If centerman Will Smith is available at the sixth overall pick, should the Arizona Coyotes pick him?
If Will Smith is available for the Arizona Coyotes at the sixth overall pick, would he be the right player for the team to select?
Smith is a 6-foot centerman from Lexington, Massachusetts and is ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the 2023 NHL Draft according to Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News.
This past season, Smith played 60 games for the U.S. National U18 Team and had an impressive 51 goals 76 assists and 127 points. Smith is a sneaky good offensive player that is capable of creating scoring chances whenever he is on the ice.
“He’s one of those players that’s got a real subtle excellence to him,” TSN’s Craig Button said of Smith. “All of the sudden, he needs to go a little bit faster, and he does. He needs to make a pass, and he does. He needs to maneuver the puck into a shooting position, and he does. You better know where he is on the ice because if you don’t, chances are you’re about ready to get slayed.”
While Smith is not considered to be the most explosive skater, he has a strong IQ for the game and the potential to be a consistent top-six type forward in the NHL.
“It doesn’t take many viewings to know he’s deceptive and handles the puck well on the rush,” Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis wrote. “Smith drives a lot of the play on his line and his confidence to make quick dekes is sky-high. Nothing specifically makes Smith stand out compared to someone such as Bedard or Matvei Michkov. Smith isn’t the most skilled player out there, and he isn’t going to blow you away speed-wise. But there are very few weaknesses in Smith’s game, and he can play just about any role needed quite reliably.”
In today's game, it's critical to have depth at the center position. Having a one-two punch of Smith and Logan Cooley at center could put the Coyotes in a great place for years to come.
Smith seems to be a reliable player and a low-risk pick if he were on the board for the Coyotes. During this upcoming season, Smith is expected to play in the NCAA for Boston College.
There is a big question mark about whether Smith will even be available for Arizona to select but Coyotes’ general manager Bill Armstrong should certainly at least entertain the idea of picking him.