One week after Nico Myatovic made his AHL debut and three days after Sam Colangelo made his, Saturday night at Pechanga Arena in San Diego was "Emo Night" as the Gulls hosted the Tucson Roadrunners. The Gulls lost decidedly by a score of 4-1, but Konnor Smith's "debut album" was a banger.
Konnor Smith (19) was drafted in the fourth round (97th overall) by the Anaheim Ducks during June's 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
"There are very few guys like Konnor in the draft," Ducks Director of Amateur Scouting and Assistant General Manager Martin Madden stated after drafting Konnor Smith in June 2023. "He likes to play a mean game and there are so few guys like that anymore in junior hockey."
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Smith recently wrapped up his third full season in the OHL. He was traded in January from the Peterborough Petes to the Owen Sound Attack as the Petes were near the bottom of the OHL standings and Owen Sound was gearing up for a playoff run.
Owen Sound was swept in the first round of the OHL Playoffs by the Saginaw Spirit, the second-place team in the OHL.
Smith finished the 2023-24 season in the OHL with nine goals and eight assists in 62 games and added a goal in four playoff games.
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After his OHL season was over, Smith was signed by the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate) to an ATO for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
As expected, in his professional hockey debut, the 6-foot-6, 209-pound defenseman was a physical force. What wasn't as expected was that he'd contribute to the scoreboard and find the back of the net. Smith played alongside Robert Hagg on the team's listed third defensive pair.
Smith did all the things a traditional defensive-defenseman does in his AHL debut. He was punishing in front of the Gulls net and made life tough on those who tried to get to that area. He didn't hesitate to pinch and disrupt breakout attempts or seal an outlet in the neutral zone. He got the puck off his stick and up ice as quick as he could, playing well within his skillset.
Skating will always be his biggest limitation. He got caught up ice, surrendering a breakaway and often allowed too large a gap against a strong side rush. His footwork needs some fine-tuning as he was slow to pivot when attacking players were driving wide and he'll need to adjust to quicker opponents so he can mirror them in defensive zone coverage.
Smith wasn't out of place in the AHL and will be a worthwhile study as far as his development goes. The Gulls have eight games remaining on their 2023-24 schedule and will be back in action Sunday when they will, again, take on the Roadrunners.
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