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How Sharks' Will Smith is getting bigger, stronger before first pro season

Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News on

Published in Hockey

SAN JOSE, Calif. – During the first two days of the San Jose Sharks’ development camp this week, center Will Smith displayed the kind of skating, puckhandling, and vision that helped make him the fourth overall pick at last year’s NHL Draft.

But as he enters his first pro season after signing an entry-level contract with the Sharks in late May, the 19-year-old Smith, listed for now at 180 pounds, has also showcased his bigger frame and newfound strength during the camp’s contact drills.

His secret to bulking up? A consistent diet, exercise plan, and a whole lot of protein shakes.

“I’ve been eating a lot and tried to be consistent with that and be in the gym a lot,” Smith said Wednesday. “So I’ll probably be up eight or 10 pounds by the time I get here (in the fall), and it’s going to be huge for my game.”

Smith, who jokingly said that he might also be “a little bit taller” than the 6-foot-0 he’s listed at, is expected to be a big part of the Sharks future, along with 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini.

Smith was in a different practice group than Celebrini during the first two days of the development camp. The two will scrimmage against each other in Thursday’s teal vs. white prospects game at Tech CU Arena.

 

Although he didn’t divulge if Celebrini had said anything about whether he would turn pro or return to Boston University this season, Smith said he’d become friends with the franchise’s other teenage cornerstone.

“We’re roommates at the hotel, so we’re around each other pretty much all day when we get back,” Smith said. “So it’s fun to be around each other and obviously get to know him since we’re going to be teammates here.”

While Celebrini is still picking between San Jose and Boston, Smith decided to depart Boston College in the spring and join the pro ranks.

It was not an easy decision.

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