Will Smith vs Slovakia

Will Smith played a total of 6:55 in Team USA's 5-4 overtime loss to Slovakia. He was benched for the entire second period after a bad play in the first period that directly led to a Slovakia goal.

17:05 left 1st period: Wins a defensive zone draw and finishes his check. Maybe he spends a bit too much time getting back, but after he comes off, Slovakia scores to make it 1-0.

14:30 left 1st period: Will Smith jumps on the ice and sets up on the weak side, but a turnover by Seth Jones leads to a Slovakia breakaway. Smith loses the defensive draw but has solid positioning in his zone to try and help get the transition going. Off the rush, Smith does have a bit of an opening, but Trevor Zegras elects to hold and wait for his second option of Joel Farabee. Smith crashes the net.

9:15 left 1st period: This shift is the good and the bad of Will Smith. He was starting to feel a bit more confident going into it. He started with a solid forecheck and helped to chip the puck back into the zone for Farabee to attack. With a 50/50 puck along the board, Smith goes to attack to help push the pace but misreads the play. Tomas Tatar is off the races, and Smith has to play catch-up.

Will Smith always looks aggressive, but it kills him on this play. With the defenseman pinching, Smith's job is to cover for him here. He needs to either stay at the point and play defense or go to the boards and eat the puck while help arrives. Definitely a learning lesson here.

14:30 left 3rd period: Will Smith's first action since the goal. He shows good pursuit in the defensive zone to at least make the forwards have to keep the puck moving.

11:15 left 3rd period: Smith loses a neutral zone draw. He makes a subtle play in the neutral zone to help chip the puck in. Once Team USA establishes the zone, Smith circles to the high slot and slowly creeps back toward the net, where he is able to set up a tip play.

7:20 left 3rd period: On the fly start, Team USA earns an icing. Smith wins the draw, but his winger is slow to react.

This was not Will Smith's finest game, but learning lessons abound. It's also hard to find any constancy with such few shifts. Would like to see Smith given a chance to drive the play more, but he does have to earn those opportunities with solid play.

Will Smith vs Germany ($)

The IIHF World Men’s Championship allows Will Smith to get an opportunity to play against professional men’s hockey players without losing his eligibility at Boston College. While it is one tournament, it allows us to see Smith against professional players and how his game has grown since being drafted 4th

The ReefJD Young