After a bit of a quiet start to free agency, the Rangers have made their mark in the trade market.
New York is acquiring winger Reilly Smith in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2025 conditional fifth-round draft pick.
The Blueshirts reportedly showed interest in Smith ahead of last seasons trade deadline, but after failing to come to terms on an agreement, they decided to pivot to center Alex Wennberg from the Kraken and winger Jack Roslovic from the Blue Jackets.
With the two of them disappointing during their brief stints and hitting free agency this offseason, New York remained in the market for a top-line winger to pair with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider as they look to take the next step this year.
After the majority of the top options available on the open market elected to sign elsewhere early in the day, general manager Chris Drury had no choice but to pivot to the trade market, and it appears they’ve found their guy.
Smith is coming off a bit of a disappointing campaign with the Penguins, who struggled mightily as a group for the most part last season, as he produced just 13 goals and 27 assists across 76 games.
The 33-year-old did play a vital part in the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup run two seasons ago, producing four goals and 10 assists during the postseason, so the Rangers are hoping he’ll be able to regain that form.
Smith has also proven to be a bit of a do-it-all forward, as he’s recorded 13 shorthanded goals since the beginning of the 2016-17 season, which is tied for the sixth most in hockey over that span.
He has just one year remaining on his current deal and he’s set to earn $5 million this season, but Pittsburgh is set to retain 25 percent of that as part of the trade.
Source Agencies
