Ty Smith

June 2023 – Smith had an up-and-down season in the Penguins system after coming over in the John Marino trade during the 2022 offseason. Smith is a smooth-skating defenseman who leans more on his offense than his defensive game. His play has failed to translate as well as most would hope to the pro level from his elite-level junior production. While the numbers have not been up to expectations, the skill and skating still are intriguing. Smith came on strong in the back half of the season. A mid-December call-up led to a 9-game stint where Smith tallied four points. After being returned to Wilkes-Barre, he finished the season strong with 10 points in his last 12 contests. If Smith can continue this momentum into a strong summer of training he could find himself in a bottom-pair role with the Penguins at the start of 2023. Where Smith will really benefit is if he can sneak onto one of Pittsburgh’s powerplay units. Smith has the potential to develop into a point-producing defenseman in the NHL if given an opportunity to find his game at the highest level. Tyler Ball

March 2021 – Smith is averaging a point every two games on the top powerplay unit. His defensive woes continue to show as his pair with Severson struggles to keep pucks away from the defensive zone, but the promise he shows on a nightly basis with small things like pinpoint stretch passes and small chips into favorable areas is not to be neglected. Smith is destined for a wonderful career but is far from his finished product. Hadi Kalakeche

January 2021 – Smith has astounded his teammates and coaching staff from day one of training camp, clawing his way past Will Butcher and Connor Carrick in the depth chart to make the opening roster. He then scored his first NHL goal in the Devils’ first bout of the season against the Boston Bruins, showing good pre-shot movement to get the puck past the initial screen, and then getting lucky as the puck bounced off two Bruins before finding the back of the net. Three assists have since been added to his scoresheet, but his defensive performance is the reason he has not made it off the third pair just yet. He is currently in the bottom 1% of players league-wide for expected goals against and will have to show more reactivity in positioning his stick in appropriate lanes, initiating contact with slot threats, and keeping the puck away from his zone overall. Smith is far from an all-offense defender, and with enough time and practice, he should be able to achieve better defensive results with a Devils team that is currently in the middle of an identity reform. Hadi Kalakeche

September 2020 – The Devils desperately need defensive transition facilitators in order to suit the style they play – Ty Smith fits that mold to a T. His exceptional four-way mobility and ability to scan options coming up the ice will likely land him a spot on the Devils’ roster next December, although a season or a half to adapt in the AHL never hurts with young defensemen coming up from the CHL. All-in-all, Smith has all the tools required to make it. Hadi Kalakeche

March 2020 – Smith was one of the best players in the entire WHL over the second half. He finished with 19 goals and 59 points in just 46 games with dramatic increases in scoring chances and shots on goal per contest. Expect Smith to be either in Binghamton or New Jersey next season.  Chris Wassel 

January 2020 – Most wondered how Smith would do after he showed little progress at New Jersey Devils camp. He is just fine in the WHL. Smith has improved more on the defensive side of things while still averaging around a point a game for Spokane.  Chris Wassel

April 2019 – Smith has been very good in the playoffs for Spokane as expected – totaling eight points in ten games. As his WHL team continues to advance, his stock keeps on rising. Chris Wassel

March 2019 – As Smith approaches his 19th birthday, it appears Spokane will be in the WHL playoffs facing Portland yet again. The defenseman did see his goal production drop off this year but his overall play rose a level or two. He scored seven times with 62 assists in just 57 games. The captain of Spokane shows maturity and poise well beyond his years. Will he be in New Jersey come October? That may be the only question remaining after these WHL playoffs. Chris Wassel 

August 2018 – Smith has signed his Entry-Level Contract, only further fueling the possibility of him having a chance to make the Devils roster at training camp this year. While a lot of players sign their ELCs and go back to play in junior, this was done on the heels of a great development camp. Smith is a puck-moving cerebral defenseman and a gifted power play quarterback, and New Jersey might feel he can help them this year with the loss of John Moore. Another option would be to keep him for nine games and then send him back to junior to give him a taste of NHL hockey and the expectations of playing in the league. Keep a close eye on news out of the Devils camp in September. Kelly Bowler

April 2018 – Smith has continued his tremendous draft-eligible campaign. The quick skating defender finished the regular season with 73 points in 69 games played – good for the second-most by any draft-eligible defender in the CHL. He blends terrific offensive ability with equally strong play in his zone thanks to his terrific speed, a great stick, strong positioning, and a high hockey IQ. Smith and his Spokane Chiefs’ teammates will play a game seven in their first-round series against Portland this week to extend their season. Cam Robinson

January 2018 – The dynamic two-way defender continues to display his full arsenal of weapons with Spokane this season. The former first overall pick in the 2015 WHL bantam draft, Smith is an excellent skater who demonstrates poise and patience with the puck. His outlets are crisp and his head is always up. He’s a player you fall in love with because he always makes the right play. Cam Robinson