Prospect Info: C Nathan Smith (2018 3rd, 91st overall)

[jetsforever]

47 points in 51 USHL games with Cedar Rapids
What do we know about this guy?

Click to read more...

 

[DeepFrickinValue]

US scout is aok. #faithinscouts

 

[Rheged]

The Jets special.

 

[Boreal]

Probably a 1st ballot HOFer.

 

[csk]

Seems like we could have left him on the board for a couple rounds and still gotten him. Happy to have him in our prospect pool though

 

[surixon]

Not a fan of the pick. Seems like very poor pick value for an over age player in the USHL.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Like I've said before, most of these draft picks aren't big ones as we can be patient with most of them.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

I trust our USHL scouts more than my own wife

Excited to see what he can do

 

[Rheged]

I seem to get a different set of responses in these threads time I click on them..

 

[Hammer Slammer]

 

[Whileee]

You don't draft players @ 91 that check all the boxes. I think that being a late bloomer isn't such a black mark. He didn't start skating until age 11, and only transitioned to a top league last season. Sounds like his development trajectory has been good.

 

[surixon]

Yeah these forms have been acting up all day...

 

[herbst20]

Great pick. I watched him all year in Cedar Rapids. He was a relatively unknown up until last year. He put up huge numbers in Florida high school hockey, made the Cedar Rapids Roughriders as a Free Agent, and proceeded to lead the Riders in points. Big time compete level and work ethic. He is coming back to Cedar Rapids this year and will have a strong year. Great job by Dan Shrader and Max Giese to identify Nathan

 

[truck]

You da bes!

 

[raideralex99]

The guy is like 2 or 3 years away from playing in the NHL why ask the question if I like the pick?
Chevy and his staff have proven themselves they know what they are doing. I don't want to hear from a fan its a great pick or a terrible pick.

 

[Olsen]

Great work, KillEmAll83. I really appreciate it!

And i have to say that Smith looks very promising. I'm pleasantly surprised!

Edit: Jez... what is going on with this forum?!?

 

[ffh]

Seems like we could have left him on the board for a couple rounds and still gotten him. Happy to have him in our prospect pool though

obviously you don't know that to be true but why would any team leave a player on the board they had rated where they picked him or higher.

 

[Pongs21]

Nifty hands, good vision. Could be a good one.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

 

[truck]

Awesome highlight package BTW.

Some jaw dropping plays and puck protection.

 

[ffh]

why does the jets site not have an interview from this guy but has interviews from the 4th and 2 5th picks.

 

[surixon]

why does the jets site not have an interview from this guy but has interviews from the 4th and 2 5th picks.

He probably wasn't physically at the draft. A number of players who are draft eligible don't show up if they don't have a strong sense of if they are going to be picked or not.

 

[kittiecarlyle]

why does the jets site not have an interview from this guy but has interviews from the 4th and 2 5th picks.

Had no 4th round pick and as mentioned he was not at the draft. IC however has an interview up on their site.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

After watching this guys' highlights, I noticed one thing he is just amazing at is positioning. His vision is very good too as is his wrist shot, although I can tell he needs a challenge. See he has some high-end potential.

 

[DeepFrickinValue]

After watching this guys' highlights, I noticed one thing he is just amazing at is positioning. His vision is very good too as is his wrist shot, although I can tell he needs a challenge. See he has some high-end potential.

Too soon for so much positivity for a player from this years draft

Gut is telling me Smith was a good pick.

 

[JetsFan815]

obviously you don't know that to be true but why would any team leave a player on the board they had rated where they picked him or higher.

It happens all the time in later rounds and Chevy has openly admitted that in his interviews. For example in his post-draft interview this year, he said that they consider taking Moe in one of the earlier rounds but decided not to as they thought he would be available with a later pick.

 

[JetsFan815]

Can someone post his scouting report from hockeyprospect.com's Black Book? Of all the services, they were the highest on him.

Those are some really high end plays being made by him. Looks like Rickard Rakell on some of those plays. Let's see how he does against tougher competition in college.

 

[surixon]

Can someone post his scouting report from hockeyprospect.com's Black Book? Of all the services, they were the highest on him.



Those are some really high end plays being made by him. Looks like Rickard Rakell on some of those plays. Let's see how he does against tougher competition in college.

Unfortunately he wont be going to college next season, but spending another one in the USHL. The highlight package is nice, but I temper my expectations due to the fact that he is one of the older players in the league and at the end of the day his total point totals where very ordinary.

We can find a similarly impressive video for guys like Stallard at the same age playing against younger comp in the dub.

 

[JetsFan815]

Unfortunately he wont be going to college next season, but spending another one in the USHL. The highlight package is nice, but I temper my expectations due to the fact that he is one of the older players in the league and at the end of the day his total point totals where very ordinary.

We can find a similarly impressive video for guys like Stallard at the same age playing against younger comp in the dub.

Oh my expectations are fully in check here. Weird that Elite Prospects has him going to Minnesota state next season Nathan Smith at eliteprospects.com.

 

[CorgisPer60]

Ok - colour me intrigued by the flashes of skill I saw there. Maybe the scouts saw something enough times to justify the pick. Either way, Chevy and co gets the benefit of the doubt.

 

[surixon]

-QUOTE="JetsFan815, post: 147289137, member: 147697"]Oh my expectations are fully in check here. Weird that Elite Prospects has him going to Minnesota state next season Nathan Smith at eliteprospects.com.[/QUOTE]

I saw that but the official team article and he himself states he is going back to the USHL before going to college in the 2019-2020 season:

Roller hockey gave 2018 third round pick Smith his start in hockey

Essentially the same development path as Poolman. Can't say that I am happy that he is playing as an over-aged player next season.

 

[Atoyot]

He seems to think the game quickly and has pretty good playmaking skills. Excited to see what he can do at Mankato next year.

EDIT: See he's going back to the USHL. Not ideal but let's see how it goes.

 

[Whileee]

Unfortunately he wont be going to college next season, but spending another one in the USHL. The highlight package is nice, but I temper my expectations due to the fact that he is one of the older players in the league and at the end of the day his total point totals where very ordinary.

We can find a similarly impressive video for guys like Stallard at the same age playing against younger comp in the dub.

Actually, his scoring was very impressive... easily top on his low scoring team. I am not as worried about his age because he's a late bloomer... didn't start skating until age 11.

 

[Daximus]

Don't hate the pick, don't love it either. But I can live with it at where we got him. Though like usual there will typically be guys who I think were better. Some may end up being better some may end up being worse. Such is the draft.

 

[broc]

why does the jets site not have an interview from this guy but has interviews from the 4th and 2 5th picks.

Pronman, for instance... didn’t even have this guy being drafted at all. Now in his column he says he didn’t have him being drafted, but, it’s probably more akin to, he had no idea who he was.

 

[ffh]

Pronman, for instance... didn’t even have this guy being drafted at all. Now in his column he says he didn’t have him being drafted, but, it’s probably more akin to, he had no idea who he was.

I meant more like the draft picks go back after they are drafted and get interviewed at a table for about 5 minutes by reporters. this is usually on the jets nhl site. they have the draft pick before him and the 2 after him. I know I can listen to it but like watching the videos and they either didn't film it or didn't bother to put it up.