LD Ty Smith - Spokane Chiefs, WHL (2018, 17th, NJD)

[KirkAlbuquerque]

The fact that people are taking 8 games of watching Makar and not only proclaiming without a shadow of a doubt that they know exactly what he will be and who he will be better than. I’m not saying I know what will happen with these VERY young players. There is a ton of future ahead of all these players and not one person on hf with Hot tAkes knows at all what will end up being truth. It will be a couple years at least until these guys start hitting their potential, and anything can happen. All these kids are super talented, just find it hilarious that we have so many people Acting like they are Ms. Cleo and predicting the future...

Idk , Makar has always been considered the superior prospect, even before he made it to the show. I think you and your fellow Devils fans are mad that other people don't think your players are the bestest like you do

 

[ponder]

The one problem here is the size of our defensemen. Smith is 5'11, Davies is 5'11'' Butcher is 5'10'' Vatanen is 5'10'' Greene is 5'11'' and Severson is 6'2'' but isn't overly physical. We absolutely need to get some size on the backend so we don't get pushed around so much. I could very easily see Vatanen traded this summer for someone with some size to their game.

Agreed. Really like Ty Smith, very good prospect, but he IS going to make a small defence even smaller. Teams with strong cycle games will really beat up on the Devils.

 

[Ivan13]

The fact that people are taking 8 games of watching Makar and not only proclaiming without a shadow of a doubt that they know exactly what he will be and who he will be better than. I’m not saying I know what will happen with these VERY young players. There is a ton of future ahead of all these players and not one person on hf with Hot tAkes knows at all what will end up being truth. It will be a couple years at least until these guys start hitting their potential, and anything can happen. All these kids are super talented, just find it hilarious that we have so many people Acting like they are Ms. Cleo and predicting the future...

Just FYI, I saw quite a bit more than 8 games of both of those guys. Smith is a terrific prospect, but he is no Cale Makar.

 

[My3Sons]

Just FYI, I saw quite a bit more than 8 games of both of those guys. Smith is a terrific prospect, but he is no Cale Makar.

I think the clear thinking NJ supporter will say that’s likely true but it is still early. It’s not a slight to suggest that Makar, a much higher pick, is the more highly regarded prospect. I think folks get emotional from the tendency on the boards to see things in an extreme manner. “Makar is amazing and Smith is meh”. That sort of thing. Smith can certainly have a very good career even if Makar has a better one. I’m fine with that.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Devils fans, Makar is almost certainly going to be better than Smith. That doesn't mean Smith isn't one of the best 5-10 d prospects in the world

 

[goonybird]

Kind of an unfair comparison no?

You'll be shocked to hear which one is better

 

[EXTRAS]

I mean, kinda an unfair comparison given Cale Makar is 17 months older. If you had asked how good Makar would be at the NHL level 17 months ago, I don't believe many people would think as good as he has become.

I do think Makar will be the more impactful NHL player when all is said and done, but Smith just won WHL dman of the year, and could improve a lot in the next 17 months...so who knows?

 

[Csonked Out]

People forget just how risky of a pick Makar was viewed as due to the league he came from. Smith was a much more known commodity that was the final cut last season and has done nothing to diminish his value since. His defense is incredibly underrated.

 

[Dominance]

People forget just how risky of a pick Makar was viewed as due to the league he came from. Smith was a much more known commodity that was the final cut last season and has done nothing to diminish his value since. His defense is incredibly underrated.

I concur.

It’s really easy to tell which posters in this thread haven’t actually seen him play.

 

[ADD-devil950003]

Idk , Makar has always been considered the superior prospect, even before he made it to the show. I think you and your fellow Devils fans are mad that other people don't think your players are the bestest like you do

I honestly don’t care...I hope that both these guys turn out to be great and help both their teams. I’m just saying it’s a bit silly to act as if you know exactly how a player as young as both are is going to turn out. I have absolutely nothing against Makar or the Avs. Speaking like you know with absolute certainty that you know one will be better than the other is insane to me. Lots can happen w these kids and their development. No one expects the 7th rounder to be better than anyone drafted before them, however it still happens.

*Also if any one actually read my whole post, at no point did I say smith would be better or that Makar wasn’t a great prospect. Just saying that these 2 are super young and anything can happen in their development which is still in the incredibly early stages.

 

[Oneiro]

They're just different players. Makar has a toolset that Smith just doesn't have - size, skating and playmaking ability. It's not a fair comparison. In the unlikely event Smith surpasses Makar, I wouldn't be surprised. But I'm not counting on it.

I actually sort of like Smith for some of the things he lacks - he's an efficient two-way D who's going to make the high percentage play 95% of the time because the toolkit to beat guys one-on-one isn't there. He's got a little bit of flair but mostly he's just a smart, high character kid who will give his team exactly what they need. He's not going to push back defenses on the rush.

He's going to be the perfect replacement for Andy Greene - a guy who can play 25+ in an important game without hurting you in any aspect.

 

[Dominance]

They're just different players. Makar has a toolset that Smith just doesn't have - size, skating and playmaking ability. It's not a fair comparison. In the unlikely event Smith surpasses Makar, I wouldn't be surprised. But I'm not counting on it.

I actually sort of like Smith for some of the things he lacks - he's an efficient two-way D who's going to make the high percentage play 95% of the time because the toolkit to beat guys one-on-one isn't there. He's got a little bit of flair but mostly he's just a smart, high character kid who will give his team exactly what they need. He's not going to push back defenses on the rush.

He's going to be the perfect replacement for Andy Greene - a guy who can play 25+ in an important game without hurting you in any aspect.

Honestly, you’re selling Smith short here pretty badly. Guy’s a PP wizard and can be a one-man breakout if not the focal point of concerted forechecking, at which point he’ll simply make the pass.

 

[Eegs]

I concur.

It’s really easy to tell which posters in this thread haven’t actually seen him play.

Funny thing is, you wouldn't have even had to see him much to know he's a decent defensive player. Other scouting reports have mentioned it before as well. It's too easy for people that see a somewhat undersized player with loud offensive tools that puts up great numbers make assumptions that they are bad on D.

 

[EXTRAS]

I hope he plays in the nhl next year, but I also hope they let him attend the wjc.

 

[John Johnson]

They're just different players. Makar has a toolset that Smith just doesn't have - size, skating and playmaking ability. It's not a fair comparison. In the unlikely event Smith surpasses Makar, I wouldn't be surprised. But I'm not counting on it.

I actually sort of like Smith for some of the things he lacks - he's an efficient two-way D who's going to make the high percentage play 95% of the time because the toolkit to beat guys one-on-one isn't there. He's got a little bit of flair but mostly he's just a smart, high character kid who will give his team exactly what they need. He's not going to push back defenses on the rush.

He's going to be the perfect replacement for Andy Greene - a guy who can play 25+ in an important game without hurting you in any aspect.

Agree with everything except the bolded, Makar only has about 10 pounds on Smith at the same height so not a huge difference there.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

I hope he plays in the nhl next year, but I also hope they let him attend the wjc.

Smith has to play in the NHL next year or return to the WHL. No AHL option

 

[EXTRAS]

Smith has to play in the NHL next year or return to the WHL. No AHL option

I think you quoted the wrong post. I never said anything about the ahl.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

I think you quoted the wrong post. I never said anything about the ahl.

You said ‘I hope he plays in the NHL next year’

Theres no hoping. He literally has to. Thats my point

 

[Cheddabombs]

You said ‘I hope he plays in the NHL next year’

Theres no hoping. He literally has to. Thats my point

He doesn't have to. If he's still not ready then it'd be a little disappointing but so be it, another year in the WHL won't kill him.

I expect him to make the team though.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

He doesn't have to. If he's still not ready then it'd be a little disappointing but so be it, another year in the WHL won't kill him.

I expect him to make the team though.

Honestly? I think he has to. He was NHL ready last year and was sent down for physical maturation as well as to improve his defensive game. Add in he was super upset to be the last cut and it would be bad for the org ro send him doen again as itmay cause a rift

You dont get best dman in WHL honors and be sent down again

 

[dmac7719]

Honestly? I think he has to. He was NHL ready last year and was sent down for physical maturation as well as to improve his defensive game. Add in he was super upset to be the last cut and it would be bad for the org ro send him doen again as itmay cause a rift

You dont get best dman in WHL honors and be sent down again

Not comparing where he was in his development compared to Smith, but Tyson Barrie won the award in his d+1 year, like Smith, and was sent down by the Avalanche to play another year in the WHL for his d+2

 

[EXTRAS]

Not comparing where he was in his development compared to Smith, but Tyson Barrie won the award in his d+1 year, like Smith, and was sent down by the Avalanche to play another year in the WHL for his d+2

3rd rounder vs 1st rounder

Different expectations of patience, typically.

 

[DumbManHockey]

3rd rounder vs 1st rounder

Different expectations of patience, typically.

A GM probably doesn’t care about that though. He wants the guys who are most ready for the nhl line up, no matter what. If ty turns out like Barrie we should be happy, so I see nothing wrong with his dev path.

 

[thethinglonger]

 

[goonybird]

Idk , Makar has always been considered the superior prospect, even before he made it to the show. I think you and your fellow Devils fans are mad that other people don't think your players are the bestest like you do

oh look, you're in here too. neato.

anyways Smith wins award for best defenceman in CHL, which is pretty cool. He'll be a huge part of the Devils blueline in the coming years.