini out in the air.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Scratched tonight against the Jets. I’m still of the opinion he signed too early but maybe he’ll be somewhat productive as the year goes on.

 

[matt trick]

Scratched tonight against the Jets. I’m still of the opinion he signed too early but maybe he’ll be somewhat productive as the year goes on.

While you’re technical correct, Coach Wario said it’s for load management for a 19 year old on back to back. He also said Smith had his best game last night. Given he played 18 minutes it doesn’t sound like lip service to me.

If you’re a glutton for punishment the Sharks sans Eklund, Smith, and Celebrini is great fun. Gushchin is a fun little eater but out there though.

 

[Parliament]

While you’re technical correct, Coach Wario said it’s for load management for a 19 year old on back to back. He also said Smith had his best game last night. Given he played 18 minutes it doesn’t sound like lip service to me.

If you’re a glutton for punishment the Sharks sans Eklund, Smith, and Celebrini is great fun. Gushchin is a fun little eater but out there though.

I think ANA did the same thing with Carlsson last year? You'd naturally prefer they play a full 82, but not a huge deal if it's planned (as opposed to reactive).

 

[Wieters]

Scratched tonight against the Jets. I’m still of the opinion he signed too early but maybe he’ll be somewhat productive as the year goes on.

The rationale for signing seemed to have been that he had outgrown the NCAA after his first year. I've heard both his agent and his teammates refer to his point total as ostensible proof of that.

Just my opinion, but even though the numbers might have been there because of the talent alongside him on the lines he played on, I never felt like Smith was taking over games to the point that he had nothing left to prove in college. And he disappeared down the stretch as the games got more intense.

The Sharks seemed to push pretty hard for Smith to sign, so I hope they did so with a development plan in mind that might include load management like this healthy scratch and didn't call him up with the expectation that he would be ready from the jump and are now benching him because he's not.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Send him down to the AHL and then to the World Juniors.

 

[ViD]

is he getting 9 games and then sent down?

 

[coooldude]

is he getting 9 games and then sent down?

No. It's a load management plan. He's staying in the NHL all year, according to Grier last week. Sharks board has a whole thread about him/the plan if you want to read.

 

[BKarchitect]

I'm more concerned how he is looking in January and February than he is now. The adjustment period is real and the Sharks, now sans Celebrini, are real, real bad. They have basically one functional line that has any semblance of scoring ability and Smith ain't on it.

This certainly isn't the fun times at BC. But it's not time to panic. It's very early.

 

[MrCreamm]

How good was Smith looking in preseason? I find it interesting they have no plans to send him to the AHL. If I were Grier I'd probably evaluate how well he plays with Celebrini back in the lineup and then maybe send him to the A.

 

[Wieters]

How good was Smith looking in preseason? I find it interesting they have no plans to send him to the AHL. If I were Grier I'd probably evaluate how well he plays with Celebrini back in the lineup and then maybe send him to the A.

This is conjecture, but I would guess that during the summer when the question of Smith signing was undecided, there was some sort of discussion between the front office and Smith about the prospects of him being sent down. I have to imagine that when Smith decided to leave a good situation at BC after one year, it was to be in the room and on the ice in the NHL on a team that has a lot of minutes to give and not to be shuttled around on buses in the AHL.

 

[Erika]

0 points in 7 yikes... Michkov was available

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

0 points in 7 yikes... Michkov was available

lol, no slight on smith, he’s going to end up an NHL player, most likely a very good one, Michkov is just a rare breed, too many factors led GM’s ( trying to keep their jobs ) to draft other players.

 

[rahad]

0 points in 7 yikes... Michkov was available

Seriously, the Habs get shit on for not drafting him. But the same could be said about the Sharks... they are rebuilding team. They could have waited the 3 years for Michkov.

Celebrini and Michkov combo would have been deadly.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Obvious

 

[Intangir]

Will Smith is a rookie, a 19 year-old one. It's only normal for him to have some difficulty in the NHL, playing for a team that just isn't good.

Some here are saying that it maybe would have been better for him to come a year later into the NHL, but my opinion about about the issue would be a little more complicated than that.

I mean, it is plain common sense that the best way to foster confidence/development in a talented young player is by letting that young player play at levels where he will build his confidence in his abilities and grow, giving him runway to speak of, instead of "throwing him to the wolves" in the NHL where every mistake of his is magnified and his confidence could get eroded over time.

But there is also a lot of experience that can only be gained by facing the very best in the world on a nightly basis. And it is important that prospects get that "reality check" early so they prepare well, and grow well.

The same thing happened with Slafkovsky in his D+1 and up until about the midway point of last season. He didn't score, and people got on his back about it despite the fact that his game was showing progression. Then he was put on a line with players that meshed well with him, and his progression took a giant leap.

So I get that some people would rather that Smith play in the AHL, or even had stayed one more year at Boston College, but I personally think that as long as Smith shows some amount of progress on a game-to-game basis, is insulated well in the locker room by veterans, and doesn't seem completely overwhelmed on the ice, that he should stay up in the NHL.

Now, if his confidence starts getting affected, and if Smith himself feels he might benefit from playing away from the San Jose Sharks in the NHL, then by all means, he should be sent to the AHL.

Those are the two options left for him at this point, since he signed that ELC.

 

[Mrfenn92]

He has some nice moments against the hawks. He’s going to be fine.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

He should be in the AHL — end of story. Robins, Bordeleau, and several others have earned their AHL stripes. Bystedt looks great. Keeping Smith on the fourth line on a horrific team beyond a few games will be counterproductive to his development. Grier is either stupid for promising him an NHL job to get him to sign or stubborn.

 

[Gecklund]

He has some nice moments against the hawks. He’s going to be fine.

Seriously. These guys in here clearly are only box score watching and completely ignoring the fact he’s played with some garbage players that can’t finish his plays. He’s struggled for sure but it’s 7 games.

He should be in the AHL — end of story. Robins, Bordeleau, and several others have earned their AHL stripes. Bystedt looks great. Keeping Smith on the fourth line on a horrific team beyond a few games will be counterproductive to his development. Grier is either stupid for promising him an NHL job to get him to sign or stubborn.

He’s not on the fourth line. But no go off.