New Jersey Devils Sign Ty Smith To Entry-Level Deal
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils signed first-round pick Ty Smith to a three-year deal. This shows that he is going to be ready for the big leagues sooner rather than later.
The New Jersey Devils immediately added their top prospect when they picked defenseman Ty Smith with the number 17 pick in the NHL Draft. It was a massive surprise that a defenseman with his skill set could have gone top ten, but he fell to Ray Shero.
Now, Shero has officially inked a deal with his first-round pick, that gives the Devils control of his future for a minimum of three years. The deal will pay Smith $925,000 if he makes the NHL team, and then $70,000 if he plays in the minors.
Smith spent last season with the Spokane Chiefs. He served as an alternated captain, and recorded more than a point per game from the blue line. He even scored six points in one game against Prince George.
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It’s more than likely that Smith will spend another season in Juniors. It’s extremely rare to have defensemen jump straight to the NHL. Even Miro Heiskanen spent a year outside the NHL, and he was an even better defensive prospect. Only Rasmus Dahlin will make the jump to the NHL this year. He’s a once in a generation prospect.
This does mean that Smith will likely make the Devils next year if his progression stays on track. If he avoids a lost year like Mike McLeod and Jesper Boqvist, who at this time last year seemed like locks to make the Devils after another year, then he will make the team next season no matter what.
This signing is of course a formality. Rookies don’t have much negotiating room when it comes to their first prospect. It usually makes this process pretty painless. However, it’s still a big day for Devils fans. Their new top prospect is committed to the cause for the next three years, and hope for the next decade or two.