PuckSleuth
2Cap hit
$950K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$7.006M
vs. $7.956M market estimate
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
+1.53
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+2
Blocks 0 · Hits 1
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs FLA · W 4-3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20:09 | 5:19 | 0:41 | — | 40 | 2 | 0 | +2 | +1.53 |
| Apr 16 @ WPG · W 6-1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13:38 | 0:59 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | +2 | +0.74 |
| Apr 15 @ CHI · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16:59 | 4:30 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -0.28 |
| Apr 13 @ NSH · W 3-2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16:28 | 1:23 | 0:00 | 1-0 | 88 | 0 | 1 | +1 | -0.27 |
| Apr 11 vs VAN · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 22:26 | 3:19 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 2 | 0 | +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
46th percentile
74th percentile
45th percentile
43rd percentile
82nd percentile
41st percentile
85th percentile
46th percentile
45th percentile
70th percentile
92nd percentile
80th percentile
88th percentile
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.
- 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
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | SJS | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | +2 | 3 | 20:09 | — | +1.53 |
| 2025-26 | SJS | 69 | 24 | 35 | 59 | +1 | 166 | 18:11 | — | +0.10 |
| 2024-25 | SJS | 74 | 18 | 27 | 45 | -15 | 127 | 15:51 | 36.5% | +0.05 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Sharks Were ‘Not Convinced’ On Will Smith Extension? — Insider
nhltraderumors.me · Oct 2
- Will Smith details Sharks' strategy that led to two-goal game on Opening Night
Yahoo Sports · Oct 2
- Postgame vs FLA (10/1): Smith
NHL.com · Oct 2
- Will Smith scores two goals in Sharks' Opening Night win over Panthers
NBC Sports Bay Area & California · Oct 2
- Smith scores twice, Sharks recover for OT win against Panthers
NHL.com · Oct 2
- Cagnoni Wins It in OT! Sharks Club Panthers 4-3
sanjosehockeynow.com · Oct 2
- FLA@SJS: Smith scores goal against Akira Schmid
NHL.com · Oct 2
- Will Smith taps in second goal of game to widen Sharks' lead over Panthers
NBC Sports Bay Area & California · Oct 2
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.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.08 per game over these 10.
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%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 21, forwards typically produce 96% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | SJS | $950K | 0.9% |
RFA after 2026-27. $950K in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).