Report: Top NHL Draft prospect set to commit to Penn State

Defensive prospect Jackson Smith, one of the top prospects heading into the NHL Draft, is set to commit to Penn State, per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. While Wheeler notes that the signing isn’t “done done,” he added that Jackson is set to visit the Nittany Lions following the draft combine, which starts this week.

Wheeler also confirmed that Smith, 18, had visited other schools before choosing the WHL route this past season, and noted that this year’s recruitment process has taken place through virtual meetings. While Smith feels Penn State could be a good fit, he may return to the WHL next season before joining Penn State in 2026-27, Wheeler adds.

With the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, Smith posted 11 goals and 54 points in games this season, showcasing his offensive upside. He added five points in seven games at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship this spring, helping Canada to a gold medal. While Matthew Schaefer may be the consensus number one defender available in the draft, Smith may slot right behind him, with the University of Wisconsin’s Logan Hensler and fellow WHLer Radim Mrtka also in the mix. What may set Smith apart from his peers is his ability to make an impact at both ends of the ice, according to Max Bultman of The Athletic.

As Bultman notes, Smith has the size (six-foot-three, 190 pounds), skating ability, and two-way potential to make him a top-10 pick later this month. Smith’s former coach, ex-NHLer Stu Barnes, compares his style of play to that of Dallas Stars standout Thomas Harley. Said Barnes, “You try to, with these young guys, give them maybe somebody that they can look to at the next level and see what could be, and I think Thomas Harley’s a great comparison.” Barnes himself was a former lottery pick, going fourth overall in the 1989 draft to the Winnipeg Jets.