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Sharks' Will Smith Explains His Move To The Wing

max miller
·2 min read

The San Jose Sharks moved Will Smith to the wing during their game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

This was Smith's first time playing the wing in the NHL. He skated on the third line with Alexander Wennberg and Barclay Goodrow.

"It was good trying something new," Smith said postgame. "It's obviously different jobs, but besides that, you got to know how to play each position and be ready for it."

Smith had his moments of trouble on the wing. He did a good job covering for Jan Rutta on the first goal but got caught in no man's land and beaten in transition.

"It was kind of a weird play. I got stopped up and took a look, and by that time, they were already gone," Smith said. "It was on me there. I need to be better there."

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky gave his take on the play as well.

"Pace of play. It's really fast. Macklin [Celebrini] is the same way," Warsofsky said. "He got caught there in the in the third. They just got to get used to the pace of play."

Smith also had his moments of offensive freedom. He feels that being able to slash through the middle of the ice from the wing made it easier for him to get speed through the neutral zone.

"You're slashing more through the neutral zone and different jobs off the face-off," Smith said. "[You] get a little more speed but have a different responsibility."

It will be interesting to see Smith's deployment throughout the upcoming games. The Sharks struggled in transition tonight and faced a New York Rangers team that is amongst the best in the league in transition.

Smith said he had no issues with moving to the win and wants to play anywhere the coach needs him to.

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