Could This 6-Foot-4 Defenseman Be the Flyers’ Secret Weapon on the Power Play?
At the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship that ended last month, Smith recorded four goals, an assist, 17 shots and a plus-7 rating in seven games for gold-winning Team Canada.
Just like any offensive-minded blueliner, Smith will have to eventually prove he can defend against pros and be reliable enough in his own zone. What helps his case is that he has the size to do it.
EliteProspects.com has Smith pegged as the sixth-best player in the draft, while Button has him at No. 12.
“I don’t want to say that he’s not responsible defensively, but all these young D-men, all of them have to learn how to play defense in the National Hockey League,” Marr said. “And that’s teachable. What’s harder to teach is the offensive game that he brings.”
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