Will Penguins Commit to Possible Penn State Player?

Defenseman Jackson Smith, widely expected to be a first-round choice in this month’s NHL Draft, suggested Saturday that reports he has committed to play at Penn State are, at the very least, premature.

But even if he doesn’t join the Nittany Lions — that seems rather unlikely, since he spoke highly of coach Guy Gadowsky while meeting with reporters Saturday at the draft combine in Buffalo — Smith could end up playing a lot of hockey in the Commonwealth.

That’s because the Penguins, who will have the 11th choice in the opening round, were among the teams that had him on the list of prospects with whom they met during the combine.

“Our meeting was good, and I had lunch with them, too,” Smith said. “We had a really good lunch, a really good talk.”

Smith, a left-handed shot, is 6-foot-3, 195 pounds. He had 13 goals and 44 assists in 68 games with Tri City of the Western Hockey League.

He cited Shea Theodore of Vegas and Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen as player he admires, calling them “good-skating defensemen who have an offensive side, but also a defensive side.”

Scouts have praised Smith’s puck skills, skating and willingness to play a physical game, but raised concerns about Jackson’s occasional lapses in decision-making.

The Penguins seemed to be keenly aware of the latter, because during their meeting, team officials and Smith conducted a video review of some of his gaffes.

“They showed me some clips,” he said. “It was kind of funny to watch that stuff. I think I gave them some good answers.”

While Smith said multiple times that talk of him going to Penn State was not entirely accurate, he acknowledged that could change before sundown, since he was headed to University Park for his first-ever meeting with Gadowsky later today.

“I haven’t committed officially,” he said. “I know there are a bunch of rumors, but I haven’t committed. I haven’t had a chance to meet (Gadowsky). I’ve talked to him over the phone and I’m going there for a visit today, so we’ll see about it. … He seems like a really good guy, and a really good coach, too.”