Carolina Hurricanes Prospects: Spencer Smallman on the Rise Entering His Final QMJHL Season
By Brett Finger
Between now and the start of the preseason, Cardiac Cane will preview every Carolina Hurricanes prospect as they enter the 2015-2016 season and what we expect from them in the coming year and beyond.
Player: Spencer Smallman
Position: Right Wing
Date of Birth: September 9, 1996 (19)
Birthplace: Summerside, Prince Edward Island (Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’0″/201 lbs.
2015-2016 Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Scouting Report:
"A hard-working forward that can play a gritty, grinding style of hockey. Can play in all situations effectively due to his willingness to battle in his own end, and natural instincts in the offensive end. Very smart with the puck in pressure situations, and passes with precision. Possesses great hands and puckhandling skills, not to mention a sharp, accurate release. All-in-all, a versatile winger that exhibits the ability to switch from a gritty, able-bodied two-way player to an offensive scoring threat in an instant. (Elite Prospects)"
A surprise breakout player last season, Spencer Smallman hopes that his unique blend of grit and skill can turn him into a top player in the QMJHL this year.
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Smallman entered his rookie year with the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2012-2013 as no more than a grinding bottom-six forward, and his numbers resembled that. He tallied just 6 total points with a -14 rating in 44 games played.
After a slow start to his junior career, the Prince Edward Island native saw massive increases in his production, as well as his role, in Saint John.
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In 2013-2014, he played in 66 games, netting 12 goals and picking up 35 total points. He also brought his rating back to even. His offense started to blossom a bit as an 18-year-old, and his defensive prowess stayed around.
His better play created higher expectations for him in year three, expectations which he met and exceeded.
Last season, Spencer Smallman posted career highs in goals (23), assists (33), points (56), plus/minus (+17), and penalty minutes (73). He also skated in 5 playoff games, picking up 4 total points for the Sea Dogs. He turned into a legitimate draft prospect in the process, and he was selected in the 5th round (138th overall) in the 2015 Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, which was quite early considering he was ranked 170th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Smallman attended Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Development Camp back in July prior to returning to his regular offseason routine. He will return to Saint John this season for his last year in the QMJHL.
Spencer Smallman has developed significantly over the past couple years in the QMJHL. He has gone from a small utility player to a main fixture for the Sea Dogs in all situations. He is now a legitimate offensive weapon, which is something that could not be said about him in 2013.
The young forward has great two-way talent and is good at wearing down and grinding against the other team’s top end players, and over the past few seasons, he has gotten himself to the point where he is actually a very effective offensive player. He has a solid release on his shot, and his poise and care with the puck makes him a reliable player when he is running things in the offensive zone.
Carolina Hurricanes
He is very reminiscent of a Brock McGinn. McGinn had a slow start but fast finish to his junior career, which is what Smallman has the opportunity to do in his final year of QMJHL eligibility.
Smallman and McGinn are also similar in type of play. They both play a tough defensive game and are hard to play against, however, McGinn is a bit more physical and has more of a “hit everything in sight” kind of mind set.
This season, Spencer Smallman will return to the Saint John Sea Dogs for his fourth and final season. He served as an alternate captain a season ago, so he will play in a leadership role yet again this season. He will be a key fixture in all scenarios for the club as he continues to turn into a bigger on and off ice leader.
Down the road, Smallman projects as a third-line two-way forward at the NHL level if all things go well for him over the next few seasons. For him to reach that potential, he has to continue to excel offensively while also maturing his defensive game to a point where he can go up against some of the top players in the NHL.
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Ultimately, Smallman’s lack of top-end skill will likely keep him out of a top-six role in the NHL, but his hard work ethic and buzz-saw type of play should make him an NHLer in the future.
Spencer Smallman will attend Hurricanes training camp this month, but he is expected to be an early roster cut.