BLOG - Cosentino: Ty Smith Benefactor of Two Extra Junior Years

On next week's edition of the Speak of the Devils Podcast, Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino joins Matt Loughlin and Amanda Stein to set up the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Not only does Cosentino share his thoughts about the upcoming crop of talent, but he offers his opinion on the current state of the Devils prospect pool.
Highlighting the defensive side of the puck is 2018 first-round selection Ty Smith, who was taken 17th overall. Although the past two seasons Smith was a late cut from training camp, Cosentino believes that while there was certain disappointment on Smith's part, the extra seasoning in the Canadian Hockey League with the Spokane Chiefs will pay dividends in the long run.
"Going back to two years ago, when I was hearing a lot of the same things that you guys would have witnessed at camp, he was about to make the team and it didn't quite happen. He's the benefactor of those two years playing in some high leverage situations on a really good Spokane team."

Smith certainly didn't waste that opportunity of two extra junior years. He was awarded the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as Western Hockey League Defenseman of the Year for the 2019-20 season. He also won the award for the 2018-19 season.
On February 28th he broke his own franchise record for points in a game by a defenseman with eight, which included his first career hat trick and five assists.
He should be turning professional next season, either in the American Hockey League or the NHL, leaving Spokane as the second highest scoring defenseman in franchise history with 235 points in 240 games.
"He's got a couple of World Juniors under his belt where this past year with Canada was a gold medal team, and he played a real important role. He's going have an opportunity to be able to go out and really make his mark in this camp whenever it takes place."
More insight from Sam Cosentino will be available on Monday's release of an all new episode of the Speak of the Devils Podcast!