Will Smith Is Forcing Team USA to Take Notice - And He Should Be in the Olympic Conversation
We’re closing in on what might just be the most electrifying tournament in sports - and no, it’s not the NFL playoffs, the College Football Playoff, or even March Madness. It's the Men’s Olympic Hockey Tournament, and it’s shaping up to be something special.
From February 11 to 22, the world’s top hockey nations will descend on Milan, Italy, to battle it out for global supremacy. The arena may not be quite finished, and the ice might not be quite perfect, but the stakes? Very real.
And let’s be honest - this tournament is setting up for a heavyweight showdown: **USA vs. Canada.
Round Three. **
Last February’s Four Nations Face-Off was just a teaser. This is the main event.
For the Americans, it’s not just about redemption for that loss - it’s about exorcising the ghosts of 2010, too. That overtime heartbreaker still stings.
But this time around, Team USA might be more prepared than ever to chase its first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.
Canada, as always, is stacked. Their depth chart reads like an All-NHL team, and they’re already deep into debates about whether 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini - currently second in NHL scoring - should make the cut.
But here’s the thing: while the hockey world debates Celebrini, almost no one is talking about his linemate. A linemate who’s also lighting it up this season. A linemate who just happens to be American.
Let’s talk about Will Smith.
The 20-year-old winger from Massachusetts is having a breakout year with the San Jose Sharks. He’s got 27 points in 27 games, and he’s not just riding shotgun on the Celebrini show - he’s driving his own storyline. On Monday night against Utah, Smith dropped a two-goal, one-assist performance that turned heads and should have turned the heads of Team USA’s decision-makers, too.
Smith’s first goal? Pure highlight-reel stuff.
Coming down the right boards with Celebrini, he took a drop pass, slipped the puck between a defender’s legs, deked another out of his skates, and ripped a wrist shot five-hole from the edge of the circle. It was the kind of goal that makes you sit back and say, “Yeah, this kid’s different.”
As Sharks analyst Drew Remenda put it on the broadcast: “The kids are alright.” And Smith? He might be better than alright - he might be the most underrated player in the NHL right now.
Let’s not forget: Smith played a key role in Team USA’s gold medal run at the World Championships this past summer. Yet, somehow, he was left off the Olympic orientation camp roster in August.
That decision is aging poorly. Since then, he’s elevated his game to a new level - not just producing on the stat sheet, but showing growth in the areas that often define NHL success: puck battles, defensive awareness, and play without the puck.
Sure, he still has some areas to clean up. He can get a little too fancy, trying to skate the puck out instead of making the safe chip.
He leans on his stick in board battles when a little physicality would go a long way. But that’s the kind of stuff you expect from a 20-year-old.
These are teachable moments, not red flags.
And let’s be real - if you’re building a team to win gold, you want players who can tilt the ice. Smith is doing that right now.
He’s not just along for the ride with Celebrini - he’s a legitimate offensive driver. On most rebuilding teams, he’d be the centerpiece.
That’s the kind of talent we’re talking about.
So where does he fit on Team USA?
Assuming everyone’s healthy - including both Tkachuk brothers and Jack Hughes - there are about 10 forwards locked in. Olympic rosters carry 14 forwards, which leaves four spots up for grabs.
Two of those will likely go to wingers. That’s where Smith enters the chat.
The safe route? Go with veteran depth.
Maybe a couple of “character guys” from struggling teams - think J.T. Miller or Vincent Trocheck.
But if the goal is to win a gold medal, not just “not lose,” then the Americans need to lean into their youth and upside.
That means looking at names like Cole Caufield, Shane Pinto, Cutter Gauthier, Logan Cooley, and yes, Will Smith. These are the players who can make a difference in the third period of a gold medal game against Canada - not just fill a jersey and eat minutes.
And no disrespect to legends of the past, but this isn’t the time for nostalgia picks. Patrick Kane has had a phenomenal career, but this isn’t a lifetime achievement award. It’s about who can help you win right now - and Smith is making a strong case that he belongs in that conversation.
The U.S. has a chance to build a roster that not only competes in 2026 but sets the foundation for 2030 and beyond. Smith is part of that future - and based on how he’s playing, he might be part of the present, too.
The final roster decisions won’t be made today. But if you’re Team USA GM Bill Guerin, and you’re watching what Smith is doing night after night, it’s impossible to ignore.
The kid is making noise. And come February, he deserves to be in the room where the decisions are made.