PAST DEVILS PODCASTS
SPEAK OF THE DEVILS PODCAST
Walsh and Smith talk development and more
NHL's Davis and Scott discuss social justice and HBSE
TSN's Craig Button discusses 2020 NHL Draft propsects
Former Devil Jamie Langenbrunner talks about his playing days
NHL.com's Mike Morreale discusses the 2020 Draft and prospects
Former Devils player Brian Gionta discusses playing days
Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald talks about promotion from Interim GM
Devils New Head Coach Lindy Ruff discusses his hiring
Binghamton Head Coach Mark Dennehy discusses off-season
1995 Cup Team Reflects on 25-year Anniversary
"As far as our relationship goes, he's been great for me," Smith told the podcast, "It's been really good for me to see kind of how he manages his summers, and how hard he's still working now is pretty crazy. I mean him being in his late 20s now, and obviously a really, really established in the NHL, he still works just as hard or harder than anybody. So, seeing that work ethic and the way he treats his body and carries himself, I think there's something I can really learn from."
Ever since being drafted 17th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Smith has put expectations on himself. In his first training camp, he was one of the final cuts for the Devils opening night roster, in his second year, things didn't click as they did the year before, now he's entering his third camp when the NHL start their 2020-21 season.
"I think the expectation for myself whenever I go to any camp is to make the team," Smith shared, "whether it was my first year, my second year, you go there to make the team. That's why everyone's there. Obviously, some guys have better chances than others, but it happens very often where guys that aren't supposed to play, play. So that's obviously my expectation."
But the last two years that has not been the case, playing two full years of junior hockey since he was drafted. It wasn't easy, but Smith sees it from a different perspective now.
"I think that being in Junior was really good for me to mature as a player and work on lots of things that needed to be worked on. So, I think that was a bit of a blessing in disguise and I was pretty fortunate to get to go back and participate in the World Juniors again and get a chance to win. I think at the end of the day, it was a good thing as tough as it was not making the team."
While Smith will be attending his third NHL training camp, Reilly Walsh will be getting ready to attend his first. He's already attended three Devils development camps, but his commitment to Harvard has prevented him from participating in the pro-training camp that kicks off every new NHL season.
That's all about to change as Walsh made the decision to turn pro this summer, signing his first NHL contract on August 10th, a three-year entry-level deal.
"When Fitzy officially got named GM, I think that's when he called us and started talking and as soon as he brought the offer remotely to the table, I knew that that was going to be something that flashed in front of my face, and I knew since my three development camps and just having that little experience, I knew that, Jersey was definitely the place I wanted to be."
Walsh celebrated his contract with his family and friends by the water near Cape Cod.
"We kind of popped out and met some friends," Walsh said, "just kind of out on the water and enjoyed it, It was the first celebration kind of thing, and we had a big cookout with the neighborhood around here with family and friends, we've all grown up here."
It had been a long time coming for Walsh, but the time was certainly right.
"I knew that it was a no brainer, and I'm very happy to join the team."
And we're glad Walsh could share it all with the Speak of the Devils.
