Prospect Must Know: What Ty Smith can accomplish again in Spokane

I couldn’t assist however discover that a whole lot of New Jersey Devils followers on social media weren’t essentially pleased with Ty Smith getting his factors in Spokane as a substitute of Newark this fall, but it surely’s necessary to keep in mind that the gifted defenseman remains to be 19 and has an extended NHL profession forward of him. It’s additionally price noting that Smith harm his wrist within the WHL playoffs this previous spring, which meant he wasn’t 100 % when coaching this summer time. I spoke with Spokane GM Scott Carter this week and he was clearly very pleased at getting Smith again for another run with the Chiefs. “The very first thing is management,” Carter mentioned. “He’s such a personality child. And his expertise is one thing you simply can’t purchase in a commerce.”
Together with enjoying one other world juniors with Canada, Smith may work on some issues that may assist him when he does get one other shot on the NHL subsequent 12 months. Based on Carter, that features transferring the puck sooner and making faster selections – two issues rather more intense on the NHL degree than in junior.
Now, let’s take a spin across the prospect world to see what’s occurring with children from all 31 NHL organizations.
ANA: After an extended and productive coaching camp in Anaheim, left winger Brayden Tracey returned to WHL Moose Jaw and he hasn’t missed a beat from final 12 months’s breakout marketing campaign. The Geese first-rounder has 5 factors in his first two video games with the Warriors.
ARI: Whereas heart Jan Jenik technically might have gone professional this 12 months, the two-way heart was assigned again to OHL Hamilton and the younger Czech is crushing it early. Jenik has 14 factors in seven video games, discovering nice chemistry with Kings decide Arthur Kaliyev.
BOS: Defenseman Axel Andersson has formally begun his QMJHL profession with Moncton after getting assigned to the Wildcats from AHL Windfall. The composed Swede has three factors in his first two video games with Moncton, which is among the stronger groups within the ‘Q.’
BUF: We’ll in all probability have a whole lot of Dylan Cozens information this 12 months, however the 2019 first-rounder is certainly off to an important begin with WHL Lethbridge, notching seven objectives and 11 factors by seven video games.
CAR: It’s been a roller-coaster trip for goalie Jack LaFontaine for the reason that Canes drafted him in 2016. He left the College of Michigan and transferred to fellow Huge Ten faculty Minnesota, however performed final 12 months within the BCHL with powerhouse Penticton. Now in his first 12 months with the Gophers, LaFontaine will battle for begins with Winnipeg decide Jared Moe.
CGY: Proper winger Dmitry Zavgorodniy has by no means had bother placing up factors within the QMJHL, however search for the Russian import to pile them up this 12 months; he’s linemates with prime 2020 draft prospect Alexis Lafreniere. By way of 10 video games, Zavgorodniy has 18 factors.
CHI: There was by no means a query about Antti Saarela’s ability; it was extra about his measurement and concussion historical past. However the Hawks snapped him up this summer time within the fourth spherical and now he’s enjoying for Ilves in Finland’s Liiga, the highest professional circuit. Saarela is simply enjoying 10 minutes an evening to date, however he’s second in faceoff proportion on the staff, successful 55 % of his attracts.
COL: Right here’s Avs director of newbie scouting Alan Hepple on the draft this summer time on Boston U. freshman Drew Helleson: “He’s massive, nice stick, nice skater. Perhaps not as expert as Bowen Byram or the higher-end guys, however he’s a puckmover and an enormous physique and that may assist him be efficient on the subsequent degree.”
CBJ: AHL Cleveland coach Mike Eaves received a preview of first-year professional D-man Andrew Peeke in Traverse Metropolis and he was intrigued: “He’s spectacular when it comes to his capacity to maneuver and get locations. Lengthy stick.” The problem now? Determining Peeke’s id. Is he a playmaker, a shooter, a bumper? Eaves was excited to seek out out.
DAL: Heart Ty Dellandrea has seen extra lows than highs with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, however he has taken it in stride. “You must take it as a optimistic and say I’m going to be taught from this and take all the things I can out of it,” he advised me. “It’s been a whole lot of adversity, however I feel it’s going to repay in the long term.” Perhaps this season is the long term: at 5-2, the Firebirds are off to one among their finest begins ever.
DET: I requested Toronto’s Mac Hollowell just lately who his hardest opponent was on the Traverse Metropolis tourney this fall: “Filip Zadina was fairly quick and elusive,” he mentioned. “He was onerous to defend.”
EDM: Shout-out to Jiri Vitek for alerting me that proper winger Matej Blumel returned to the Czech Republic as a substitute of becoming a member of NCAA Connecticut for his freshman 12 months. Blumel cited “private causes” for ducking out on the faculty sport and Blumel has two factors in 4 video games for Dynamo Pardubice.
FLA: Whereas Owen Tippett had a shot on the Panthers roster this fall, the highly effective proper winger began the 12 months within the AHL. Speaking to him this summer time, the mindset was clear for what he must do: “It’s the little habits,” he mentioned. “The 200-foot sport and competing each shift.” Early on, Tippett is top-10 in rookie AHL scoring with three factors in 5 video games.
LA: The Arthur Kaliyev revenge tour is on its manner. After dropping to the second spherical of the draft in the summertime, the Lengthy Island product is killing it for OHL Hamilton with 19 factors in 9 video games, placing him second within the league to 2020 prospect Quinton Byfield. Kaliyev even scored a lacrosse-style objective this week.
MIN: Can we dare discuss how good Kirill Kaprizov is doing within the KHL as soon as once more? The dynamic left winger leads the league in factors with 21 by 17 video games. Can new Wild GM Invoice Guerin persuade the Russian surprise to come back over on the finish of the 12 months? Kaprizov’s contract with CSKA Moscow ends on April 30, 2020.
MTL: After all I’m going to highlight proper winger Cole Caufield this week. Some of the anticipated Habs prospects in years made his NCAA debut over the weekend with Wisconsin and the lethal Caufield lived as much as billing with 4 objectives and 5 factors in two video games; a loss to Boston School and a win over Merrimack.
NSH: Huge Yakov Trenin is off to a quick begin within the AHL, because the Russian-born heart has 4 objectives and 5 factors in his first three video games with Milwaukee. That places him one level out of the AHL scoring lead.
NJ: Former NTDP defenseman Case McCarthy could have been overshadowed by his extra offensively-inclined teammates final 12 months, however he labored onerous over the summer time to chop some weight and change into extra of an all-around participant. In his first sport with Boston College, McCarthy had six pictures on internet – in order that’s a very good begin.
NYI: If the Islanders want one other playmaking heart sooner or later, Reece Newkirk appears like a very good candidate: the WHL Portland pivot has kicked off his marketing campaign with 9 assists and 10 factors in his first 9 video games.
NYR: Goalie Tyler Wall has been busier than nearly another netminder within the NCAA to date. The UMass-Lowell starter is Three-1 with a .942 save proportion whereas rating second within the nation to Denver’s Magnus Chrona (TB) in minutes. Wall has performed 239:44 already, 16 seconds lower than Chrona.
OTT: At Arizona State, one among coach Greg Powers’ most important tenets is that “for those who’re having enjoyable, you’re enjoying free.” In his first two years with the Solar Devils, goalie Joey Daccord wasn’t having enjoyable. He was overthinking and the outcomes weren’t coming. Final 12 months, Powers mentioned Daccord lastly began having enjoyable and the outcome was a breakout season for the Sens prospect and Arizona State’s first-ever berth within the nationwide match. Daccord begins this 12 months within the ECHL with Brampton.
PHI: The plan to get Jay O’Brien’s confidence again is figuring out fairly effectively to date. The previous Windfall School Friar is lighting up the BCHL with 21 factors in 12 video games for Penticton. He’ll head to Boston College subsequent season.
PIT: Enjoyable story from Tampa’s Mathieu Joseph on his youthful brother, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, the blueline prospect acquired from Arizona within the Phil Kessel commerce. P-O was flying dwelling from Coyotes growth camp to Montreal when the commerce occurred, so he didn’t discover out till a layover in Detroit when Mathieu received him on the road. “He mentioned ‘Why is my cellphone blowing up?’ ” Mathieu recalled. “I mentioned, ‘You simply received traded, man.’ ” The brothers educated collectively this summer time. “We labored out with Mark Lambert, the power coach in Tampa,” Mathieu mentioned. “I feel I pushed him lots. He gained a pair kilos and it was in all probability one of many first summers that he gained that a lot. I do know he felt stress to place weight on, so he was pleased with that.”
STL: Search for massive issues from 5-foot-Eight, 167-pound heart Hugh McGing this season. The Western Michigan senior is a hard-working sparkplug of a participant and he has two factors in his first two video games with the Broncos.
SJ: The Sharks loaned left winger Jonathan Dahlen to Timra in Sweden’s Allsvenskan this season and the offensively lethal teen is on a rampage. Dahlen has 18 factors in 9 video games for Timra because the staff tries to get again to the SHL after being relegated down final 12 months.
TB: Few within the NHL play protection like Victor Hedman, so I requested him what he considered prospect Cal Foote, now with AHL Syracuse: “He’s taken nice strides previously couple coaching camps,” Hedman mentioned. “He’s getting very shut and it’s enjoyable to observe. We’re very spoiled with the depth in our group and he’s an enormous a part of that.”
TOR: Defenseman Mac Hollowell on seeing time with the AHL Marlies on the finish of final season as soon as his junior 12 months was performed: “It helped me heading into the summer time, to know what I have to work on and what I have to do to make the subsequent degree.” Like many younger gamers, Hollowell needed to get stronger, however he didn’t wish to sacrifice any of his velocity within the course of.
VAN: The excellent news? Left winger Nils Hoglander is among the prime junior-aged scorers within the SHL with three factors in seven video games for Rogle. The dangerous information? He’s additionally at the moment serving a five-game suspension for a vicious elbow he landed towards Lulea’s Fredrik Styrman in early October.
VGK: Energy ahead Jack Dugan was one among my prime NCAA gamers to observe this season and the Windfall School sophomore didn’t disappoint on opening weekend. Dugan put up six factors in two video games for the Friars, tying him for second within the nation.
WSH: Search for heart Connor McMichael to place up even larger numbers this 12 months after his breakout in 2018-19. The Caps first-rounder already has 14 factors by seven video games for the OHL’s London Knights.
WPG: You would inform that getting an opportunity to play for Canada on the World Junior Summer season Showcase meant lots to Declan Chisholm and the OHL Peterborough defenseman has carried these good vibes into the season. He was a runner-up for league participant of the week honors after tallying 5 factors in three highway video games with the Petes.
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Tags: prospect have to know, pittsburgh penguins, dallas stars, new jersey devilsConnect: In regards to the AuthorRyan KennedyRyan Kennedy is the affiliate senior author and draft/prospect skilled at The Hockey Information. He has been with the publication since 2005 and in that span, Don Cherry, Lil Jon and The Rock have all known as his home. He lives in Toronto together with his spouse and youngsters the place he listens to loud music and collects NCAA pennants.