Scouting Report
EVALUATED 03/12/2021
Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
Projectable Skills - Size, Puck Control, Slapshot
Development Opportunities - More comfortable with transition flow, defensive gap control
It is easy to see that the best two Saskatchewan Dmen available are Smith and Buczkowski. Tarin shows flashes of some high-end puck control, situational anticipation, and the ability to explode laterally or drag pucks in order to evade forecheckers while manning the point on the powerplay. Tarin’s transitional style leans more towards stretch passes, simple outlets, and letting his defense partner start the breakout. He is more than fine being the last defender back and not facilitating as a rush creator. Once the zone is established, he has a terrific wrist shot, an even better slapshot, and the puck skills to be able to evade that forward pressure. That gives him PP upside down the line. I think Tarin Smith makes a lot of sense as a complimentary 2D who also plays 2nd PP and is important on your penalty kill. Once he improves his aggression at defending his own blueline from rush attempts and learning situations where he can make a few strides up the ice as a transition piece, Tarin will be a very valuable asset. His skating stride leaves him the room to projectably improve at these things.
Skating
9Puck Skills
8.5Hockey IQ
8Playmaking
7Scoring
8Physicality
8Defense
8.5Overall
8.14Scouting Report
EVALUATED 28/10/2021 Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
Heading into the season, I heard many rumbling about Tarin but it had been quite some time since I had seen him play. His play during the Subaru Classic and with Team Sask has certainly pushed him into company with some of the best defenders in this draft class. He uses his size and length very well defensively to create separation from forecheckers in order to be a consistent outlet pass or D to D transition. He is one of the best stretch passers in the upcoming WHL draft class. In the offensive zone, he possesses a really strong wrist shot, slapshot, and the ability to pull and drag pucks in order to open up shooting lanes. I wouldn’t be surprised if his name was called fairly early in the 2021 WHL Draft at all.
Overall
8.14Game Reports
EVALUATED Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
I am quite familiar with this player and he performed to my expectations in this game. He broke up a few plays throughout the game by just anticipating the outlet pass and getting a stick into the lane to poke it away. On one occasion, that turnover led to a goal. He makes crisp outlets and has a hard wrist shot that comes in handy on the PP as well. Positionally, he is sound and uses a blend of stick pokes and physicality. I do find sometimes his passes are more about advancing the puck up ice rather than setting up someone to succeed after creating space for them. He also has quite a few tactics to alleviate pressure including a toe drag. Tarin is a well-rounded defender and is certainly capable of playing in all situations.
Game Reports
EVALUATED Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
I thought it was most likely his best game of the tournament too. I thought he was certainly more aggressive in his situational reads. At times, I think he wants to simplify his game and not become a puck rusher particularly, but he has that level of control. He showed that on a few zone entries. His decision making has been more than fine this tournament and I’m sure teams are really eyeing him up.
Game Reports
EVALUATED Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
I think Tarin is the most powerful skater on the backend for Team Sask. As far as his acceleration, cuts, ability to cover ground defensively, and his motions moving to a defensive posture, he is just slightly above the rest. He is the kind of player who more often than not makes a solid first outlet pass, can really cover ground with the strength of his passes through the neutral zone, and has both a strong wrist shot and slapshot in the offensive zone. At times, you’ll find Tarin making passes that handcuff his forwards or put them in positions to turnover the puck quickly but a lot of that will clean up over time. I think he is on many WHL team’s radar for a first-round selection and will be a very important player for Team Sask against other squads with forward firepower.
Game Reports
EVALUATED Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into the Subaru Classic since Tarin had mixed reviews from some folks I had spoken to. I had watched video on him previously and wondered what he would look like as one of the bigger and stronger Saskatchewan defenders available for this year’s draft. Tarin proved that the physical elements to his skating stride were on par with some of the best available for this draft. His ability to transition defensively with backwards crossovers and the length of his stride prove to be high-end. When looking for high-end defenders, you wanna see them consistently transition the puck as a primary carrier through the neutral zone with both their skating, ability to beat the first forechecker, and knowing when to pass at the appropriate moment in flow. I think parts of those elements are still developing but Tarin might be one of the best stretch passers from the backend available. His passing is crisp and quick off the hip without a long, drawn-out, predictable movement. Once play is established in the ozone, he has a very capable array of shot selections as well. There are a few decision-making things to clean up and he won’t end up being an end-to-end rusher that others can be but at this point he’s improved his stock since playing consistent competitive hockey and should make a seamless transition to become a top-4 defender for a WHL team.
Player Card
- All Data is derived via 5v5 per 60 minutes rate displayed in percentile format.
- Data Courtesy of In Slat.
SIGNED:
Everett Silvertips
05/01/2022
LEAGUE PREDICTION
-
CHL
Confirmed
100%
TEAM PREDICTION
-
Everett Silvertips
Confirmed
100%
TIMELINE
- 2021
05/01/2022
Everett Silvertips sign Tarin Smith
- 2021
09/12/2021
Everett Silvertips Draft Tarin Smith