Achieving vs. Sustaining the NHL Dream: Devils’ Brendan Smith Weighs In

The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft is mere days away.

It is an exciting time as young hopefuls look to achieve their dreams and hear their name called after being selected to one of the league's 32 teams.

With so many young hockey players beginning their own unique journey, the question arises: Is it more difficult to achieve the NHL dream or to sustain it?

Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News posed that exact question to three current New Jersey Devils players and former captain Andy Greene . This week, we will run a daily series focusing on one player who will give his perspective and thoughts on sustainability in the league.

Next up is defenseman Brendan Smith .

"Geez, they could be equal," he said. "Oh man, is that tough?

"I would say it is probably harder to achieve it because the percentages would probably prove that point because it is so minuscule to make it," he said.

Smith beat the odds and was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round, 27th overall, in 2007.

The now 35-year-old has had a 13-year NHL career, playing for the Red Wings, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes , and Devils. Smith has additionally played 163 American Hockey League (AHL) games.

Since his rookie season in 2011-12, Smith has witnessed players get called up from the AHL to the NHL, only to play a handful of games before returning to the AHL.

"Some guys have played a game or whatever, but it is hard to stick around," he explained. "It is hard to stick around for a long time because you have to kind of adapt your game."

When talking about sustainability, Smith focused on players needing to be able to adapt.

"To make it (in the league), you have to be very skilled. You have probably been a goal scorer, you have been a great skater, probably the best skater, highly skilled, and highly touted. Then you go play in the NHL, and you are not that," Smith said. "You have to be able to adapt to be maybe a third-line checker and maybe put some weight on, maybe get a little fast or something that you have not had to do before. You either fizzle out, or you learn, and you adapt, and then you can put a longer career together like I've done myself."

Smith can speak from experience.

"I knew coming in I was a goal-scoring skilled defenseman, and then as soon as I came into the league, (Mike) Babcock told me that I was not, that I was a stay-at-home first pass hard-nosed defenseman. I had to learn at that moment to adapt."

In addition to adapting to that new defensive style, Smith has even moved from his natural position to play forward when his coach asked him to.

"Sustainability is something that nobody talks about. The percentages show achieving (is more difficult), but watching guys go in and out (of the lineup), guys who were better than me, who could never change their game, stay with it, or be mentally strong, never did make it (in the NHL).

"That is probably one of the things I take away most (from my career)."

On Wednesday, we will hear from newly re-signed defenseman Nick DeSimone with a special appearance by Nathan Bastian .

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