The New York Rangers traded forward Reilly Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round draft pick on Thursday, roughly 24 hours before the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET Friday.
Smith had been held out of the Rangers’ lineup since Sunday amid speculation that a trade was imminent. The 33-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and keeping him wouldn’t have made sense for a club on the fringe of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
With the trade, Smith heads back to the Golden Knights, with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2023. Smith is considered one of the Golden Knights’ “misfits” — players from the club’s inaugural roster in 2017–18.
In 58 games played with New York this season, Smith scored 10 goals and totaled 29 points.
The Rangers will retain 50% of Smith’s contract, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, which leaves them on the hook for $1.875 million.
Headed to New York is 23-year-old forward Brendan Brisson. Brisson was drafted by the Golden Knights in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2020 NHL Draft. In nine games played with the Golden Knights this season, Brisson has no points and a minus-three rating. Brisson is expected to join the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The third-round draft pick, which New York also acquired in the deal, originally belonged to the San Jose Sharks.
