I think Smith might be the most underrated player in the 2018 Draft Class. I think he's going to be the player this year that keeps creeping up draft boards because his play is very good, and he's a safe player compared to more volatile options, while also having a pretty high ceiling. Wouldn't doubt that he could go top 5.
Ty Smith's biggest problem is that he's not flashy, he "just" plays solid defense - shift after shift.
For as far as the league has come, there's still a tendency to overlook the guys who don't put up offensive numbers or hit hard. But Smith reads the plays well, reacts well and has the mobility that teams crave on their D these days.
I've really only heard two rumblings with Smith:
1. His size/strength is average at best, with the consensus being that his vitals are a little more padded than some guys.
2. Where he projects as an NHL defenseman. His smarts and awareness could easily project to a safety valve on a top pairing, but his size/strength and concerns about having that extra little something could have him slotted lower.
But those two issues aside, he projects as a fairly safe pick. The question will be how he progresses this season, and whether a team wants to roll the dice on a guy who might have a flashier impact at the pro level.
Veleno is an interesting player heading into this season. He's essentially been used as a support player thus far in his junior career, and has done well in the role, but expectations for him were significantly higher than they would be for someone else in the role. As such, this season is going to go a long way in determining how teams project him and rank him.
The reality is that he shouldn't have been granted exceptional status, and he's never going to quite live up to that label.
Still, you have some people who still think his upside is in the Toews/Duchene neighborhood, while others project him considerably lower. Frankly, I think he could go anywhere from the top 5 to the low teens/early 20s. For me he's a bit of a wildcard.
