C Will Smith - Boston College, NCAA (2023, 4th, SJS)

[majormajor]

Yes, which is why I've had him on my radar prior to the huge train leaving the station.
I see MBN, as a tailor made bookend foe Eklund. As well as the puck retriever for either Smith or Celebrini

Puck retriever + sniper + can cover defense. MBN does everything that you want with Smith.

 

[Grinner]

Puck retriever + sniper + can cover defense. MBN does everything that you want with Smith.

That's what I'm thinking when it comes to MBN. I'm looking for fit as much or more that the higher ceiling.

I'd be thrilled with either one at 14

 

[Patty Ice]

SOURCES: Will Smith Expected To Sign With Sharks This Summer

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Are the Sharks going to be playing two teenagers as their top 6 centers?

 

[CanadienShark]

Are the Sharks going to be playing two teenagers as their top 6 centers?

Damn right! Fun season incoming.

Seriously though, I could see Smith starting on the wing with someone like Couture (if he plays again) or Granlund.

 

[coooldude]

Are the Sharks going to be playing two teenagers as their top 6 centers?

Granlund will start and probably finish the season as the 1C. Couture would be 2C but many of us are not sure he'll ever play a full season again.

Smith will likely struggle as an NHL C for his first season. I also think they should start him on the wing. Celebrini will probably play and do okay not great as a 2C. But as an 18 year old that will be an excellent season.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1795489628302324218

 

[Juxtaposer]

Are the Sharks going to be playing two teenagers as their top 6 centers?

#1C Granlund baby.

 

[Faceboner]

#1C Granlund baby.

They have couture as well one of celebrini or Smith should move to wing unless celebrini is ready for 2c but he should start at 3c or 2/4 wing both should get pp time as well but the sharks should look to get some interim help through free agency or trades to help and support their highly talented 18 and 19 year old not to mention Eklund as well who is only 20. Plenty of of high end d men will come available through the next few drafts focus on another forward with that no.14 pick.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Granlund will start and probably finish the season as the 1C. Couture would be 2C but many of us are not sure he'll ever play a full season again.

Smith will likely struggle as an NHL C for his first season. I also think they should start him on the wing. Celebrini will probably play and do okay not great as a 2C. But as an 18 year old that will be an excellent season.

I don't see Celebrini doing much better.

 

[Juxtaposer]

They have couture as well one of celebrini or Smith should move to wing unless celebrini is ready for 2c but he should start at 3c or 2/4 wing both should get pp time as well but the sharks should look to get some interim help through free agency or trades to help and support their highly talented 18 and 19 year old not to mention Eklund as well who is only 20. Plenty of of high end d men will come available through the next few drafts focus on another forward with that no.14 pick.

My guess is Granlund 1C, Celebrini 2C, and Smith somewhere on that third line. In my opinion the ideal scenario is you play Smith at his natural position (C) but you have a veteran center playing wing on his line so that center can help with defensive responsibilities and faceoffs. Hopefully Couture is fully healthy and he can be that player, otherwise we have to go out and find one via FA or trade.

 

[William H Bonney]

Sharks need to get some more quality veterans worthy of top 6 roles. Putting a lot on really young forwards with limited support.

Sorry, @sigx15

 

[TLEH]

Going to be really tough on both Smith and Celebrini to deal with the responsibilities for center at the NHL level without any insulation.

I hope SJ can pick up some.. and I don't even mean just centers. Having a responsible winger on your line is immensely helpful.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Granlund will start and probably finish the season as the 1C. Couture would be 2C but many of us are not sure he'll ever play a full season again.

Smith will likely struggle as an NHL C for his first season. I also think they should start him on the wing. Celebrini will probably play and do okay not great as a 2C. But as an 18 year old that will be an excellent season.

Celebrini will be better than expected for much of the season

 

[coooldude]

Celebrini will be better than expected for much of the season

Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited. But the Sharks D is really bad and unless Grier gets aggressive we will still be a bottom 2 team next year very solidly, probably still worst, even with a Calder season from Macklin. I'd expect 55-60pts per 82 and being really really excited, but he might start slower out of the gate. Also that's an amazing rookie season but only an "OK not great" NHL 2C season. Which is amazing if he's there in year 1 as an 18 year old for the whole year.

 

[TheBeard]

My guess is Granlund 1C, Celebrini 2C, and Smith somewhere on that third line. In my opinion the ideal scenario is you play Smith at his natural position (C) but you have a veteran center playing wing on his line so that center can help with defensive responsibilities and faceoffs. Hopefully Couture is fully healthy and he can be that player, otherwise we have to go out and find one via FA or trade.

I'd actually play Smith on Granlund's wing at first and let him get acclimated.

 

[Faceboner]

Celebrini will be better than expected for much of the season

No slight on celebrini or Bedard but Bedard put up a barely sub ppg season as a rookie which is tremendous but he still struggled at times cus he had no quality support qnd was expected to produce at a ppg clip which could have been possible with more help unless San Jose gets more help celebrini will struggle too

 

[Hockeyville USA]

No slight on celebrini or Bedard but Bedard put up a barely sub ppg season as a rookie which is tremendous but he still struggled at times cus he had no quality support qnd was expected to produce at a ppg clip which could have been possible with more help unless San Jose gets more help celebrini will struggle too

Bedard was overhyped coming in, real fans knew he was/is atrocious defensively and has no acceleration to his skating, which held him back some. He looked better overall post jaw injury.

Celebrini is much more well rounded and I expect will play a mature game from the start. The offense will be slow at times, but I expect him to feast on the PP, as the Sharks PP is much better than the Blackhawks PP.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Sharks need to get some more quality veterans worthy of top 6 roles. Putting a lot on really young forwards with limited support.

Sorry, @sigx15

Going to be really tough on both Smith and Celebrini to deal with the responsibilities for center at the NHL level without any insulation.

I hope SJ can pick up some.. and I don't even mean just centers. Having a responsible winger on your line is immensely helpful.

Yeah, we’ve been discussing this scenario a lot on the Sharks board and we all agree that Grier has to make some moves this offseason to support Celebrini and Smith. Two top-6 wings and two top-4 D are pretty much essential to supporting the kids.

The Sharks are gonna be bad next year regardless, but we need to not be. Yunno. As bad as last year.

 

[Patty Ice]

I'm in an extreme minority but I still believe in and have an appreciation of Kunin's game and think he is a good guy to stick with Smith on the 3rd line as he gets acclimated with the NHL.

Add Kostin for size and Smith finds himself with reliable, skilled (albeit limited) guys.

 

[Mattb124]

Are the Sharks going to be playing two teenagers as their top 6 centers?

I must have missed the news that Granlund passed.

 

[mphmiles]

I would have liked to see him stay in college one more year, but as we learned with Gauthier, if you have an elite NCAA prospect that wants to sign, you sign him.

 

[Tw1ster]

I'm in an extreme minority but I still believe in and have an appreciation of Kunin's game and think he is a good guy to stick with Smith on the 3rd line as he gets acclimated with the NHL.

Add Kostin for size and Smith finds himself with reliable, skilled (albeit limited) guys.

I don’t think you’re in the minority at all in believing in Kunin and his game. I think the majority of the Kunin criticisms stem from him being forced into a top 6 and power play role

 

[Patty Ice]

I would have liked to see him stay in college one more year, but as we learned with Gauthier, if you have an elite NCAA prospect that wants to sign, you sign him.

Both parties were ready to get him signed.

Grier told him a month ago that they believed he was ready. This wasn't a Gauthier situation. He was ready to sign him.

 

[DJB]

Not trying to rile up Sharks fans but wasn’t sure where to put this.

Who is the straw that stirred the drink between Smith and Cutter Gauthier? Who was driving the line and the better play now and in the future for those that watched them a ton?

Thanks!

Edit now know they didn’t play on the same line….still want to know why is the further better NHL playere