Will Smith’s Breakout Halloween Party Gives Sharks’ Fans Reasons for Optimism

Will Smith's struggles have been well documented. He's come under scrutiny and debate for both his play this season and what is the best course of action for his development. When we talk about Smith, we do so with the best intentions for his bright future. Against the Chicago Blackhawks last night, the Boston native showed us a flash of what he can do. He scored two goals and had the best performance in the NHL to date, which helped the Sharks win their third straight game.

So, what can we take away from Will Smith's first dominant NHL performance? It's a moment we've been waiting for this year. Smith's ascension to stardom will be more gradual than that of someone like Macklin Celebrini, who is still projected to be an immediate shining star. Smith needs time to adjust, warm up, and get used to the NHL speed. He's going to be a big part of the Sharks future.

Even before the Blackhawks game, Smith had shown moments of brilliance, but the issue was how fleeting those moments were. He was always building to something but never flashing the finished article, but we saw a glimpse of what Smith could be last night. There's a long way for him to go before he reaches his lofty ceiling, but his heavy shot, silky hands, and quick feet make him an excellent asset for the future.

If he keeps playing like this, he will get himself back in the Calder conversations which is awarded for the best rookie in the NHL. Smith's going to have a bright future regardless, but he's starting to show his skillset despite the absence of Macklin Celebrini, who is going to be one of the core parts besides Smith for this organization. We need to see how they'll play together, but there are promising signs for the Sharks.