The development camp has been buzzing for the San Jose Sharks this offseason. It has been a month, but it is an inspiring sight to actually know that Will Smith, the young gun of the Sharks, has been showing off in his games and is excited to bring his next level of play even as a rookie heading into the season.

At the age of 19, Smith is expected to be a great and promising prospect for the Sharks in 2024-25. There are a lot of talks as to how he has been making his strides as a part of the squad without even touching the NHL ice just yet. At this point, it is easy to say that this is just the beginning of exciting times for the Sharks.

Selected fourth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, Smith has worked hard to ensure that he would definitely fit the bill into being a reliable NHL player. He has changed his diet to bulk up and build on his shot to earn a spot in the Sharks’ roster this season. If proving time has begun, this is Smith’s chance to show what he can do.

Excitement Building for Smith

Even before he was slated to join the Sharks this season, there has been a lot of talk as to how the rookie is expected to build on his games with the squad. Sharks fans have been eagerly following his outstanding performance at Boston College in the last season. He led the NCAA in scoring with an impressive 71 points (25 goals, 46 assists) in just 41 games. Listed as 6-foot, 181 pounds, Smith is definitely impressing many icons at training camp, and he even has his own expectations for his goals with the team.

"I have expectations and goals as a player, and the goal is to make the team and be a huge contributor," Smith said. "I trust whatever the development staff and team have in mind. And then, obviously, the goal is to make the team and help as much as I can."

Young guys don’t often get to start in the rotation unless that player has definitely shined bright in college to even become the best phenomenal talent in the NHL Draft. But for Smith, nothing is far from his grasp when he’s prepared for it.

A Run to Build On

Ever since reaching the Conference Finals back in the 2019-20 season, the Sharks have failed to reach the playoff stage for five seasons in a row. Smith’s aspirations as a huge contributor to the squad isn’t impossible considering that the team is willing to try out different lineups in the season, but for head coach John McCarthy, it is easy to say that he likes the confidence of the young player.

"I think he's put his best foot forward," said McCarthy of Smith’s aspirations with the team. "He looks a little bit bigger to me. I haven't seen any data on that, it's just my eye test. But he looks a little more solid."

The San Jose Sharks finished dead last in the 2023-24 NHL season with a 19-54-9 record in their games. Bringing in Smith is a fresh sight for sore eyes, but the Boston product needs to show his worth if he is going to be one of the centerpieces for San Jose heading into the season.