SJHN Daily: Smith Denies He’s Visiting San Jose

On Friday, a league source told San Jose Hockey Now about a rumor going around the Draft Combine in Buffalo.

“Rumor is Will Smith is flying to San Jose for a tour,” he texted about the San Jose Sharks’ possible No. 4 pick. “He sounds like the Sharks’ guy.”

SOURCE: Sharks Leaning Toward Smith at No. 4?

According to The Athletic, on the last day of the Combine on Saturday, Smith noted three times that he wasn’t aware of such a trip.

That said, Smith did have dinner with San Jose Sharks representatives at the Combine. The Sharks also took likely No. 3 pick Leo Carlsson out too.

So visit or not, it would still be no surprise if the Sharks selected the 6-foot-0 USNTDP center.

For what it’s worth, a visit to a team’s city before the Draft is generally considered a meaningful thing, so it would make sense for Smith to feign ignorance.

“It’s usually really serious,” the league source said. “Two, three players tops [visit].”

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Will Scouch shares his thoughts about the Draft:

Here are the final 3 tiers with of course Bedard at the top, but I'm of the belief that Fantilli is closer in terms of 200 foot NHL impact than advetised.

Also, Oliver Moore is almost certainly the #1 all-around player I've tracked this year. He's awesome.

Questions? pic.twitter.com/Cz1IE4yQZG

— Will Scouch (@Scouching) June 9, 2023

Paul Maurice’s son Jake is the voice of the ECHL champion Florida Everblades.

On this day in 1984, the @LAKings drafted Tom Glavine 69th overall at the NHL Entry Draft. A few days earlier, Glavine had been drafted 47th overall by the Braves at the MLB Draft. Glavine went on to Hall of Fame career on the mound #Hockey365 #GoKingsGo #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/SfqevtRTtJ

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) June 9, 2023