2018 NHL mock draft: Eastern Conference teams

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KELOWNA, BC – MARCH 03: Ty Smith #24 of the Spokane Chiefs skates to the bench against the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place on March 3, 2018 in Kelowna, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

11. New York Islanders – Ty Smith

Ty Smith is the last of the not-Dahlin defensemen to go in this mock, and the New York Islanders will be will be pleased to snap him up.

Smith finished the season with 73 points, which was good for second place when it came to WHL defensemen. What would make this pick really interesting is that the player that finished ahead of him is an Islanders prospect, David Quenneville. If the Islanders can pull this off, it could really work out for them. While their defense is okay for now, there next wave could use another influx.

One scout had this to say about Smith,

"“He’s the best prospect in the WHL… A very smart, mobile puckmover. Really good poise with the puck and really good patience. He’s going to play a lot of minutes.”"

Now, this isn’t the best year for high-end prospects from the WHL, but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that Smith is the best of the bunch. Of course, as with most of the defensemen in the top 10 of the draft, his biggest issue is just bulking up. That will come with time.

The Islanders are a team that needs some hope. If John Tavares leaves in free agency, they are going to need some good young players developed the right way and with Lou Lamoriello now in charge, hopefully that can happen. Smith can be a good first step and the second step won’t be too far behind.

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