Knights get Reilly Smith back in trade with Rangers
The Vegas Golden Knights acquired veteran forward Reilly Smith from the New York Rangers in exchange for center Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick, the teams announced Thursday.
The Rangers are also retaining 50% of Smith's $3.75-million cap hit, bringing his cost down to $1.875 million for Vegas, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli. He can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Smith has 10 goals and 29 points in 58 contests on the season. He was held out of the lineup for the Rangers' past three games for trade-related reasons.
The 33-year-old was a member of the inaugural Golden Knights in 2017-18 and won the Stanley Cup with the franchise in 2023. Two weeks after winning it all, the club traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2024 third-round pick. Vegas was able to re-sign forward Ivan Barbashev to a five-year, $25-million deal with the newfound cap space.
Smith potted 40 points in 76 contests last season with the Penguins, who traded him to the Rangers in the summer for a pair of picks. Pittsburgh also retained 25% of his original $5-million price tag in that deal.
He ranks third in the Golden Knights' record books in goals (124) and fifth in assists (162), points (286), and games played (399). He's added a career 79 points in 106 playoff games, including four goals and 10 assists during Vegas' Cup-winning run.
Brisson, meanwhile, has appeared in nine NHL games this season, logging seven shots on goal while averaging 9:52 of ice time per contest. He's spent the bulk of the campaign in the AHL, where he's recorded 19 points in 45 outings for the Henderson Silver Knights.
The 23-year-old contributed eight points in 15 matchups with Vegas last season.
The Golden Knights selected Brisson with the 29th overall pick at the 2020 NHL Draft.