It’s going to be one of the more miraculous turnarounds if Smith manages to establish a trajectory to the NHL. As it stands, he doesn’t possess the skating or puck skills to manage in the AHL. He has the size, and a decent amount of skating improvement and basic puck-skill development would allow for a depth role on an NHL team, but it looks exceedingly unlikely.

Smith signed his Entry-Level Contract in April. Smith has shown steady improvement in several key areas that are necessary for him to earn a shot at the NHL. At 6-6, his size and reach, combined with a naturally aggressive playing style, make him a shutdown defenseman through and through. The biggest obstacles to his development have been his skating and his limited puck skills. The good news is that his skating has improved. It’s still below NHL standards, but there’s clear progress. Smith has also started to show more confidence moving the puck and even joining the rush on occasion. He’ll spend next season with the San Diego Gulls, where continued development in his skating and puck play will be critical. Until those areas improve further, he’s unlikely to be considered for any NHL role. For Fantasy GMs, Smith is a long shot. He’ll never produce many points, but in deeper leagues that particularly value hits, he may be worth keeping an eye on.

The Anaheim Ducks drafted Smith in the fourth round (97th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.