A verdict has finally been reached for offensive defender Ty Smith
Placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday afternoon, Ty Smith had until 2 p.m. to be claimed by another NHL team. At just 23 years old and with a very interesting offensive potential, many experts expected that the defender would be claimed by a team in NHL today.
It's now official!
To the surprise of many, Ty Smith was overlooked and will therefore head to the AHL for the 2023-2024 season.
This means that the general manager of the Canadiens, Kent Hughes, chose to pass, thus showing confidence in the young defenders currently on the roster.
Given that the Habs already have plenty of defenders in their lineup, the decision is somewhat understandable. However, it's really astonishing to see that no NHL team wanted to give an opportunity to this player, drafted 17th overall in 2018.
With excellent skating and the ability to contribute offensively, having scored 47 points in 123 NHL games, he could undoubtedly have been a valuable addition to a team looking for a young, mobile defender capable of supporting the attack.
Would you have liked the Canadiens to claim Ty Smith?
| POLL | ||
Are you surprised to see that no NHL team has claimed the young Ty Smith? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 64.7 % |
| No | 24 | 35.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
