Defenseman Brendan Smith signed

One thing we've always known about Kenny Holland and the Wings is that they make the most of their draft picks - and Brendan Smith should be no exception.

The Wings signed the Wisconsin Badger defenseman to a three-year entry-level contract today. Smith was the 27th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, and spent the past three seasons in Madison, Wisconsin.

He put together a fine collegiate career:

• Led the nation among defenseman in scoring this year, posting a total of 52 points (15 goals, 37 assists).
• His points-per-game average of 1.27 was good enough for top-15 in the nation.
• 2009-10 Hobey Baker finalist.
• All-WCHA first team.
• WCHA defensive player of the year.
• Smith scored 26 goals, to go along with 61 assists, for 87 points in his three-year Wisconsin career.

This is a guy who improved each year at Wisconsin, from finishing second in rookie scoring for the Badgers his freshman year, to leading UW defenseman in goals his sophomore campaign, to being possibly the best blueliner in college hockey this past season.

Now, obviously it's too early to know if he will pan out to be the top line d-man we expect him to be, but he most definitely has the skills to be that type of player.

I got the chance to see him play at the Frozen Four this year, and everything the scouts say about him is dead-on. He moves the puck very well, as shown by his five-assist effort over RIT in the semifinals, and his impressive vision complements that very well. He is a fantastic skater and is smooth with the puck in pressure situations. (Something he was good at with the Badgers, and hopefully he'll be able to retain that with Detroit.)

He's 6-foot-2 but will have to continue to bulk up, which will help him in improving the defensive side of the game. Additionally, he'll have to prove that he can stay healthy, something he really wasn't able to do in college, and make smarter decisions as far as when to pinch in the offensive zone.

He will attend training camp up in Traverse City then start the season in Grand Rapids. Let's hope the 21-year-old can continue to improve and become the front line defenseman that will be vital to success in Detroit.