Toggle sidebar

C Will Smith - San Jose Sharks , NHL(2023, 4th, SJS)

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
Lou Bloom said:
Maybe I've just caught the wrong games of him but I've been underwhelmed every time I've seen him play. His defense and motor are questionable and even offensively he's more of a connector of play rather than a driver of play. He undoubtedly is a very skilled player with very good instincts offensively but I've been more impressed by Oliver Moore anytime I watch the U18s.
Click to expand...
I see the same things, I have Moore as their best all around player. Smith needs to hit the gym big time, he badly lacks strength and stamina, but if he puts all the efforts, could become a great pts producer in the NHL after some seasoning. In term of strength he is at least 2 yrs away from the NHL.

Lavar Ball said:
How do we think Smith compares to Cooley as a prospect? I think most people agree the top four this year would all have gone 1OA last year, but where do we think Smith would have fallen?
Click to expand...
Cooley had a fantastic motor while Smith motor is very low. The player who compares the most to Cooley is Moore.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SECRET SQUIRREL, OgeeOgelthorpe and MichaelFarrell
MichaelFarrell said:
I like Cooley’s game more than Smith’s.
Both have great talent. Smith can be a bit inconsistent with his effort. When I watched Cooley play last year, he looked every bit like a top pick every game he played. Cooley has an absolute phenomenal motor and is always trying to make a play.

Smith is a player with phenomenal skill. But, Cooley is just a better play driver at this point. Cooley is the type of center that truly amplifies his teammates. Will Smith is able to drive play, but sometimes relies too much on his linemates.

That being said, it’s close in terms of who is the better player. Both have great speed, skill, and passing ability.

Just looking at their draft years. I’d draft these players in this order:
1. Logan Cooley
2. Will Smith
3. Ryan Leonard
4. Frank Nazar
5. Oliver Moore
6. Lane Hutson
7. Cutter Gauthier
8. Gabe Perreault
9. Seamus Casey
10. Rutger McGroarty
Click to expand...
Smith is an average skater, his foot speed needs alot of work, Cooley was a much better skater.
 
vildurson said:
I know this is kinda off topic but what makes you put Leonard over Nazar and Moore? Other's I can understand.
Click to expand...
Leonard all day for me. I’ve seen all three of those players extensively. I love Leonard as a player. He has all the tools you’d want in an NHL player pretty much.

Nazar is a great player. He has a lot of skill and an excellent shot that is really appealing and Moore has great hands, solid motor, and plays a two-way game to complement his ability as a playmaker.

But, I think Leonard has game breaking ability, a great shot, and good hands to go along with his physicality and willingness to go to the hard areas. He’s a complete player and I think he projects really well to being a dynamite top 6 NHL player. There is more risk associated with Nazar and Moore.

Goldenhands said:
Smith is an average skater, his foot speed needs alot of work, Cooley was a much better skater.
Click to expand...
When Smith gets moving, he is definitely fast. Every scout has brought up his skating ability as a strength. I will say his motor is one of the biggest problems that may make him seem slow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: simonedvinsson, Muffinalt and NickH8
MichaelFarrell said:
Leonard all day for me. I’ve seen all three of those players extensively. I love Leonard as a player. He has all the tools you’d want in an NHL player pretty much.

Nazar is a great player. He has a lot of skill and an excellent shot that is really appealing and Moore has great hands, solid motor, and plays a two-way game to complement his ability as a playmaker.

But, I think Leonard has game breaking ability, a great shot, and good hands to go along with his physicality and willingness to go to the hard areas. He’s a complete player and I think he projects really well to being a dynamite top 6 NHL player. There is more risk associated with Nazar and Moore.


When Smith gets moving, he is definitely fast. Every scout has brought up his skating ability as a strength. I will say his motor is one of the biggest problems that may make him seem slow.
Click to expand...
Yep, he can reach good enough top speed once he gets going, but his foot speed is lacking, the first steps are ugly.
 
bsu said:
I think Cooley and Smith are similar type prospects. I think Cooley should have went #1 last year and that shows how good this draft really is. Gun to my head I'd take Cooley over Smith.
Click to expand...

I think the entire top 4 last year was/is super close. But I agree I think all 4 go 5 or layer and are close to Smith which is pretty wild.
 
Vancouver_2010 said:
i guess his slap shot is top notch?
Click to expand...

homelanders.gif
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Ryan Van Horne, SECRET SQUIRREL, rt and 3 others
I think people are starting to confuse Will Smith's patience and poise with the puck as a slow skater, low motor.

He has all the offensive tool.

In a recent interview, he says his game is most comparable to David Pastrnak.

Brillian prospect, not only does he have one of the best ICE-Q in this draft, he has the hands and vision to support it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ffsffs1, Vinny Boombatz, Doublechin and 9 others
UrbanImpact said:
I think people are starting to confuse Will Smith's patience and poise with the puck as a slow skater, low motor.

He has all the offensive tool.

In a recent interview, he says his game is most comparable to David Pastrnak.

Brillian prospect, not only does he have one of the best ICE-Q in this draft, he has the hands and vision to support it.
Click to expand...

Astute point. It's classic HF binary evaluation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WeThreeKings
UrbanImpact said:
I think people are starting to confuse Will Smith's patience and poise with the puck as a slow skater, low motor.

He has all the offensive tool.

In a recent interview, he says his game is most comparable to David Pastrnak.

Brillian prospect, not only does he have one of the best ICE-Q in this draft, he has the hands and vision to support it.
Click to expand...
I get where you are coming from but he for sure lacks motor at times. It’s not a huge issue. It’s just his style of play. He’s definitely not slow by any means. Skating is not a concern for me with his game at all and he absolutely has all the skills you’d want in a top 5 pick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LuckyBoeser, JotAlan, WeThreeKings and 1 other person
He's the same caliber player as Cooley IMO and I think Cooley should have went #1 overall last year. This draft is absolutely stacked for forwards.
 
www.half-wallhockey.com

Recapping USA U18's Devastating 9-1 Win over Czechia at Four Nations Tournament

Well that was certainly a hockey game. The last game of the tournament for USA ended with a 9-1 rout of Czechia. I had caught the USA's win over Sweden two days ago, recapping some of my observations here, but this was a whole separate level of beatdown. I'm going to break this down into areas...
www.half-wallhockey.com www.half-wallhockey.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bowie22, Marc the Habs Fan, Ryan Van Horne and 2 others
  • Like
Reactions: Kcoyote3
Marc the Habs Fan said:
After a 4 point game against Green Bay yesterday, Smith is at the 2 points per game mark on the season (88 points in 44 games). :amazed::propeller
Click to expand...
Any idea how this season stacks up historically in terms of The Program? Wasn´t it Keller that owns the record for most points in a season? I am reading that he had 107 points in 62 GP in 15-16. Which is a 1.7 PPG. Seems like a REALLY impressive season from the Fresh Prince.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom