Red Wings Central
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BRENDAN SMITH
Brendan Smith
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Vitals: 6'1'' / 170 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)

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.

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).

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

WEAKNESSES
Needs to be more responsible defensively ... A real offensive risk-taker who can get caught pinching ... Inconsistent ... Better decision-making will be a key to his future success as a pro ... Needs to mature physically and add muscle mass to his slender 6-foot-1 frame.

PROJECTION
Smith was derailed with a bulging disc in his back during his freshman campaign at Wisconsin in 2007-08, and will take the summer to get healthy. He should play an important role for Wisconsin as a sophomore — as well as challenge for a spot on Canada's world junior team — in 2008-09.

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 -- -- -- -- --

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The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (end-of-season)
01 D Jonathan Ericsson » Grand Rapids (AHL)
02 F Darren Helm » Grand Rapids (AHL)
03 G Jimmy Howard » Grand Rapids (AHL)
04 D Jakub Kindl » Grand Rapids (AHL)
05 F Justin Abdelkader » Michigan St. (NCAA)
06 D Brendan Smith » Wisconsin (NCAA)
07 F Jan Mursak » Belleville (OHL)
08 F Cory Emmerton » Brampton (OHL)
09 F Dick Axelsson » Djurgardens (SWE)
10 D Kyle Quincey » Grand Rapids (AHL)
» COMPLETE RANKING »