I read your takes on McKenna and honestly i agree, he kinda feels like a version of Will but with a way higher offensive ceiling. It actually got me curious though, what do you think about Smith’s development so far, and what kind of player do you expect him to become?
And don’t get me wrong, i’m not saying he’s gonna be a bust or anything. But if the sharks are actually serious about pushing for the playoffs next season, he’s gotta take a pretty big step forward, especially playing on the first line with Mack. Plus we all know Warso has lowkey called him out publicly already lol.
Honestly compared to the rest of his draft class, he’s doing totally fine, even pretty good. It’s just that because the sharks have Mack, people’s expectations are naturally way higher. I don’t really think it’s fair to compare every young player’s development to Mack because realistically nobody’s gonna look as good as him, maybe not even Misa. But at the same time, i think sharks fans would be lying if they said they don’t subconsciously compare the other guys to Macklin.
Ok first of all I love this ask! Sorry for the delay, I wanted to really dig in with this one & I haven't had time.
So for starters, I wanted to say that I do really like McKenna as a player. Like he's so pretty to watch, silky mitts, crazy vision. I know he's dealt with a lot of noise over the past year especially & I hope Toronto is prepared to insulate him from that a bit. I hope he can billet with a current player & get eased into the NHL, and that they don't throw him to the wolves. And I hope fans have realistic rookie expectations for him.
Okay so moving on to a not-so-little essay I'm calling "In Defense of Will Smith-Hockey":
(More after the cut)
You hit the nail on the head about the critique for Will. I feel he's above-average with his development after just two seasons in the NHL, but with Macklin playing the way he is Will is always going to come out looking like he's behind. I see the comparisons to Mack with ALL rookies right now, this totally unrealistic expectation that they can all get over 100 points in their second season. Mack is not normal lol. He's an anomaly. I know people love to throw around the term "generational talent" but he is ACTUALLY a generational talent.
So Will of course gets it worse than anyone because the weaknesses in his game are so magnified with Mack right there. Also, he's over a year older than Mack. Even though they played in the USHL at the same time, were freshmen in college at the same time, started in the NHL at the same time, there's this expectation that Will should be further along because he's older. You never heard "20 year old Will Smith". Like, EVER.
So here's the thing about Will. Before he was drafted, every scout said the exact same thing: he's an offensive phenom, outstanding on the power play, very high hockey IQ. But they also had the same critiques: his skating needed to improve, he had to get bigger/stronger/faster & his play off the puck was lacking.
So this is not some new aspect of Will's play. After the draft he worked on his skating & put on some weight. But just like at the NTDP, in college he was still called on more for his offensive skill than he was for his two-way play. Which is totally common at that age & at the NCAA. Just like McKenna, he'd spent most of his time developing his offensive play (because let's face it, pretty plays LOOK cool & get on highlight reels) but not as much time worrying about defense. (I also think being on a line pretty much exclusively with Gabe & Leno for 3 years set them ALL back developmentally, but that's a different post.)
Here's another hot take. Will should never have played center. He was probably put there because he's smart, but with his skill sets he is WAY more suited as a winger. I firmly believe this is the best place for him. But he's still learning this new role. He has different responsibilities at wing than he did at center, and it takes time to adjust.
I do think his injury was rough for him & it set him back. I think he was shaken up & wanted to get hit even less than he did before. I think his shot was weaker afterwards & he was more likely to dump the puck if it meant he could avoid a hit. But he did start to try. I saw the effort towards the end of this season, a few good checks against the boards, a few more puck battles, more speed & determination to stick with a play until the end.
His stats have improved since last season, no doubt about it. 59 points is solid, up 15 points from his rookie year after playing 5 games less. His +/- went from a -15 to a +1. One of the more interesting stats is his play in high-danger areas, which is one of the best in the league at 16th. He's also playing much better in 5v5 than most people would expect, like his goals aren't just coming from power plays.
So yeah, I'm a HUGE fan of Will Smith. I don't know if people realise just how elite his vision is. He's reading the ice in real time, processing at a wayyyy faster pace than most players can and finding/ creating open ice in really unique ways. And these skills can't really be taught. You either have them or you don't. He can and will get stronger. He can and will get better at playing wing. He can and will get more responsible off the puck.
Will has cited Patrick Kane as someone he admires & tries to emulate. (Side note, Kane is famously a RH winger lol.) And he's not there yet, but I do see the similarities. Kane is so good offensively that he's also not known as a defensive-minded skater. Kane also has elite vision & makes gorgeous plays. Kane also shines when he has insane chemistry with a partner.
Which brings me to Mack, who has been compared to Jonathan Toews. (The similarities are actually insane, I'll probably do another post about this in the future.) Kane & Toews came into the NHL at the same time as rookies and played together for 16 YEARS on the Blackhawks. They won 3 Stanley Cups together. They are one of the greatest hockey duos of all time. They remain close friends to this day.
THIS is what Will & Mack envision. THIS was their idea from the start. They are actively positioning themselves as the next great hockey duo. And the crazy thing is, I think it's actually going to happen. They see the ice the same way, and they have the skill & creativity to pull off some truly impressive plays. Mack plays best with fellow elite players, and Will plays best with people he knows well & can predict. Mack is a combination of Leno & Gabe, so Will knows exactly how to play with him. Their friendship truly is creating better chemistry on the ice, anyone with eyes can see that.
The interesting thing about the NHL right now is it's trending younger, faster & flashier. Fans want to see special plays, killer passes that connect for highlight-reel worthy goals. I think, if you asked most fans, they'd rather watch a fun, high-speed, high-scoring 6-5 game that mmmmaybe isn't perfect than a slow & steady 2-1 victory that's textbook hockey.
Yes, Will sometimes goes for the more dangerous play because it's more interesting, and sometimes it ends badly. But you know what? It's not boring. So maybe he'll never have a true two-way game, not like Mack. But you know what? If he stays a fun & dynamic player who consistently puts up points & creates scoring opportunities for his line, does it really matter? Will & Mack put fans in seats. The Sharks should build the team around them. And I see those building blocks being put into place. A power forward to help them get more space & time, hopefully some solid defensemen to help out when things go awry, a consistent goalkeeper.
I don't think Will has even come close to hitting his ceiling. Not to say it's certain that he will, but I believe he can. I think he's way more competitive & cares way more about improving his game than people give him credit for. My prediction for him next season (assuming the Sharks give them some better defensive help) is 30+ goals and 80+ points. But if you told me it was 40+ goals and 100+ points I wouldn't be shocked. I think he's about to hit his groove.
Thanks for the ask, hope you enjoyed this dissertation lol.
The season is over as far as I'm concerned. Between Carolina and Vegas I couldn't give a fuck who wins the cup. I'm not watching that shit. My focus officially shifted over to Switzerland at the end of the third period. Who will win the Mens World Championship 2026? Canada, Switzerland, Finland or Norway? (My money is on Canada.)
#hockey #habs lb
yeah, I haven't been watching much of the stanley cup playoffs lately myself. they've been depressing enough that I switched to a whole new sport, watching my local basketball team (jalen brunson & co) kick ass instead, which has actually been a lot of fun.
for iihf worlds, my money is also on Canada, and I'm rooting for mack to win it all🤞. it's also been pretty sweet to see the draft-eligible Swedes playing together, they seem so polite
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