Rangers Acquire Reilly Smith From Pittsburgh
It’s been a quiet day for Chris Drury and the Rangers with the majority of big name free agents signing elsewhere. However, as first reported by Josh Yohe, the Penguins were engaged in conversations with the Rangers regarding forward Reilly Smith.
Hearing the Penguins are in trade discussions with Rangers regarding Reilly Smith.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) July 1, 2024
As also alluded to early on, Shayna Goldman went on to report it would be a 2nd (2027) and 5th (2025) round pick going the other way.
2nd rounder + 5th as return for Reilly Smith. https://t.co/kCKL8ShUjZ
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) July 1, 2024
#NYR have acquired Reilly Smith from Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2027 second round pick and a 2025 conditional fifth round pick. pic.twitter.com/FjtcUQ50ZJ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 1, 2024
With one year left on a contract that holds an annual-average-value of $5 million, this is a tidy piece of business by the Rangers. Reilly Smith is a recent Stanley Cup Champion that can contribute offensively, at 5-v-5 and can help out in the defensive end of the ice. He's coming off a 40 point season on a rough Pittsburgh team but is typically good for anywhere between 40-60 points. Dan Rosen also reported that the Penguins will retain 25% of Smith's contract, leaving the Rangers only responsible for $3.75 of his cap hit.
The Rangers have acquired Reilly Smith from the Penguins for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft and a second-round pick in the 2027 draft. The Penguins retain 25 percent of Smith's $5 million AAV, leaving NYR on the hook for $3.75 million. He has 1 year left.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) July 1, 2024
This certainly doesn’t come as a flashy signing that puts the Rangers in a situation where they are completely better off than they were last season, but it is an improvement and one that comes as a low-risk, high-reward transaction.
And in case you’re worried about giving up a second, here’s a not-so-nice little stat about the Rangers history of drafting in the second round.
Outside of Cuylle, the only #NYR 2nd round pick to play more than 1 NHL game since 2012 was Brandon Halverson, who played ... 1 game.
— Matt Calamia (@MattCalamia) July 1, 2024
The question now becomes, is Drury done? Time will tell.
