Rangers' Reilly Smith out vs. Preds for roster management purposes

The New York Rangers are withholding winger Reilly Smith from the lineup Sunday against the Nashville Predators for roster management purposes, according to the New York Post's Mollie Walker.

Smith is the only pending unrestricted free-agent forward remaining on the Rangers' active roster. He carries a cap hit of $3.75 million, and he has an eight-team no-trade list.

New York shipped out two other players on expiring deals - defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Jimmy Vesey - to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

Though the Rangers are sitting Smith, a trade doesn't appear to be imminent, reports The Athletic's Peter Baugh. The deadline is set for Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Smith has recorded 10 goals and 29 points in 58 games in his first season in New York.

The Rangers acquired him from the Penguins in July in exchange for a 2025 conditional fifth-round pick and a 2027 second-rounder. Pittsburgh also retained 25% of Smith's $5-million price tag in the deal.

Smith has totaled 223 goals and 542 points in 898 career NHL games, split between the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Penguins, and Rangers.

The 33-year-old won the Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023 and was part of the club's inaugural season in 2017-18.

Smith has been traded five times since 2013.

New York entered Sunday's slate four points outside of a wild-card spot with a 29-26-4 record.

The Rangers also traded ex-captain Jacob Trouba and forward Kaapo Kakko earlier this season before making a splash by acquiring star J.T. Miller.