PORCUPINE PLAIN – A Northeast hockey player has been selected by the Annaheim Ducks at the 2024 NHL draft.
Smith celebrated with his family in Las Vegas with his father, mother, sister and two cousins who were taking in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Porcupine Plain’s Tarin Smith was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round as the 79th overall.
Smith told Â鶹ÊÓƵ.ca that he wasn’t sure who would be selecting him in the draft and that he talked with almost all the NHL teams. Smith plays with the Everett Silvertips this last season in the WHL. He posted 49 points in 75 games as a defencemen. "I credit my coach Dennis Wiliams in Everett. I’ve been taught so much by him in the last two years.” The Everett Silvertips are in San Diego, California.
Smith said he was ranked to be selected late in the third round and this was around when he thought he would be picked. As for being picked by Annaheim, he said he was a bit in shock.
Jordan Orth with the Hockey Writers said Smith has excelled this season as a two-way defenceman who can get involved in the offensive zone quite a bit. His skating ability is a strong suit for the 6-foot-1 defenceman, as he is smooth when moving around the ice and also possesses some long, strong strides that work to his advantage. When he gets into the offensive zone, Smith has high-level instincts with the puck that allow him to set his teammates up for solid chances as well as being a good option from the blue line without the puck.
Smith said he had a good hockey season and looks to improve and is looking forward to continuing to play with the Silvertips next season and getting closer to that next step of skating the NHL ice.
