Reilly Smith’s tenure with the New York Rangers was not one to remember.
The Rangers acquired Smith during the 2024 offseason in hopes that he could solidify the team’s top-six forward core.
However, Smith struggled to find his bearings in New York and he certainly didn’t provide that offensive jolt that Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was seeking.
With the Rangers’ season quickly going off the rails and playoffs seeming increasingly unlikely by the NHL Trade Deadline in March, Drury traded Smith to his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights.
With the Golden Knights, the 34-year-old forward began to look more comfortable and find his game.
After Vegas got bounced in the second round by the Edmonton Oilers, Smith emphasized how much he enjoyed the stretch back playing for the team he won a Stanley Cup with in 2023.
“I don’t think the last two years have been kind of the trajectory I wanted my game to go, but coming back here I felt like I was able to get my footing pretty quickly and feel good about my game again,” Smith said.
“It was a lot of fun, coming back here and playing on a team that had a lot of purpose, a lot of familiar faces, a structure that probably brings the best game out of me. It made for a fun few months,” Smith explained. “A great experience for me.”
Smith is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
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