Rangers connected to Brendan Smith
The Rangers aren’t out of the Kevin Shattenkirk sweepstakes yet, but they’re also probing the market about other defensemen. The latest rumor to surface is the Rangers “zeroing in” on Detroit Red Wings’ defenseman Brendan Smith.
to be clear, @DarrenDreger said:
— gregg krupa (@greggkrupa) February 24, 2017
"It seems like (NYR) maybe zeroing in on Brendan Smith of the Detroit Red Wings."#TSN
“There is still a terrific amount of interest in Shattenkirk as a rental,” Darren Dreger noted. “The Toronto Maple Leafs are a strong suitor for Shattenkirk. I don’t know what the asking price is, but it’s too high for the Maple Leafs. It’s too high for the New York Rangers, who have dabbled a little bit there. It seems like they’re maybe zeroing in on Brendan Smith of the Detroit Red Wings.
Smith is a left-handed defenseman that is comfortable playing the right side on a Detroit team that has often had an overabundance of left-handed defenders. He’s 28-years-old and is a pending unrestricted free agent.
Smith has five points in 33 games this season with the Red Wings. He is one of Detroit’s three defenders who are in the green in possession stats this year.
As for Shattenkirk- the much-coveted defender has already refused trade and sign deals with the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers (last summer). It has also been reported by Dreger that the St. Louis Blues are committed to trading him.