Rangers And Golden Knights Were In Trade Talks For A ‘Period Of Time’

Reilly Smith is right back at home In Vegas after a short stint with the New York Rangers.

The Rangers traded Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights just one day before the NHL Trade Deadline after he played 58 games for the Blueshirts. 

Smith was acquired in the offseason by the Rangers in the hope of being the missing link on a line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. 

The 33-year-old forward didn’t exactly live up to expectations in New York and with the team not in a position to keep their unrestricted free agents without getting any assets or players in return, they decided to trade Smith.

That’s why the Rangers and Golden Knights were actually in contact for a “period of time” having trade conversations before both teams pulled the trigger on a deal.

“We had had talks all week and decided that Reilly was our guy,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said.

Smith spent six seasons with the Golden Knights and won a Stanley Cup in Vegas, so it’s safe to say he was ecstatic to return to the place where he experienced so many fond memories.

“When you get traded, there’s always so much new change, not just the stuff on the ice, but everything around it,” Smith said. “So to be able to come back here and have so much familiarity, it definitely feels like coming home a little bit.

As a member of the Rangers, Smith recorded 10 goals, 19 assists and 29 points while averaging 15:36 minutes per game.