Gabe Smith (C, L, 6’4″, 208, Moncton Wildcats, 08/03/2006)
2024 NHL Draft Grade: C+
Season stats 2023/24:
Games played: 59
Goals: 9
Assists: 14
Points: 23
+/-: -2
Penalty time: 50:00
Penalty time against: 63:00
Average per game
Time on ice: 14:35
Power play time: 01:21
Short-handed time: 00:04
Shots: 2.9
Shots on goal, %: 66%
Faceoffs won, %: 59%
Puck battles: 14
Puck battles won, %: 50%
Accurate passes, %: 84%
Hits: 1.93
Hits against: 1.46
Smith is a 6’4″, 210 pound left shot forward who can play center or wing and won 59% of his face-offs this season. He possesses a long stride and impressive north-south speed which will certainly enhance his ability to play impactful 5 on 5 hockey in the professional game. Offensively, Smith displays finesse and strength, capable of beating defenders both with his hands and speed, as well as overpowering them with his physicality. Smith’s improvement in his play away from the puck has been noticeable, demonstrating disruptive forechecking, smart defensive positioning, and strong puck retrieval skills. He has the potential to excel in 50/50 puck battles when utilizing his reach and physicality. He has the frame to create space for himself and his teammates and even though he is a physical presence who understands that intimidation is part of the game we feel he can add more controlled aggression to his game.
Moncton vs Chicoutimi, March 29, 2024: Body Type: Big, strong forward with room for growth and refinement. Overall Impression: This player is a raw but intriguing prospect with a skillset that should attract professional interest. His size, mobility, and willingness to battle for pucks make him a valuable asset on the ice. Strengths: Mobility: Despite his size, he demonstrates good mobility when carrying the puck through the neutral zone. This allows him to use his strength to drive towards the net and create scoring opportunities. Forechecking: He displays a strong work ethic and forechecks with speed and effort. This disrupts plays and creates turnovers in the offensive zone. Net-Front Presence: He excels in positioning himself in high-danger areas like the corners and in front of the net. He uses his size effectively to battle for pucks and screen goaltenders. Puck Protection: He possesses a well-developed ability to use his body to shield the puck from defenders. This allows him to maintain possession in tight spaces and make plays. Puck Retrieval: He shows a knack for retrieving pucks in the offensive zone, creating additional scoring chances for himself and his linemates. Defensive Awareness: He gets into shooting lanes effectively and exits his own zone quickly during defensive zone coverage. Additionally, he demonstrates a willingness to block shots. Areas for Development: Refinement: While he is a strong skater, there is room for improvement in his overall conditioning and agility. Offensive Awareness: While currently utilized in a third-line role, his puck protection and retrieval skills suggest he could play a more offensive role with further development in his decision-making and offensive instincts. Projection: This player has the potential to develop into a valuable power forward at the professional level. His combination of size, strength, and work ethic will translate well. With continued development in his skating, offensive awareness, and overall refinement, he could become a significant scoring threat.
Moncton vs Gatineau, February 16, 2024: Smith was outstanding vs Gatineau, he’s gaining more and more confidence with the puck on his stick, he skates incredibly well for his size, but it’s his compete level away from the puck that continues to jump off the page, the intangibles Smith possesses are no doubt adds to his already outstanding foundation of skill, if pucks get turned over Smith backchecks with the same vigor and enthusiasm that he has in offensive opportunities, Smith is gaining a lot of traction right now amongst NHL scouts, I have seen this kids progression since he was 15, he ceiling is unlimited, Smith understands his value and identity, he’s not trying to do too much, he has excellent offensive skills, but will do just about anything it takes to contribute to team success, he’s as tough as nails and doesn’t back down from anything or anyone, A Rating
Moncton vs Shawinigan, November 12, 2023: Smith has all the tools to be an extremely dangerous two way presence at the QMJHL level and beyond. Smith, a prototypical power forward skates incredibly well for his size, but still needs more polish to that side of his game, You can make all the comparisons and similarities you want, but Gabe Smith is a close to a bonafide power forward as you could have. Many comparisons are unfair, especially when it comes to NHLers, but Smith possesses an excellent foundational skill set. The St. Andrews, New Brunswick product competes on every puck in every situation all over the Ice. He’s a nasty player to play against, not because he’s dirty, because he’s mean and has tons of sandpaper to his game. Gabe Smith finished every single hit available. He plays the game the right way in all three zones and doesn’t cheat offensively. Smith is defensively accountable in all three zones, thinks the game very well and has very active stick in all three zones. Smith can play both forward positions, but is better suited on the wing at the Q level and beyond. He can play in any situation and distributes the puck very well. He has extremely soft hands and solid puck skills in open ice and in high traffic areas at times. At times Smith has a tendency not to handle pucks enough in certain areas of the game, I would like to see him become a little more patience and creative with the puck especially in open ice and in the offensive zone. When it comes to the offensive side the game, Gabe Smith has incredible upside when it comes to the offensive side of the game as he possesses a heavy accurate shot, his point totals will continue to increase at a solid pace this season when he returns from an injury due to his increased top 6 role with the Wildcats, his shot rivals that of many pros, but he needs to shoot the puck even more at times and if he hangs onto pucks longer he will generate more scoring chances. Smith projects to be a solid middle six forward with a flare of offensive ability, this kid doesn’t back down from the physical aspects of the game, actually he’s at his best when it’s intense out there.
QMJHL Cup, May 1, 2022: Smith was a prospect we had our eyes on keenly throughout the week as he had a good season with Rothesay Netherwood but only played about half the games so we’ve only seen him a few times this season. With that being said, the 6’3′ centerman out of New Brunswick was one of the most impressive, two-way forwards in the camp. He’s got excellent size and athleticism, a long stride, north-south speed and zip on his passes. He not only wins a high percentage of faceoffs but he controls the faceoff circle after the puck is dropped and has a rare size, skill and power combination where he can play with finesse in tight around the cage and off the rush and can play with grit and brute strength below the dots and in the tough ice. He has the skill to beat defenders 1v1 with his hands and with his speed to the outside and he can also overpower them by lowering the shoulder and driving to the net and he did both here. Smith had 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games; he scored on a hard release off a catch and shoot and he scored on a power net drive getting his stick on a loose puck in front and finishing. One of his assists showed both his skill and some sense taking a puck wide with speed on the rush and then delaying to create separation and waiting for a late trailer coming down the slot and hit him with a pass for a catch and shoot. Smith’s play with the puck was his most obvious traits, but he has shown improvement even from just earlier this season in his play away from the puck. He was disruptive on the forecheck using his reach and physicality, he took smart pursuit angles, he stopped on pucks in his defensive zone and picked up sticks and moved bodies around the net front and got open on the breakout to be a passing option for both the defense and the wingers. Smith plays his best hockey when he’s angry/hungry and commits to the power game; he gets to another gear, he hits a bit harder and can take over a game. No real holes in his game; he can fire the puck, he can snap passes off, he’s got a long, athletic stride, he’s strong and tough and protects the puck as well as anyone down low below the dots and along the boards. As one of our scouts said ‘he’s the alpha in puck scrums’ and ‘he thrives in the tough areas and can create space where there is none.’ A junior ready prospect who made a sizable move up our draft board after his performance here and we likely aren’t alone.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images