Sharks to sign Will Smith to three-year, entry-level contract
A highly-touted prospect looks to be heading to the Golden State.
On Tuesday, Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli reported that the San Jose Sharks are going to sign forward Will Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Expect #sjsharks to announce a three-year entry level deal today for Will Smith, the 2023 No. 4 overall pick, who is one and done at Boston College.
Big day for SJ. Sharks are set down the middle for the next 15 years. Macklin Celebrini's running mate just happens to be a BC…
The Sharks selected Smith with the fourth overall pick in last year’s NHL Draft.
The 19-year-old bolstered his stock and proved he is ready for the big time with an incredible freshman season at Boston College. Smith led the NCAA in scoring, registering 71 points in 41 games, leading the Eagles to the NCAA Championship Game, ultimately losing to the University of Denver.
Smith, along with former teammate and current Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier, was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.
Smith will be coming to a team that has struggled in recent years, ending up with the worst record in the NHL this past season. However, things might be turning a corner. With a couple of contracts coming off the books, general manager Mike Grier has some room to add more talent to surround a young core, a core that will most likely include Hobey Baker Award winner Macklin Celebrini. The former Boston Terrier is the odds-on pick to be taken first overall at the Sphere next month by the Sharks, who won the NHL Draft Lottery for the second time in franchise history.
Smith jumped onto the Sharks’ radar after a prolific 2022-23 campaign with the U.S. National Team Development Program. In 80 games, which included 20 in the United States Hockey League, he scored 66 goals and 169 points. That year, he helped the United States win gold at the IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship. Smith led the tournament in goals (9) and points (20) and was selected as the tournament’s most valuable player.
He was also on the American squad that won silver at the U-18s in 2022.
As a result of the signing, the Sharks have 34 standard player contracts signed for next season. According to CapFriendly, San Jose has a little over $37 million in projected cap space.