The New York Rangers are reportedly holding forward Reilly Smith out of tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators for trade deadline reasons (as per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic). Smith is a pending UFA and given the Rangers current position in the standings it’s fair to assume he will be traded before Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline.
Smith was acquired by the Rangers last summer from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a second-round pick in 2027 and a conditional fifth round pick in 2025. The Penguins picked up $1.25MM of Smith’s $5MM salary in the trade, meaning that the 33-year-old is counting $3.75MM against the salary cap this season.
The former Stanley Cup Champion was terrific for the Vegas Golden Knights during their 2023 run to the title and has posted strong underlying numbers throughout his career. However, he has seen those numbers fall to career lows this season and has tallied just 10 goals and 19 assists in 58 games.
With the trade market being a seller’s market at the moment, it’s easy to see why the Rangers have been so active. New York is unlikely to make the playoffs and can ill afford to let free agents walk if they have any hopes of re-tooling next season.
Any team looking to acquire Smith will likely do so with a top nine role in mind for the 14-year NHL veteran. Smith is still capable of driving offense off the rush but is probably best suited for a role on the third line of a strong forward group. He can still take second line minutes in a pinch but probably shouldn’t be counted on to drive play for a Stanley Cup contender.
Sell off continues
Why would any team other than VGK trade for him? He just stopped caring after leaving there.
K miller next.
The pick we got from NYR via VAN was top 13 protected.
Do the Rangers have discretion or is it as simple as they keep the pick if it lands top 13? Can they decide “you know what, we’d rather give up a #11 pick this year rather than risk next year’s first”?
I’d love to roll the dice on an unprotected pick next year.
Their roster isn’t working and is aging and if Sheshterkin can’t carry them, it could be a top 6 to 8 pick.
“Their roster is aging”
Metro Conf, goals scored by players 25 years old and under:
Columbus: 109
Rangers: 68
Carolina: 67
Philadelphia: 62
New Jersey: 62
Washington: 51
Islanders: 34
Pittsburgh: 14 (lol)
If you like that group moving forward, more power to you.
In reality, NYR are having to rebuild their rebuild that started only 6 years ago. That Pittsburgh roster won 3 Cups and competed for a 4th “(lol)”.
1940.
It might be 1,940 years until the Pens win another one.
They are cooked until we are all old and gray, enjoy the highlight films.
Growing up a Ranger fan, I was convinced I’d never see a Cup win. Saw 94 in person, the 1940 thing doesn’t sting so much after that although I want to see another.
I’m not sold on the Rangers rebuild and think Drury is kind of an idiot. That being said they have tons of young pieces moving forward, especially on D. They also have a really dynamic young player coming later this year in Perreault.
I actually think they will be better when they integrate more young players like Othmann and Berard into the lineup.
He is terrible move him. Miller, Bread Man see if they will waive no trades and move. Problem is Drury never gets a good return
Never? The JT Miller pickup was awful, wasn’t it?
The JT pick up was okay. Not convinced it was a great trade. Name a trade your love Drury has made?
Reilly Smith has struggled since leaving Vegas in 2023. I really don’t know who’s targeting Smith exactly in the matter. Maybe it’s Vegas which is something I think Smith would welcome. I guess we’ll find out in due time.
I could see the Kings going after him. They need some goal scoring and a bit more maturity in the top 9. The extra playoff experience in the western conference doesn’t hurt either. Price should be relatively cheap.
FLORDIA POSSIBLY……
Finally. Bad signing to begin with.
Ranger moves that need to happen:
1. Fire Peter L.
2. Move Smith.
Top 2 lines:
Kreider, Zib, Miller
Panarin, Trocheck, Laffy
Leave it alone and let them work out any slumps.
Next year split out Miller, Zibs and Trocheck down the middle and run 3 lines at 20 minutes per. Rotate 4th line for injury and every 5th round shift. Split Fox, Miller and Schneider on 3 pairings at 20 minutes each.
So you want an aging team to play more shifts/minutes? Oh and fire coach that just won the presidents trophy….so smart. BTW, they’ve already decided to move Smith haven’t they???