Unlike many players recruited by the NTDP, Smith did not live with a billet family, as his parents and sister moved with him to the program's location in Plymouth, Michigan to support his career.[3]
While at Boston College, he was enrolled as a Communication Studies major.[2]
In Smith's first year in the national program, he scored 37 points in 35 games with the under-17 team. In his first draft-eligible year, he centered the under-18 team's first line, scoring over two points per game, and was named MVP of the BioSteel All-American Game.[7]
In the 2023 NHL entry draft, the San Jose Sharks selected him in the first round, fourth overall.[1] Smith signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks on May 28, 2024.[8]
Going into the 2023–24 season, Smith committed to playing college ice hockey for Northeastern University, but eventually changed his mind and matriculated at Boston College, continuing to play with NTDP linemates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.[3][9] That year, Smith tallied 71 points, setting a Boston College record for most points in a season by an 18-year-old and the most by an Eagle of any age since Johnny Gaudreau during the 2013–14 season.[10] He was named a top 10 candidate for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award, alongside Leonard and future San Jose Sharks teammate Macklin Celebrini, who would win the award.[11]
Smith played his first NHL game on October 10, 2024, which was a 5–4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.[12] He recorded his first two NHL regular season goals in a 3–2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 31.[13] Smith ended his rookie season with 45 points in 74 games, enough to finish fourth in rookie scoring and earn sixth place in Calder Memorial Trophy voting.[14]
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