Top 20 Detroit Red Wings Prospects To Watch In 2019-20

Givani Smith, Grand Rapids Griffins, 13 points in 2018-19

For those who want to know what Givani Smith’s greatest asset is, all that is needed to find out is a simple keyboard and search bar on YouTube. Search “Givani Smith hockey,” and there are about six to ten videos of Smith doing what he does the best FIGHT.

Smith is someone that is going to provide a physical force on the ice, and he embraces this style of play and is looking to make the NHL roster this season. In the past, Smith has had some incidents because of fighting and other players yelling racial slurs and terrible things of that nature.

Smith stands 6-foot-2, weighing in at 209 pounds and is a left-handed shooting left-winger. The Detroit Red Wings drafted Smith in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft where he continued playing for the Guelph Storm in the OHL and then moved to the Kitchener Rangers as well. In his last season in the OHL, Smith played in forty-six games, scoring seventeen goals and thirteen assists for thirty total points.

Embracing his physical style of play has allowed Smith to become the player that he is. If Smith can maintain composure and remain calm, then he will be a good guardian of the ice for the Red Wings. Smith uses his physicality and fearless style of play to allow him to block shots, execute efficient hits, and fight if necessary. He could carry these skills over to the NHL, which would be beneficial to his NHL value.

This season, Smith is determined to shut them up with success on the ice and make the opening night roster according to an interview from Detroit Red Wings development camp. Smith only scored thirteen points in the 2018-19 season, coming in the form of six goals and seven assists, but there was development in unmeasurable areas.

Smith was notably to work on patching up his game-turning him into a forward who could fit in the bottom six of the Detroit Red Wings lineup with continued development.

Early Expectation: A step in the right direction is considered positive for Smith who is going to be a grinding forward that can progress into a second or third-line guy for the Red Wings.

Smith can become more than just a scrappy forward if the scoring develops he could quickly become a middle-six forward for this Detroit Red Wings team. After his impressive showing at the NHL Prospect Tournament, Smith looked like he’s ready to show some improvement in his game all-around.