2023 NHL Draft: Will Smith, Skilled and Driven

The 2023 NHL Entry Draft is approaching quickly, and while it is being hyped as the Connor Bedard coming-out party, there are many talented players that will be hearing their names called early in the first round. One of those players is a center for the United States National Training and Development Program (USNTDP), Will Smith. This 18-year-old is their top center, centering a line with fellow top prospects Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. At 6-foot-0 and 172 pounds he has the frame upon which to build the strength necessary to compete at the highest levels of the NHL. 

Smith’s comments point to what NHL players are becoming, rounded athletes. Specializing in just one sport can help build up a specific on-ice skill, but participation in multiple sports has been shown to produce better athletes.

Canadiens Connection 

Smith has the potential to be a top-line center with a great two-way game and he’s a safe bet to be a top-five or -six selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. He has the ability to play at top speed, provide a rare type of creativity with the puck, and produce offense. These skills, and where he is expected to be chosen in the upcoming draft place him directly into the path of the Montreal Canadiens. They are expected to select in that range, and they are in desperate need of the type of player Smith is projected to become. Despite being from Boston, he does have a deep connection to the Canadiens, thanks to general manager (GM) Kent Hughes, who had a significant impact on the development of the young center. 

“He (Hughes) was my youth coach for a couple of years. Now he is the general manager of the Canadiens, which is pretty funny. I think he’s probably my best and favorite coach I had growing up. So I think he kind of made my game to what it is. Teaching me how to play the game the right way. And making sure I know that if you don’t play the right way, then at the next level, it’s just going to get harder and harder. So I think as a coach, he definitely let us know if we were doing something wrong or what we could work with. But I mean, he was great encouraging everything like that.”

WIll Smith

Smith’s confidence oozes out when he has the puck, as he weaves his way through traffic, creates openings and exploits them to his benefit, and to the benefit of his linemates. He enjoys watching current NHLers ply their craft and he likes to emulate some aspects of their games. He is clearly inspired by his hometown Bruins, but also recent USNTDP alumni in Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes. 

“I think in practice, I really focus on face offs. I think being a centerman, and especially going to the next level. That’s a huge deal. So, I think spending time on those at practice for 15 to 20 minutes, really helps out for my game.” 

WIll Smith

What’s most striking isn’t his undeniable talent, it is his desire to improve. Smith has a strong sense of what his strengths and weaknesses are, and the willingness to work diligently to correct them.

Path to the NHL Entry Draft 

As mentioned, this season Smith has been unstoppable production-wise. It takes more than just skill to be able to score 146 points in a season, it takes hard work, confidence and preparation, all areas that he has excelled at thus far. Yet to reach that elite level of production, takes a mental strength to remain focused, and a consistency in his approach.

“I think it starts before the game, knowing you’re going into a game you want to be dominant every shift. There’s going to be shifts that are going to be harder than others, where you might not have the puck as much. But I think knowing that you have next shift, then the next shift. So I think wanting to have another team be worried about your line being out there is something we take pride in.”  

Will Smith

While having the skill, drive and mental strength to succeed as an individual is necessary to have success, it is Smith’s ability to play as a member of a unit that helps amplify his skill set. He talks about success as a line, knowing that no individual has success in hockey without the efforts of others. This allows him to be the type of player that helps lift the play of his linemates. His current line is one to fear if you face off against them, as Smith, Perreault, and Leonard are all projected to be top 15 picks at the 2023 NHL Draft. 

“I mean, we’re always talking to each other on the bench or mid game or practice. So we’re always working together and making sure if we do make mistakes in practice, then we talk about it and we’ll fix it. But I think we’re all very competitive. So I think that helps us out and we all want each other to be successful. So that also helps.” 

WIll Smith

Smith’s line is poised to lead the USNTDP to a medal at the U18 WJC and will be more than worth the price of admission to any game they play. This is also what the student body at Boston College will be enjoying next season as all three have committed to becoming Eagles. It’s not often fans get to see the entire top line from one of the top development programs in the world commit to an NCAA program all at the same time. 

“Well, I mean, we love playing with each other. So might as well do at the next level, too. So I think we all kind of recruited ourselves and each other so I think it worked out and now we’re all going there together. I mean, that means everything to me. And the whole team.” 

WIll Smith

Like most young players, Smith has dreamed of the day that his name gets called at the NHL Draft. The good news is he will not need to wait very long to hear it. The bad news? As a proud Lexington, Massachusetts kid, he may hear his name called by the Bruins arch nemesis Montreal Canadiens, but that doesn’t bother him at all. In the end, any team selecting Smith will be getting themselves a high-quality player who has the talent, but more importantly the character and work ethic to succeed.