San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith will be primarily a winger this season.

The 2023 No. 4 pick in the NHL Draft is a natural centerman, but played the majority of his rookie season on the wing. During exit interviews at the end of the 24-25 season, Sharks GM Mike Grier told reporters that Smith would get a shot to move back to the middle.

Smith clarified that the plan is to use him as a winger for the 25-26 season. The 20-year-old had great chemistry with Macklin Celebrini.

“It’s good to have the versatility to be both. I think this year I’m going to be mainly a wing, but I also worked on draws over the summer a lot,” Smith said. “I got some tips from a lot of really good centermen in the NHL. If I need to take a face-off at the end of a game, or at any point, on a power play or anything, I can do it.”

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“[Mike Grier and I] talked about a lot over the summer,” Smith explained. “At Worlds, I was a wing so him, mostly last year, at the end of the year. Getting used to that, and like I said, being versatile, to do both, is something I can definitely and want to do.”

In 74 games last season, Smith finished with 18 goals and 27 assists. Some of his most creative plays came on the same line as Celebrini.

“That would definitely help,” Smith joked about being Celebrini’s winger again. “[Our chemistry is] geally good. We look for each other a lot. It’s nice playing with a guy that can drive the play like that, and he also has the vision and the shot to do it too.”

Smith’s move signals a spot open for Misa

Smith’s move to the wing full-time opens the door for top San Jose Sharks prospect Michael Misa to make the NHL as a center. There was potential for a competition to be had for the two young stars to be the center behind Celebrini.

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Misa, who is also a natural centerman, will be given every opportunity to make the NHL after being drafted No. 2 overall at the 2025 NHL Draft. His playstyle and skating ability fit a center more than Smith’s.

Smith did say he put on some weight over the summer and made an effort to become a faster skater. Smith told reporters he is weighing in at 188 lbs.

It might be the first day of training camp, but Misa was playing center for his group. Smith was on Celebrini’s wing in the first group with Jeff Skinner.

“Lines” for the first group of #SJSharks camp:
Skinner-Celebrini-Smith
Grundstrom-Bystedt-Dellandrea
Regenda-Bowers-Halttunen
Wahlstrom-Bystedt-Wetsch

Leddy-Klingberg
Dickinson-Desharnais
Hache-Thompson— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) September 18, 2025

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