SOURCE: Smith Not Visiting San Jose Before Draft

Six days until the NHL Draft, solid info on who teams are selecting is still scarce.

“Those top teams all holding their cards very close to the vest,” a league source told San Jose Hockey Now this morning.

That’s the way they want it, of course.

Everybody knows that the Chicago Blackhawks are picking Connor Bedard first-overall. But after that?

Adam Fantilli is the presumed No. 2 to the Anaheim Ducks. But just this week, there’s been credible speculation that they might opt for Matvei Michkov or Leo Carlsson.

Now the key word here is “speculation” – credible because the sources of it are well-connected – but speculation, nonetheless. Fantilli is still the betting favorite to be the second-overall pick.

That’s just an example of the mystery still shrouding even the top of this Draft.

I can debunk one San Jose Sharks’ Draft rumor though.

Two weeks ago, another league source shared this hot Combine rumor with SJHN: “Rumor is Will Smith is flying to San Jose for a tour. He sounds like the Sharks’ guy.”

SOURCE: Sharks Leaning Toward Smith at No. 4?

The key word here, that some missed, is “rumor.”

I’ve been able to confirm that Smith is not visiting San Jose before the Draft.

Now he could still very well be the San Jose Sharks’ No. 4 pick – and indeed, I’d say Smith is still the betting favorite to be “the Sharks’ guy” if Fantilli and Carlsson go in whatever order at No. 2-3 – but I just wanted to sprinkle some facts on top of all the uncertainty going on.

For what it’s worth, last week, a source close to Carlsson told SJHN that Carlsson had a “great meeting” with the San Jose Sharks at the Combine, but that he wouldn’t be visiting any teams pre-Draft either.

Sharks’ Draft Combine Facts, Rumors & Misdirections

Anyway, buckle up. Draft speculation and rumors are just going to keep picking up until Jun. 28 in Nashville.