It is finally happening. The San Jose Sharks have signed top prospect Will Smith out of Boston College. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Smith played on the star-studded BC team for just his freshman year and was one of the best players in all of college hockey.
That team made it to the Frozen Four and lost in the National Championship to Denver. It was a heartbreaking loss but there is no doubt that BC deserved all of the love they got this year. Smith was a big part of it.
Now, he will be headed way out west to play for the San Jose Sharks. He signed a standard entry-level deal to get his pro career going.
Will Smith is signed with the Sharks after being the 2023 4th overall pick
It won't take long for Smith to become a two-way star in the NHL. Think of active centers like Aleksander Barkov, Nico Hischier, and Anze Kopitar. He should be using those guys as fuel to become as good.
Certain aspects of his game will take a bit longer than others but he'll be an impact player in no time.
He has a case as the best 2023-24 BC freshman which is saying something because Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) and Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) are both insane. The San Jose Sharks are lucky to have Smith. It was a great draft day decision.
The Sharks don't only have Smith to be excited about either. There are other great prospects in their system and they also won the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery.
They will be adding Macklin Celebrini with the number one overall pick. Celebrini and Smith were rivals as the former went to Boston University who also made it to the Frozen Four but lost in the semi-finals.
Celebrini and Smith will be laughing about it all as they get ready for the NHL together. It should be a lot of fun for fans, media, and the organization to watch unfold.