Tarin Smith
2023-24 team: Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Date of Birth: March 24, 2006
Place of Birth: Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, Canada
Ht: 6-foot-1 Wt: 176 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Defenseman
Draft Eligibility: 2024 first-year eligible
Rankings
With this year’s draft class being headlined by some top-tier defensemen like Zayne Parekh, Sam Dickinson, and Artyom Levshunov, Tarin Smith finds himself in the second to third tier of defensemen. He also finds himself in a situation where his ranking amongst the numerous prospect rankings is inconsistent due to some not truly knowing what his game could end up being like and having some questions about the Everett Silvertips defenseman.
Related: THW’s 2024 NHL Draft Guide
Smith has excelled this season as a two-way defenseman who can get involved in the offensive zone quite a bit. Last season, his offensive play was viewed as an area that was in need of much improvement and he was able to do just that this season. Where it all really begins is with his skating. His skating ability is a strong suit for the 6-foot-1 defenseman, as he is smooth when moving around the ice and also possesses some long, strong strides that work to his advantage. When he gets into the offensive zone, Smith has high-level instincts with the puck that allow him to set his teammates up for solid chances as well as being a good option from the blue line without the puck.
In the defensive zone, Smith excels in the corners and dirty areas of the ice, showing a willingness to go to these areas and battle with opponents and, more times than not, win the battles. Winning these battles helps to generate chances for clears and rushes for his teammates. But while he does show willingness in the battles, there is still room for him to get more involved physically and use his frame to his advantage a bit more than he does currently. Further expanding on his defensive play, he is strong in transition and on rushes to slow down his opponents and is strong in between the blue lines with his defensive play.
Overall, Smith is a solid two-way defenseman who can also be seen at times as a high-risk, high-reward player.
Other THW Draft Profiles
Tarin Smith – NHL Draft Projection
As mentioned before, with this year’s draft class being heavy with top-tier defensemen, Smith will find himself most likely in the second tier of the position. With the upside that he has shown this season and the…
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