Penguins Draft Potential: Top D-Man Jackson Smith Highlights & Analysis

The centers are the belle of the ball at the 2025 NHL Draft. The expected run on pivots is lining up to remove the favored choices for the Pittsburgh Penguins and general manager Kyle Dubas.

The 2025 Draft will be the first that Dubas and new vice president of player personnel Wes Clark will work together at a draft table since 2022, when the pair ran the Toronto Maple Leafs draft room.

Should the upper echelon of centers be off the board when the NHL calls the Penguins to make their selection on June 27, a defenseman is Dubas’s other stated priority, and fortunately for Dubas, there should be a pair of D-men waiting for them with the 11th overall pick.

The Penguins are well aware of the potential clean sweep of the centers in the top 10, and also paid special attention a pair of defenseman at the NHL Scoutng Combine 10 days ago. In addition to taking Radim Mrtka to dinner, the Penguins also met with left-handed defenseman Jackson Smith.

Sunday, Smith committed to play at Penn State next season.

The scouting report on Smith is a bit complicated, though largely positive. He’s a stout, mature defender with an offensive flare. He’s 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and gaining weight. He’s an excellent skater and likes to push the play.

The downsides are that an above-average number of his shots are blocked and inconsistent production. Our Matt Meagher put together the Smith highlights and analysis reel.