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BRENDAN SMITH
Brendan Smith
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Vitals: 6'2'' / 190 lbs.
Birthdate: February 8, 1989
Hometown: Mimico, Ontario
Acquired: Detroit's first choice (27th overall) in the 2007 draft
CSS Ranking: 68th North American skater (2007)
Contract: None (must sign by Aug. 15, 2011)
RWC Says: Offensive defenseman

STORIES

AWARDS
  • 2006-07 Ontario Hockey Association top prospect award nominee
  • 2006-07 Ontario Hockey Association top prospect team
  • 2006-07 Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League all-star game (South East Conference)
  • 2007-08 The Hockey News Future Watch (NHL's 71st-best prospect)
  • 2008-09 The Hockey News Future Watch (NHL's 73rd-best prospect)

HISTORY
2004-05:
  • Played Ontario midget hockey for the Toronto Marlies.
  • Picked seventh overall in the OHL draft by Toronto St. Michael's Majors.
2005-06:
  • Played Ontario junior A for Toronto St. Mike's Buzzers to preserve NCAA eligibility (39-5-21-26).
  • Helped Toronto to Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League title (17-1-5-6).
2006-07:
  • Played Ontario junior A for Toronto St. Mike's Buzzers to preserve NCAA eligibility.
  • Finished 14th among OPJAHL defensemen in scoring (39-12-24-36).
  • Committed to play NCAA hockey for Wisconsin starting in 2007-08.
  • Ranked as high as 28th (TSN) and as low as 68th (Central Scouting) entering the NHL draft.
  • Selected in the first round (27th overall) of the NHL draft by the Red Wings.
2007-08:
  • Had productive start to freshman NCAA season at Wisconsin (12-2-7-9).
  • Named to selection camp for Canada's world junior team but was eventually cut.
  • Went down with a bulging disc in his back on Jan. 11 and missed almost three months.
  • Returned for Wisconsin's season finale and skated as fourth-line forward.
2008-09:
  • Suspended for season-opener because he violated team rules off the ice.
  • Cut in favor of 17-year-old Ryan Ellis for one of final spots on Canada's world junior team.
  • Started season strong (21-7-11-18) before breaking wrist in January and missing nine games.
  • Never fully regained form after getting healthy for the stretch run (10-2-3-5).
  • Finished a plus-4 with 84 shots while scoring all nine of his goals on the power play.
  • Did not advance beyond WCHA championship after finishing third.

SCOUT COMMENTS
"He reminds me a lot of Niklas Kronwall at the same age, just a little bit bigger. He's a real good skater, very mobile. He moves the puck well. He's taller than Kronwall but he's got to get stronger." — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2007) ... "Basically, he's starting to look more and more like a defenseman. He is showing more patience and not running around as much as he did in the past. He doesn't jump into the rush all the time like he did last year and his overall game is benefiting as a result." — Red Wings scout David Kolb (December 2008).

STRENGTHS
High-end power-play quarterback ... Outstanding skater ... Loves to rush the puck ... Terrific vision and a crisp first pass ... Fantastic smarts in the offensive zone ... Smooth ... Rarely panics ... Strong competitive nature ... Doesn't punish physically but is willing to get his nose dirty.

WEAKNESSES
Defensive game has progressed, but continued improvement will be key ... A real offensive risk-taker who can get caught pinching ... Maturity and character have come under scrutiny after off-ice incidents resulted in a team suspension ... Needs to add strength to slender frame ... Injuries have derailed his first two seasons at Wisconsin, and a healthy season would be a plus.

PROJECTION
Smith has battled through injuries in his first two seasons at Wisconsin, but is gradually rounding out his already stellar offensive game. How he performs in 2009-10 will determine whether the Red Wings pull him out of college a year early as they did with Justin Abdelkader and Jimmy Howard or leave him in for his senior season. He is a potential top-four NHL defenseman.

STATISTICS
  REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFFS
SEASON TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM GP G A PTS PIM
2005-06 Toronto St. Mike's Ont. Jr. A 39 5 21 26 55 17 1 5 6 44
2006-07 Toronto St. Mike's Ont. Jr. A 39 12 24 36 90 7 2 7 9 10
2007-08 Wisconsin NCAA 22 2 10 12 26 -- -- -- -- --
2008-09 Wisconsin NCAA 31 9 14 23 75 -- -- -- -- --

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The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)
01 F Tomas Tatar » Grand Rapids (AHL)
02 D Jakub Kindl » Grand Rapids (AHL)
03 D Brendan Smith » Wisconsin (NCAA)
04 G Thomas McCollum » Grand Rapids (AHL)
05 F Gustav Nyquist » Maine (NCAA)
06 F Landon Ferraro » Red Deer (WHL)
07 F Jan Mursak » Grand Rapids (AHL)
08 F Cory Emmerton » Grand Rapids (AHL)
09 F Joakim Andersson » Frolunda (SEL)
10 F Mattias Ritola » Grand Rapids (AHL)
» COMPLETE RANKING »