The New Jersey Devils and their 2018 first round draft pick Ty Smith have agreed to terms on a three-year entry level contract.
To no surprise, the New Jersey Devils and 18-year-old defenseman Ty Smith have come to an agreement on a three-year entry-level deal. CapFriendly.com is showing the cap hit to be $925,000 AAV for those three years.
With the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, Smith managed to accumulate an impressive stat-line of 14 goals, 59 assists in 69 games played. In the same season, we’d see Ty set a Spokane franchise record, by garnering seven points in the February 23rd game against the Prince George Cougars.
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In only his second full season with the Spokane Chiefs, Ty ranked second overall in points for defensemen in the WHL for the 2017-2018 regular season. He trailed only behind Medicine Hat Tigers defenseman and New York Islanders prospect David Quenneville.
On April 11, 2018, Ty Smith was named the Western Hockey Leagues’ Western Conference Scholastic Player of the Year for the second year in a row. This would mark the first time a member of the Chiefs would obtain this honor twice.
The Spokane Chiefs’ Education Adviser, Joe Everson, would have this to say about the 5’11”, 175-pound defender.
"“Ty truly epitomizes what it means to be a learner…He is curious, diligent, willing to persevere, and talented. He is also a natural leader by example in the classroom. Despite the time commitment athletics demand of him, Ty manages to balance his workload and maintain a very positive attitude, all while outperforming many of his peers.”"
It’s probably safe to say, at the very least, he’ll receive the obligatory nine-game look from the Devils at some point throughout the year.
In a Devils developmental camp team scrimmage on July 14th, Smith impressed coaches and teammates alike by getting a hat-trick. His three goals would be the final three-goals scored for team Red to give them the win, and would all come in four-on-four hockey. Smith would later comment on his play.
"“It felt pretty good. Coming into today, I just wanted to win the game…We had some big talk going on in the locker room, so the win was probably the biggest thing.”"
The Seventeenth overall pick of this past draft class could possibly compete for a spot on the big-boy roster this upcoming season. Especially, if his offensive skills continue to develop in the direction that they’re showing.
With training camp quickly approaching, we won’t have to wait long to find out.