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Canadiens GM Kent Hughes on Coaching Will Smith: ‘If you keep score, he has to win’ (+)

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Will Smith says Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes was the best coach that he’s ever had.



Hughes, then a player agent, coached Smith on the Boston Jr. Eagles from 2018 to 2021, before the future San Jose Sharks’ top pick joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

San Jose Hockey Now caught up recently with Hughes, who spoke about Smith’s formative years, his “cerebral” competitiveness, the tough love that he showed Smith, Smith’s up-and-down rookie NHL season, and more.

“He knew I wanted to make that team, and his kid was on the [USNTDP] team too,” Smith told SJHN. “So he knew what it took to make it.”

Photo courtesy of Bill Smith

What did Hughes teach the teenager?

“He just taught me how to play hockey the right way,” the San Jose Sharks star said.

“He really just instilled a lot into Will and his game and worked with him,” Bill Smith, Will’s dad said.

“He obviously was tough on me and the whole team, just because he cared about it,” Will Smith said. “I just remember doing film with him and stuff like that.”

“Kent Hughes was probably the most influential coach he had,” Bill Smith said. “Kent’s the best. No one better.”

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

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