Speculation: Player Discussion: Will Smith

[Shark Finn]

With the discussion around Will Smith heating up and taking place in multiple threads, I thought maybe the guy deserves a thread of his own. Would make following the discussion easier and keep other threads on track.

Also something to look back at eventually when he either busts or becomes a 100 point player. No in-betweens.

Click to read more...

 

[mogambomoroo]

I hope Will Smith gets to play at least 9 games in NHL games before any decisions.
He seems to be on the 3rd line for the next game, which is fine. I also think it's fine he gets a good opportunity to find his pace. But I'm not opposed to give him AHL time to find dominance.
I just hope they give him a 1 or 2 games at PP1, just to see if it can bring any fire under him.

 

[coooldude]

Reposting the latest interview with wars and Smith himself

Struggling Sharks rookie Smith urged to breathe by Warsofsky

 

[Le Rosbeef]

It's almost like there's something that happens to all players between being drafted and admission to the Hall of Fame...

Dev... deleve... deple... devlim...

Naw, can't remember it. Besides, he should be the finished article already. He's had more than 30 minutes in the NHL now...

(Seriously, what are we becoming as a fanbase??????)

 

[landshark]

I dunno how much of a player he is since he married Jada in 1997...

 

[coooldude]

It's almost like there's something that happens to all players between being drafted and admission to the Hall of Fame...

Dev... deleve... deple... devlim...

Naw, can't remember it. Besides, he should be the finished article already. He's had more than 30 minutes in the NHL now...

(Seriously, what are we becoming as a fanbase??????)

I think we're seeing a perfect storm for the Smith mania:
1. people have something to care about again
2. But Celly out and Gush benched means the focus is on Smith
3. Because of the amazing hopeful off-season, expectations for some might have been too high (not everyone though)
4. Because of all the hype for the prospects and Smith specifically, hopes (and some expectations) were very high
5. Although it's early, Smith is having a rough start compared to his top of 2023 draft brethren, increasing the panic

Possible responses and my personal reaction on each:
1. Total panic. This one is unnecessary.
2. Serious concern - blame Smith aka worry about his potential in the NHL. this is more understandable, but still way too premature. Big, big names in the NHL have taken seasons to acclimate.
3. Serious concern - blame SJS aka worry about development. I think this is overblown. He's being given a lot of time and support. Struggle was predictable. He's going through normal pains.
4. Minor concern - development or Smith himself. Understandable. People could think he's better in the AHL after 10 or 30 games, better on this line or that, or be a bit worried that Fantilli, Carlsson, and Michkov all look quite a bit better at the same age. I don't fully agree but I totally get it.
5. Tempered patience. It's going to take 1-2 seasons for him to get up to speed, he still needs to grow and get a lot stronger, he's still almost 3 years away from being able to have a beer legally so there's a lot of maturity in body and mind to come, don't panic... Let the team pros decide what to do with him, and don't worry about the minutia of his development yet. BUT, also, no question that this start shaves a bit of the optimism off the very top of the possible outcomes, whether it's his fault, sharks fault, or both. This is where I am.
6. Total optimism. Nothing has changed - it's only 3 games, nothing at all to worry about, still sky high upside for the kid. I don't think I'm here but I get it if someone is.

 

[weastern bias]

My opinion: he's a teenager

 

[one2gamble]

im not worried about it, I think hes putting pressure on himself because of Mack, he wasnt insulated as well initially. He needs to regain some swagger, if you dont play with confidence this league will eat you alive.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

So far my opinion on Smith is two things. One, I don't notice him as much as I wish I did. Ever since Celebrini went down I was hoping to really get to watch Smith's game, but he's not playing the minutes I thought he would. The second thing is I'm already tired of the debate in the GDT about him. So far in the three games, the GDTs have turned into the same thing, should Smith go down or not. Personally I think he should get at least 10 games and actually get a look. He's young and will make mistakes. If this season is about developing the players, then lets develop the players. I think the issue right now is you have mixed messaging from the Coach. I don't see how you can develop players when they have a short leash and/or they only play 10 or less minutes a game. Either free Smith (And Gushchin for that matter) or send him down so he can be free in the minors.

 

[BaileyMacTavish]

I want to think Smith will be fine bur my optimism has all but dried up at this point lol

 

[Sendhelplease]

Smiith has been pretty much what I expected. We have to remember that he is stepping up to the NHL from the NCAA as a 19 year old and who is still filling out his frame while having a very cerebral play style that likely takes time to adjust to playing in the NHL. He is also playing with line mates he never played with before after having spent the last two years stapled to the same two players with Leonard and Perrault. I expect Smith to have a rough rookie year but I hope that he starts to show flashes of figuring it out by the end of the year. Even though he has not been very noticeable he has not made any heinous plays or decisions and he has shown flashes of skill that few players of the team can match. I am not panicking in the slightest about his slow start.

 

[Alaskanice]

Smiith has been pretty much what I expected. We have to remember that he is stepping up to the NHL from the NCAA as a 19 year old and who is still filling out his frame while having a very cerebral play style that likely takes time to adjust to playing in the NHL. He is also playing with line mates he never played with before after having spent the last two years stapled to the same two players with Leonard and Perrault. I expect Smith to have a rough rookie year but I hope that he starts to show flashes of figuring it out by the end of the year. Even though he has not been very noticeable he has not made any heinous plays or decisions and he has shown flashes of skill that few players of the team can match. I am not panicking in the slightest about his slow start.

I was going to say much of what you said here. Smith has moved from linemates that knew each other inherently.
Now he has to learn a new skill, different players. That takes time.
To reiterate the point, he hasn’t made glaring mistakes. Mistakes to be certain, welcome to the NHL.

 

[gaucholoco3]

This is the same way the board responded to Smith not looking the best last year to start the season. He is a very cerebral player and it takes him time to download all the information he sees on the ice and see what he can do. It’s why him playing the lowest amount of ice time on the team is concerning. He needs reps. I would also love to see them occasionally start a PP with the second unit because he would really benefit from the puck touches he will get on the PP.

 

[Hodge]

Did anyone else watch the Ducks game last night? Cutter Gauthier got benched twice, the second time after he was responsible for a Utah goal. He didn't play again for the final 15 minutes of the 3rd period and overtime.

I think it should make everyone less panicky about Smith that a guy a year older and significantly bigger than him who was also a top 5 pick is going through the same struggles. It's really hard to make the jump from college to the NHL.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Smith has had 1.6 minutes of PP time and Michkov has had 16 minutes of PP time. Both have 0 ES points. Michkov is a -3 and we all know the one play that gave Smith his -1. Michkov has only played 3 more ES minutes across 3 games. Yes Michkov has better possession numbers but it’s not like he is outplaying Smith because of his ES play.

If Smith had 16 minutes of PP time I have no doubt he would have at least 2 points and the narrative would be completely different.

 

[GRANdSharks]

Will smith will be fine, he is still getting his feet under him every prospect is different. I remember at the start of last year some were worried about his start to the college year and he ended up leading the NCAA in points

 

[hohosaregood]

He's clearly topped out as a player. Trade him while he still has value

 

[Star Platinum]

I think Will Smith will be a good player. I think two things are happening at the same time right now. One is that the adjustment of skipping a level and going straight to the NHL is a lot for him to adjust to right now and that part is unavoidable. The second thing is that the struggle he's going through is being compounded by his head coach not putting him in a position to succeed because he's more concerned with winning than development.

 

[Hodge]

I think Will Smith will be a good player. I think two things are happening at the same time right now. One is that the adjustment of skipping a level and going straight to the NHL is a lot for him to adjust to right now and that part is unavoidable. The second thing is that the struggle he's going through is being compounded by his head coach not putting him in a position to succeed because he's more concerned with winning than development.

Become a Habs fan if you want to follow a team that values "development" over winning. Sure they give up six goals a game despite Montembeault standing on his head but at least Caufield gets his empty calorie points and Hutson is allowed to do five million head fakes on the perimeter before turning the puck over with no support.

 

[CanadienShark]

Become a Habs fan if you want to follow a team that values "development" over winning. Sure they give up six goals a game despite Montembeault standing on his head but at least Caufield gets his empty calorie points and Hutson is allowed to do five million head fakes on the perimeter before turning the puck over with no support.

Don't be one if you expect anything more than useless drop passes for attempts at zone entries and the most pathetically boring, predictable, static powerplay imaginable.

 

[Jargon]

I think Will Smith will be a good player. I think two things are happening at the same time right now. One is that the adjustment of skipping a level and going straight to the NHL is a lot for him to adjust to right now and that part is unavoidable. The second thing is that the struggle he's going through is being compounded by his head coach not putting him in a position to succeed because he's more concerned with winning than development.

In my opinion, Smith is, in fact, being sheltered and absolutely being put into a position to succeed. First of all, almost no one on this board thought he'd be our 2C to start the year and many of us thought he'd start on wing -- he did not. The Coach gave him full trust to center a 2nd line with our leading goal scorer from last year and Granlund. That changed the last two games because of Celebrini, but nonetheless, until this upcoming game, he's been playing with theoretical Top 6 guys (or what are Top 6 guys on the Sharks).

Yes, he's on the 2nd powerplay, but.. he's a 19 year old who was given the chance to center a 2nd line and play on the 2nd powerplay. He hasn't really been able to live up to those responsibilities yet and that's okay.. He'll now get the chance to play with two hard-working guys who can hopefully get him the puck and give him more touches (while also helping him win faceoffs).

What exactly would you do differently? Play him 20 minutes a night? Would it help to have him take on top lines in the NHL and get destroyed?

Smith is a kid and he's struggling. Again, I think that's okay, he'll figure it out, but this idea that he's not being put into a position to succeed seems a little silly to me. He has not really earned being a 2C either by his play in preseason or his play in the first 3 games -- so now Warsofsky is trying to give him less responsibility to figure it all out. If anything, it feels like they're doing what they can to nurture the kid. I mean, he was first in the shootout -- they're obviously doing everything they can to get him going.

 

[coooldude]

In my opinion, Smith is, in fact, being sheltered and absolutely being put into a position to succeed. First of all, almost no one on this board thought he'd be our 2C to start the year and many of us thought he'd start on wing -- he did not. The Coach gave him full trust to center a 2nd line with our leading goal scorer from last year and Granlund. That changed the last two games because of Celebrini, but nonetheless, until this upcoming game, he's been playing with theoretical Top 6 guys (or what are Top 6 guys on the Sharks).

Yes, he's on the 2nd powerplay, but.. he's a 19 year old who was given the chance to center a 2nd line and play on the 2nd powerplay. He hasn't really been able to live up to those responsibilities yet and that's okay.. He'll now get the chance to play with two hard-working guys who can hopefully get him the puck and give him more touches (while also helping him win faceoffs).

What exactly would you do differently? Play him 20 minutes a night? Would it help to have him take on top lines in the NHL and get destroyed?

Smith is a kid and he's struggling. Again, I think that's okay, he'll figure it out, but this idea that he's not being put into a position to succeed seems a little silly to me. He has not really earned being a 2C either by his play in preseason or his play in the first 3 games -- so now Warsofsky is trying to give him less responsibility to figure it all out. If anything, it feels like they're doing what they can to nurture the kid. I mean, he was first in the shootout -- they're obviously doing everything they can to get him going.

Really well stated.

Small point building on the last point you made, I really liked sending him out on the shootout. Maybe you send him second instead of first... but the point is, he had been lighting up the shootouts in preseason/camp, so give him a chance to shine after a tough game. Sure, it didn't work out, but I dunno - better to give him a shot than not give him a shot.

 

[Gecklund]

Going into the season, I didn’t think Will Smith was NHL ready. I honestly thought he was going to get absolutely buried. Will Smith has pleasantly surprised me that despite playing against other teams top 6s he isn’t getting buried. You see the flashes of talent. You see the intelligence he has. Yes he has not put it all together but he’s what 19? 20? in a new city on a terrible team that despite looking much more competitive than last season still is getting hemmed in their zone repeatedly for long stretches. He’s not a defensive player. I think that if these flashes of talent converted at all, we’d be singing a much different tune. I saw multiple great passes that were flubbed by his teammate or just off the mark. I’ve seen him in positions to score multiple times and they just haven’t found the back of the net. I think sending him down now would be one of the worst things we could do for his development. Let him play through it. He’s not getting caved. It’s 3 games.

Disclaimer: any observations are my own eye test so probably biased and/or not exactly right but I’m going to say them anyway because I can and you can’t stop me.

 

[coooldude]

Going into the season, I didn’t think Will Smith was NHL ready. I honestly thought he was going to get absolutely buried. Will Smith has pleasantly surprised me that despite playing against other teams top 6s he isn’t getting buried. You see the flashes of talent. You see the intelligence he has. Yes he has not put it all together but he’s what 19? 20? in a new city on a terrible team that despite looking much more competitive than last season still is getting hemmed in their zone repeatedly for long stretches. He’s not a defensive player. I think that if these flashes of talent converted at all, we’d be singing a much different tune. I saw multiple great passes that were flubbed by his teammate or just off the mark. I’ve seen him in positions to score multiple times and they just haven’t found the back of the net. I think sending him down now would be one of the worst things we could do for his development. Let him play through it. He’s not getting caved. It’s 3 games.

Disclaimer: any observations are my own eye test so probably biased and/or not exactly right but I’m going to say them anyway because I can and you can’t stop me.

I pretty much 100% agree with you with the only caveat being that he has, at times, gotten caved. But even so, he's at expectation and shouldn't be sent down. They're giving him a lot of chances and attempting to support him to be successful. The only thing they're not doing is putting him on PP1, which frankly I understand.

 

[wickedwitch]

In my opinion, Smith is, in fact, being sheltered and absolutely being put into a position to succeed. First of all, almost no one on this board thought he'd be our 2C to start the year and many of us thought he'd start on wing -- he did not. The Coach gave him full trust to center a 2nd line with our leading goal scorer from last year and Granlund. That changed the last two games because of Celebrini, but nonetheless, until this upcoming game, he's been playing with theoretical Top 6 guys (or what are Top 6 guys on the Sharks).

Yes, he's on the 2nd powerplay, but.. he's a 19 year old who was given the chance to center a 2nd line and play on the 2nd powerplay. He hasn't really been able to live up to those responsibilities yet and that's okay.. He'll now get the chance to play with two hard-working guys who can hopefully get him the puck and give him more touches (while also helping him win faceoffs).

What exactly would you do differently? Play him 20 minutes a night? Would it help to have him take on top lines in the NHL and get destroyed?

Smith is a kid and he's struggling. Again, I think that's okay, he'll figure it out, but this idea that he's not being put into a position to succeed seems a little silly to me. He has not really earned being a 2C either by his play in preseason or his play in the first 3 games -- so now Warsofsky is trying to give him less responsibility to figure it all out. If anything, it feels like they're doing what they can to nurture the kid. I mean, he was first in the shootout -- they're obviously doing everything they can to get him going.

Super short term, aka for a game or two, I'd put him on PP1. Right now, possibly even more so than adjusting to the pace of the game, the thing he needs most is confidence. The PP would give him an opportunity to score and build his confidence. Because there are defined roles, not all teams have their best 4 forwards on PP1, so it wouldn't be outrageous to put him there. And I genuinely think he could handle it.

Over the next year or so, if he continue to struggle, (and that's a big if) I'd get him an actual top 6 linemate (aka not just top 6 for the Sharks). Whether that means breaking up the first line or trading for one, I think that will be important.