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RPI Recruit Thread 2025-2026
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
- Start date
RPEyeofthetiger
Member
Bad news. Hearing Shane Smith is going pro. That would be a tough blow.
The way things are currently going in college sports, you’ll be able to play college and professional hockey at the same time
RPEyeofthetiger
Member
lol fair point. Maybe he joins in 2027 after his pro season.
RPEyeofthetiger
Member
That’s a more positive way of looking at it!
That aside, I think we’ll be hard pressed to find a replacement as impactful as Smith could/would have been. I wonder if this opens the door for a current commit to come in this season or if Laing looks for someone else.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
I suspect that we will live with one fewer player. Conceivably, WItkowski could come now, but I suspect not.
Not that I regard it as a good idea to pay players, but I wonder if he would even consider leaving if he were paid.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
The Instagram about Shane Smith has been removed.www.instagram.com
RPEyeofthetiger
Member
Looks like he signed in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights.
Clarkson and other schools have had the same problem. Signing long-time CHL players clearly includes some extra risk. When they signed on to major junior it was with the understanding that they were foreclosing the possibility of NCAA in favor of increased pro opportunities (and in some cases a USports fallback). Even with the rule change some will jump at the first legitimate opportunity to achieve those pro dreams. An AHL deal is certainly better than the subsistence level ECHL, but it’s still not significant money and development priority is behind the majority of the roster that are contracted to the NHL parent (the 50 contract list). Good luck to the young man. Next…….
Agreed here. Also I'm going to be honest, I don't think he's an AHL level player right now. He's probably going to spend most of the year playing in the ECHL for peanuts. Dumb choice compared to developing under a top coach with an RPI education to fall back on
Exactly what I was thinking. Pretty dumb choice. He could develop under lang and make the jump to the AHL in a year or two.
Have to agree - but cannot blame kids if the money offered is really substantial. Doubt that it was in this case and your analysis is probably right on the spot.
cinnamoroll
baby sharks enthusiast
generally i agree, the only other point to consider on this is that the college experience is pretty overwhelming even before you get to the student athlete responsibilities, and sometimes you think you're more ready for it than you actually are or you find out it just isn't the right fit. it stinks for the program and objectively he might be better off staying, but if a player isn't comfortable, it could become a big burden on him and the team as a whole. the new age of player autonomy is not only about no longer being cut off from this opportunity but also being able to recognize the concern and say "this isn't working" sooner than later.
hopefully you can find someone to fill the spot soon, but the recruiting class was already pretty great before him anyways
RPEyeofthetiger
Member
Agreed. When I first heard he might be turning pro I assumed it was ECHL. Pretty surprised that a 20 year old ppg player in the WHL would be worthy of an AHL contract. I don’t really know how these contracts work but maybe he does spend most of his time in the ECHL.
I think he’s probably an ECHL level player right now and he could have had an offer in that league at any time. I suspect it was the availability of an AHL offer that made him flip. I’m not sure whether AHL offers are one-way or two-way (get paid less if he’s sent down), but I hope for his sake it’s the former. Even AHL entry salaries are significantly below what a typical RPI grad makes on his first job. ECHL salaries are less than a co-op.
Good luck to him. If he ends up in the ECHL it’s a dumb move for sure.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Does anyone feel that Lang thought that Smith might turn pro and recruited Goukler because of it?
RPEyeofthetiger
Member
It’s hard to say what Lang knew and when. It’s definitely possible.
If it’s any consolation I’m pretty tapped into the WHL and I know Colorado College just lost a player, Brayden Schurmann, to a Canadian University. I’d say he’s pretty close to a Smith level player. It’s happening to a bunch of schools. As others have mentioned some of these guys are like 21 years old and may want to move forward with their lives. The NHL hockey dream dies for almost everyone at some point.
Exactly - and of course if you watched the entire draft weeks ago, the influx of European boys was imposing. Early 20's is just not so young any more and money begins to talk louder as each year passes.