Prospect Update: Konnor Smith

By Thomas Harrington

The Anaheim Ducks chose defenseman Konnor Smith in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, 97th overall. He played in both the OHL and AHL this past season.

Smith started the season playing for the Peterborough Petes, scoring seven goals and eight points in 28 games. He was suspended for four games early in the season after getting involved in a fight once the game was over. A midseason trade sent him to the Owen Sound Attack. Smith played in 34 games with his new team, and scored two goals and nine points. Owen Sound made the playoffs but lost in the first round to the Saginaw Spirit. Smith played in all four games for Owen Sound and scored one goal. The 17 points he had during the regular season were a career high for Smith.

With Owen Sound eliminated, Smith joined the San Diego Gulls on an ATO. He played in six games with them to end the season and scored in his AHL debut. Given that Smith is much more known for his physical play than his offensive abilities, it was nice to see him score a goal in his first career AHL game.

Smith is a physically aggressive defender who doesn’t score a ton. Only one time did he have more than 10 assists in a season, and his nine goals this past season were far and away his career high. One thing Smith does need to work on is his positioning. He’s a naturally aggressive player, and sometimes that can lead to him being out of position as he tries to lay a big hit. If he can improve his positioning but keep that physical edge, Smith will be a force to be reckoned with on the ice.

Visit Our Hockey Store!

Smith will be 20 this November and will therefore be eligible to play in the AHL this season. He doesn’t need to be under contract with the Ducks, but he’ll need to sign an AHL-only deal with the Gulls in order to do so. While this is likely, it’s also not a guarantee. Anaheim could let him stay in juniors for another season if they think it will be better for his development. Last year, Nathan Gaucher was in a similar situation, and the Ducks decided for him to play in San Diego. That’s likely the path they’ll follow this season, but it’s certainly not a guarantee.

I have a couple of expectations for Smith this coming season, and they can apply regardless of whether he’s in the AHL or OHL. First, for him to improve his positioning while not losing his physical edge. Second, while it’s great to see him sticking up for his teammates, I’d prefer for him to not be suspended this coming season.

Smith is still a number of years away from the NHL. He will likely develop into a player who can deal with the physical play at the NHL level. The bigger question is if he can develop the necessary puck skills to succeed with that. It will take a number of years for that to happen. He’s probably going to spend at least two or three years in the AHL before he gets a chance in Anaheim. If he plays another season in the OHL, then that timeline gets pushed back even further. So we may see him in an Anaheim uniform for the 2026-2027 or 2027-2028 seasons.

Smith has yet to sign his entry-level deal with the Ducks. Anaheim controls his rights until June 2025. If the Ducks are happy with his development next season, they’ll undoubtedly sign him to a three-year deal. However, if they aren’t, they could decide to not sign Smith and lose his rights.

The next prospect update will be on goaltender Damian Clara.

Related Articles:

Prospect Update: Rodwin Dionicio

Prospect Update: Josh Lopina

Prospect Update: Yegor Sidorov

Prospect Update: Noah Warren

Prospect Update: William Francis

Prospect Update: Coulson Pitre

Prospect Update: Kyle Kukkonen

Prospect Update: Calle Clang

Prospect Update: Ian Moore

Prospect Update: Sam Colangelo

Listen to our show by clicking below or visiting us at Podomatic, Rumble, Spreaker, or YouTube.

Support us by becoming a DucksNPucks patron! Members can win game tickets, Ducks gear, and more!

Want to start your sports media career? Then Join The Puck Network!

DucksNPucks is part of The Puck Network, which covers the entire NHL. There are openings to cover your favorite team(s) and earn school credits! If you are interested, then apply by filling out the form here: Join Our Team. What are you waiting for? Start your sports media career TODAY!

September 18th, 2024