New Jersey Devils Made A Mistake Not Keeping Ty Smith This Year
In June’s 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils selected defenseman Ty Smith 17th overall. Smith had a good showing in the preseason with the Devils, but he ultimately did not make the team — a move that is coming back to haunt New Jersey.
18-year-old Ty Smith is from Saskatchewan, Canada. The New Jersey Devils plucked him from the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL in the first round of this year’s draft. Last season for Spokane he scored 14 goals and dished out 59 assists. He was also a plus-44 for the Chiefs. This year, he already has two goals and 23 assists in just 16 games. At this point in the season, he leads all WHL defenseman in points and points per game.
Devils coach John Hynes sent Smith back to Juniors at the end of preseason telling him he had a good camp, but spending another year in Spokane would be best for his development. Personally, I think the best thing for his development would’ve been playing against NHL-level competition all year long, especially considering the Devils’ other options on defense.
Ty Smith is a two-way defenseman that showed he can compete on this level. His assist totals show that he’s a facilitator, which would’ve come in handy this season when the Devils can’t buy a goal. He could’ve fit in very nicely on one of the two power-play units.
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The real reason the Devils need him is for his defensive abilities. The Devils are 27th in the NHL giving up 3.5 goals per game. If Smith was in the lineup, he couldn’t possibly make them any worse.
He could’ve easily replaced Ben Lovejoy or Eric Gryba on the team this season, two players who wouldn’t be on NHL rosters in they weren’t on the Devils.
Considering the fact that the Devils need secondary scoring from areas other than the top line (Hall-Hischier-Palmieri), better play from their defenseman, and could use all the talented young players they can get, it’s puzzling that they didn’t keep the promising 18-year-old defenseman on the roster this year. Especially considering how well keeping the 18-year-old rookie first-round pick went for them last year (Nico Hischier 20G-32A).