Speculation: Player Discussion: Will Smith

[weastern bias]

It might come down to: if he asks, they'll send him down. He's definitely lost some confidence, but I think we need to give him 10-20 games on a team with Celebrini on it to evaluate and for him to evaluate.

I would be weary of letting a teenager make a decision about what's best for his future and would hope the organization is making that call based on what they think is best for him in the long term, but it's likely to be a conversation between both sides, they're heavily invested in his success as a top-5 pick, he kind of has to work out for us to have any aspirations of medium-term success

 

[coooldude]

I would be weary of letting a teenager make a decision about what's best for his future and would hope the organization is making that call based on what they think is best for him in the long term, but it's likely to be a conversation between both sides, they're heavily invested in his success as a top-5 pick, he kind of has to work out for us to have any aspirations of medium-term success

Sure, I wasn't saying he's making the decision unilaterally, but if it comes up and they talk through it and he wants to go down, then you do it.

 

[Alaskanice]

Sure, I wasn't saying he's making the decision unilaterally, but if it comes up and they talk through it and he wants to go down, then you do it.

I’ve watched this game for decades, I cannot recall one instance where I heard a player saying they want to go down. I’m not saying it can’t happen, it just sounds unlikely.

 

[coooldude]

I’ve watched this game for decades, I cannot recall one instance where I heard a player saying they want to go down. I’m not saying it can’t happen, it just sounds unlikely.

Sure, I have made myself pretty clear that I think he should stay up for 30-40 games (at least 20 with Macklin in the lineup) and also that Grier said the plan is to not send him down, so the whole exchange has been wildly speculative.

 

[hohosaregood]

I just don't think Smith needs to be in the AHL to develop. Maybe we'd like to ease him in in the AHL but he's a smart enough player with so much poise that I think he can develop while in the NHL. He obviously can't carry a line but he flashes offense every game and that's more than you can ask from half our line up

 

[Skeksis25]

If a player expresses he wishes to be in the minor leagues instead of the NHL, I would get really wary about that player. It may be best for the player, but that decision needs to be made by the organization, not the player himself. Like with Eklund during his first year, it was the right call to send him back to Sweden, but Eklund looked and sounded like his dog got shot or something. A player should never want to be sent to the minors.

 

[BaileyMacTavish]

I still think Smith can develop it the NHL. Just not sure how he can acclimate to the NHL pace sooner rather than later

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I still think Smith can develop it the NHL. Just not sure how he can acclimate to the NHL pace sooner rather than later

He can and probably will. He just may not acclimate to the NHL pace this season for a multitude of reasons. That's okay to me. Most rookies don't figure it out that first season.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Smith didn’t sign to make $83k per year. Part of the reason his development plan includes staying in the NHL is because that was definitely part of the discussion when he signed. While his camp has said the correct thing in public; that if the Sharks think its best to send him down he would go. He absolutely doesn’t want to make less than 10% of the pay just for his development.

These college top picks have leverage and he will stay in the NHL because of it.

 

[weastern bias]

He doesn't really have that leverage anymore, he signed a guaranteed contract and that guarantee goes both ways

College draft picks have outsized leverage only before they sign their deal, once they're locked in they're no different from any other prospect with an NHL contract, he's under our contractual control until he hits UFA, the most he can do is withhold his services and demand a trade but with the NHL tape he's put up so far he's not a particularly appealing asset to anyone but other rebuilding clubs

 

[LilLeeroy]

He doesn't really have that leverage anymore, he signed a guaranteed contract and that guarantee goes both ways

College draft picks have outsized leverage only before they sign their deal, once they're locked in they're no different from any other prospect with an NHL contract, he's under our contractual control until he hits UFA, the most he can do is withhold his services and demand a trade but with the NHL tape he's put up so far he's not a particularly appealing asset to anyone but other rebuilding clubs

And then his agent, that will be representing highly regarded NCAA prospects in the future, will recommend that they don't sign contracts with the Sharks.

Smith is staying in the NHL, prospects of his level just don't get much AHL time.

 

[weastern bias]

And then his agent, that will be representing highly regarded NCAA prospects in the future, will recommend that they don't sign contracts with the Sharks.

Smith is staying in the NHL, prospects of his level just don't get much AHL time.

Sean Coffey has 2 clients with NHL contracts, Will Smith and Lane Hutson, he's not some big shot power broker

Not all agents are created equal

 

[Star Platinum]

Sean Coffey has 2 clients with NHL contracts, Will Smith and Lane Hutson, he's not some big shot power broker

Not all agents are created equal

Send his ass to the ECHL. Let's let him know who has the power!

 

[weastern bias]

Send his ass to the ECHL. Let's let him know who has the power!

I'm not even advocating for sending him down, necessarily, I just think it's a bit doom-and-gloom to assume Smith and his camp have the organization over a barrel due to some perceived power imbalance

He's a teenage boy with zero career points signed to a guaranteed contract, if the team decides it would be in their best interest for him to play in the AHL they can absolutely send him there, he's an employee not a shareholder

 

[LilLeeroy]

Sean Coffey has 2 clients with NHL contracts, Will Smith and Lane Hutson, he's not some big shot power broker

Not all agents are created equal

Will Smith's agent is part of Quartexx Management and it looks like they have 59 clients currently in the NHL.

I'm not even advocating for sending him down, necessarily, I just think it's a bit doom-and-gloom to assume Smith and his camp have the organization over a barrel due to some perceived power imbalance

He's a teenage boy with zero career points signed to a guaranteed contract, if the team decides it would be in their best interest for him to play in the AHL they can absolutely send him there, he's an employee not a shareholder

And obviously they don't think the AHL is magically vastly superior for his development.

 

[Hodge]

It's good to immediately break the promises you made to your 4th overall pick in order to get him to leave college. This is a smart way to run a team.

 

[coooldude]

We don't have to keep talking about this hypothetical, since Grier publicly said he's staying up all year, and Grier has been pretty consistent with what he says publicly and what ends up happening.

I'm sure he'll be in the lineup tonight, and probably Monday, and he might even be proving that despite his struggles he's helping our third line be more threatening than the replacement lineup... Given the performances when he's not in the lineup.

 

[weastern bias]

Will Smith's agent is part of Quartexx Management and it looks like they have 59 clients currently in the NHL.

This isn't the NBA, player agencies aren't colluding behind the scenes to take control of franchises, there isn't enough money to go around for that game to be played so agents are seeking what's best for their individual clients first-and-foremost

And obviously they don't think the AHL is magically vastly superior for his development.

Again, not even advocating for it specifically, just pointing out that it is on the table as an option

It's good to immediately break the promises you made to your 4th overall pick in order to get him to leave college. This is a smart way to run a team.

There is no reason to believe these promises were made in the first place, this is a narrative you've crafted in your head, if Smith wanted to go back to college he'd still be in school, he chose to turn pro and we are not privy to the conversations that preceded that decision

 

[Sharksfan66]

Smith didn’t sign to make $83k per year. Part of the reason his development plan includes staying in the NHL is because that was definitely part of the discussion when he signed. While his camp has said the correct thing in public; that if the Sharks think its best to send him down he would go. He absolutely doesn’t want to make less than 10% of the pay just for his development.

These college top picks have leverage and he will stay in the NHL because of it.

That's short-sided thinking. If he has a Jack Hughes rookie-like season, he's going to severely hurt the $$ he makes on his next contract. If money is the motivator, better to go the A until you find your scoring touch at the pro level.

That said, I doubt money is the main motivator. Guys that make it to the level Smith has are usually huge competitors and I would bet signing this year had as much to do with not being overshadowed by Celebrini (whom he just got passed over for the Hobey Baker, even though he well outscored him) than it did wanting to make a couple hundred thousand extra this year.

 

[Barrie22]

That's short-sided thinking. If he has a Jack Hughes rookie-like season, he's going to severely hurt the $$ he makes on his next contract. If money is the motivator, better to go the A until you find your scoring touch at the pro level.

That said, I doubt money is the main motivator. Guys that make it to the level Smith has are usually huge competitors and I would bet signing this year had as much to do with not being overshadowed by Celebrini (whom he just got passed over for the Hobey Baker, even though he well outscored him) than it did wanting to make a couple hundred thousand extra this year.

Yes because signing a 8 year 8 mil contract is really hurting Hughes.

 

[Hodge]

There is no reason to believe these promises were made in the first place, this is a narrative you've crafted in your head, if Smith wanted to go back to college he'd still be in school, he chose to turn pro and we are not privy to the conversations that preceded that decision

Good point, there's no reason to believe someone would want to make $855,000 (with the chance at up to $4,150,000) instead of $82,500. Or free burrito bowls at participating Boston area Chipotle locations.

 

[weastern bias]

Good point, there's no reason to believe someone would want to make $855,000 (with the chance at up to $4,150,000) instead of $82,500.

Of course he wants to make more money, but that's not what I said and not what you were implying

You implied the organization PROMISED Smith he would be on the big club all year no matter what, and that is something that simply can't be proven

Yes because signing a 8 year 8 mil contract is really hurting Hughes.

In a way it is, he's making well below his market value right now because he didn't break out as a star until after he signed that deal and New Jersey took a risk on him and believed in him

There's a reason his contract is the one I point to as a model for the Celebrini extention, he's severely underpaid

 

[Hodge]

Of course he wants to make more money, but that's not what I said and not what you were implying

You implied the organization PROMISED Smith he would be on the big club all year no matter what, and that is something that simply can't be proven

Why else would Smith leave college when he did? He could have played his sophomore year at BC, signed in March and still pocketed the $92,500 signing bonus and burned a year of his ELC.

 

[Sharksfan66]

Yes because signing a 8 year 8 mil contract is really hurting Hughes.

I mean, signing an 8 year contract doesn't seem to have really hurt Eichel's earnings. The difference? Eichel produced his rookie year.

 

[Sharksfan66]

Why else would Smith leave college when he did? He could have played his sophomore year at BC, signed in March and still pocketed the $92,500 signing bonus and burned a year of his ELC.

You're missing the obvious.

Smith puts up one of the best freshmen seasons in NCAA history to win the scoring title. Does not even end up a Hobey Baker finalist.

Sharks draft the kid who won said Hobey Baker to way more fanfare than Smith ever got and every pundit out there predicts the he'll go straight to the NHL.

Do you really think that Smith's decision to go pro had nothing to do with this?

These guys are competitors. And I would bet you in his heart of hearts, Smith believes he's every bit the talent Celebrini is and he wants to prove it. And I for one am here for it!

But to make it all about $$ seems to miss the even more obvious. Smith is going to make tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions in his career. I don't think a few extra hundred thousand means to him what it means to normal people like you and me.