PuckSleuth
2

San Jose Sharks · Center · Shoots R

Will Smith

Age 21 · 6'0" · 180 lb · Born in Boston, USA

Cap hit

$4.15M

4.0% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then RFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

arrives with the trade tools

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2026-27 regular season

GP

1

Goals

2

66.7% shooting

Assists

1

1 primary

Points

3

3.00 per game

TOI/GP

20:09

PP 5:19 · PK 0:41

xGF%

56.9

5v5, +8.7 vs. last yr

Game Score

+1.43

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

+2

Blocks 0 · Hits 1

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 1
vs FLA · W 4-3
2131020:095:190:41—4020+2+1.43
Apr 16
@ WPG · W 6-1
1150013:380:590:00—10010+2+0.74
Apr 15
@ CHI · L 5-2
0000016:594:300:00—10010-2-0.28
Apr 13
@ NSH · W 3-2
0120016:281:230:001-08801+1-0.27
Apr 11
vs VAN · OTL 4-3
0042122:263:190:00—10020+2-0.27

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 961 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%48.7%

46th percentile

Relative xGF%+2.7

74th percentile

HDCF%48.3%

45th percentile

CF%48.6%

43rd percentile

Relative CF%+2.6

82nd percentile

FF%48.5%

41st percentile

GF%57.5%

85th percentile

CF/6055.1

46th percentile

CA/6058.3

45th percentile

ixG/601.18

70th percentile

Goals above expected+5.1

92nd percentile

IPP74.0%

80th percentile

PDO103.3

88th percentile

OZS%68.3%

92nd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleOffensive playmaker

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Smith is an elite playmaker and shooter with excellent shot generation, but lacks the physical engagement and defensive awareness to impact play away from the offensive zone. He thrives in transition and the scoring areas but struggles to initiate puck movement and defend.

High-volume shooterCreative passerTransition threat
Shooting volume
82
Playmaking
85
Zone entries(est.)
33
Forechecking
5
Physicality
0
Defensive impact
14
Puck management
6
Speed
48

Where he shoots from

Slot 40% · Mid-range 47% · Perimeter 13%(240 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Playmaking at 85th percentile, generating quality scoring chances for others
  • Shooting volume at 82nd percentile with balanced shot selection including 40% from the slot
  • Rush chances at league average, using transition to create offensive opportunities

Watch-outs

  • Forechecking at just 5th percentile, rarely winning pucks in the defensive end
  • Puck management at 6th percentile, turning the puck over and struggling to advance it cleanly
  • Physicality at bottom 1%, unable to protect himself or the puck in traffic

Similar style: Jack Hughes (NJD), Filip Hallander (PIT)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 69 GP · goals above average

Season total +6.9 goals, or +0.10 per game.

Even strength offense
+0.4
Even strength defense
-0.8
Power play
-0.8
Penalty kill
+0.1
Finishing
+5.1
Playmaking
+2.7
Penalties
+0.4
Faceoffs
-0.2

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2026-27SJS1213+2320:09—+1.43
2025-26SJS69243559+116618:11—+0.10
2024-25SJS74182745-1512715:5136.5%+0.05

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed
22.1 mph
43rd pct
20+ mph bursts
95
Hardest shot
90.3 mph
84th pct
Distance
197.6 mi
OZ time
44.3%
77th pct
DZ time
37.5%