Top prospect Will Smith has been dreaming about the NHL Draft since he was a young boy. He shared his thoughts about draft day with our THN - Montreal reporter.
The top prospects met the media in Nashville on the eve of the 2023 National Hockey League (NHL) draft.
The Hockey News (THN) mock draft projects the Canadiens to select forward Will Smith of the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) fifth overall.
Dream Come True
Just a day removed from hearing his named called on stage, Smith anticipates that he will have trouble sleeping on Tuesday night, but looking forward to the life-changing moment. He has been dreaming about this moment since he was four years old.
"I'm trying to enjoy it. It's pretty cool again to be here and getting to have all the cameras and stuff like that. At the start of the year, we knew it would be a big year. We got the be around the Under-18s that got drafted last year so they helped us a lot and it's awesome," Smith said.
The 18-year old knows that the work doesn't stop once he gets selected. "Obviously the Draft is a huge deal but it's just a draft. Once you get picked, it's in the past. After that it's a whole new journey and you're right back to work."
Connections to Montreal
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is very familiar with the Massachusetts native after coaching him in high school with the Boston Jr. Eagles.
"It obviously helps knowing them, but it really doesn't change anything. I still have to play the same, so knowing them is nice, but I don't think it's an advantage," said the center.
Smith added that he's familiar with Montreal by attending last year's draft at the Bell Centre and from discussions with USNTDP teammate Gabriel Perreault, and his father, former Canadien Yanick Perrault.
The Canadiens management team has been known to ask prospects to pick out an animal to describe themselves and Smith answered that he's an eagle on the ice and a golden retriever off-ice.
Getting Ready for NCAA
Smith completed the 2022-'23 USNTDP season with 127 points in 60 games. In addition, he tallied 20 points in seven games at the World Junior Hockey Championships. USA Hockey recognized his performance in international play by awarding him the 2022-'23 Bob Johnson Award.
Smith has committed to Boston College for the upcoming season and feels that playing in the NCAA will benefit him while facing older players.