IN TARGET CH? | "I would love to find Kent Hughes in the NHL"

IN TARGET CH? | “I would love to find Kent Hughes in the NHL”

Posted On: April 3, 2023

In another life, Kent Hughes, the Canadiens’ general manager, was a coach.

And for three full seasons, between 2018 and 2021, he managed an extremely talented offspring who, by a wonderful coincidence, could be available if CH were given the right to speak in the next repechage.

your name? Will Smith.

Watch the full interview he gave to TVASports.ca in the main video.

Smith, 17, is a right-handed center player (who can also play on the wing) playing in this year’s America development program. He currently has… 104 points in 52 short games. That’s more than Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield and Logan Cooley were of the same age. Not bad, right?

Smith and Kent Hughes worked together at the Boston Jr. Eagles (AAA caliber club) when the young man was between 12 and 15 years old. The head of the CH was therefore at the forefront of the attacker’s progress during three years in which he forged his identity on and off the ice.

And Will Smith has absolutely not forgotten his experience alongside Hughes.

“I know him very well. I like him a lot and he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. He really showed me how to play properly. I would love to have Kent back in the NHL. To play for the Canadiens , a team with such a rich history would be very special.”

Admit that the “fit” seems perfect…

The black sheep of his family

In the world of sport, there are often beautiful family stories where an athlete followed in the footsteps of a loved one to eventually reach the same level as them, even within the same sport as them.

With the Smiths, however, it’s the exact opposite, says Will.

“No one in my family played real hockey before I was born. My parents included! I was born into a clan of baseball players!

“One morning one of my dad’s friends came home with a hockey jersey and asked me if I wanted to join his little league on Saturday morning. I accept.”

Photo credit: Wicked Local

And according to the young man, his hockey career could have been very different from the one that earned him the rank of “elite hope” for the next NHL auction.

“In the beginning, and I don’t know why, it drew me to the goalkeeper position. I put on the pads and slid in front of my net.

“I tested the forward position a few weeks later. And once I understood the feeling you get when you score a goal, I gave up the idea of being a goalkeeper!”

A poison for defenders

It’s unclear what kind of goalkeeper Smith would have been had he continued his career in that position. However, we know he’s quite the attacker today.

It’s impossible to watch a game Smith is involved in without noticing it. Fast, agile and imaginative, eyes naturally turn to him as soon as he steps onto the ice. To hell with the other nine players!

His trainer Dan Muse, a former assistant in the NHL, does not hesitate to draw the censer over his foal.

“His greatest quality, in my opinion, is his intelligence. Will is a master at finding the vacancies on the ice rink. He knows where to go to hurt you. He knows where his teammates are without even having to look at them. He also has excellent shooting skills and spectacular puck possession skills.

“All of these elements, coupled with his deep passion for hockey, lead me to believe he will become an offensive impact player in the NHL, although I’ve never liked to project for a 17-year-old man.”

When asked about his boldness and confidence in puck possession, Smith gives a logical and interesting answer.

“I’ve always been a creative person and I’m not afraid of making mistakes,” adds the main prospect. I never hesitate to try daring things, especially during training. That way you get into a match situation and are full of confidence to get there with surprising maneuvers.

And is he inspired by a specific player in the NHL?

“I really like David Pastrnak from the Bruins and Artemi Panarin from the Rangers. They are both players with highly developed hockey intelligence. They like to play games. They are electrifying in the way they stage dangerous sequences and they also enjoy making recordings that are often of excellent quality.

Will Smith also hides in his arsenal an element that could be the envy of several NHL teams: his varied and numerous skills allow him to regularly develop at the top of the power play.

“I love this role! I like having the puck and watching the game, especially 5v4 where you have more time and space to assert yourself. From the blue line you have all the leeway you need to decide the fate of the action: either make a good shot or feed a better positioned partner.

More productive than American Cream of the same age

We spoke to you above about the astronomical offensive performance the big pivot has put on this season. They were also cited by some high-profile players statistically left in the dust by Smith, including Logan Cooley.

The latter was notably Will Smith’s teammate last year.

Is our interlocutor of the day surprised to have outnumbered his ex-partner?

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but it’s nice nonetheless. You want to be good in your draft year. Logan was very good to me last year. He’s made me feel comfortable in the dressing room and it’s cool to see I can keep up with the pace that brought him in early.”

Photo credit: Rena Laverty – USA Hockey

Speaking of Cooley, he competed in the World Junior Hockey Championship during the last holiday season. Many would also have liked to see Smith there, but he was conspicuous by his absence.

What happened that a player of his talent was eliminated in this way?

“I was sick and a lot of little things happened. I would have liked to help the team but I hope to be able to do it next year.

“There has been a significant improvement here”

Often the biggest challenge for a talented player is knowing how to behave off the puck. Will Smith is no exception, although he is improving in this department every day, his coach assures.

“Will has had the puck on his palette since a very young age. So learning to play when she was apart from him was a big challenge. But he is a passionate person who loves to learn. He’s progressing quickly.”

“I’ve been working on my faceoffs a lot over the past few months,” Smith said. There has been a significant improvement in this regard, but I would like to take it to another level. Otherwise, I’ve recently started playing shorthanded. I think it’s an important tool if you want to graduate in the NHL. I’m still learning the basics of this job (laughs)!”

Next year in the NHL?

Will Smith is having a great season. He’s not the biggest, but far from the smallest. He has impressive offensive skills.

Does he see himself in the NHL next year?

“I enrolled in Boston College. We will see to the needs of the team that will pick me up.

But no matter when he officially joins the ranks of a team at Bettman Circuit, the skater knows exactly how he’s going to approach the challenge when it comes to him.