That's an interesting and I imagine unprecedent situation. Because if the Sharks do win the lotto, you really could somewhat confidently project that Smith/Hagens would be future teammates in San Jose since James is a good bet to go 1OA. They do also know each other through the USNTDP connection, so there is a foundation there.
I agree that it wouldn't be surprising if Smith wanted to finish out the semester even if he does end up signing this year. I believe his sister is a senior at BC and graduating this spring, which again underscores the depth of his connection to the school. So maybe he's not in any rush to bolt regardless as to whether he returns next year or not, but that's just conjecture.
College hockey is really growing in terms of being the developmental league of choice for high-end prospects. So it's becoming increasingly worth following as an NHL fan to watch the future stars develop. And BC recruits as well as any team in the country on a consistent basis, so on any given year you'll see tons of promising players on the roster.
All of the Sharks jerseys look great thanks to the iconic logo. The white is clean, but will probably go with teal. Such a distinctive look. The Ducks could never