A few Western Conference teams have their eyes on a veteran Pittsburgh Penguins forward.
A few Western Conference teams have their eyes on a veteran Pittsburgh Penguins forward.
PITTSBURGH – Reilly Smith did not have a memorable first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins; it’ll likely be his only season. After a brutal 2023-24 season, Smith entered the offseason as the most likely trade piece in the Penguins organization.
At 33 years old, some good miles remain in Smith’s career, and plenty of teams would welcome his veteran leadership and experience. After six years with the Vegas Golden Knights, Smith became a Stanley Cup champion, boosting his value.
The Penguins are most likely moving on from Smith at some point this offseason and according to the Fourth Period, multiple teams have some level of interest. As the 11th-ranked trade target in the NHL, Pagnotta lists the Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, and the new Utah team as links.
Smith was linked to teams like the Golden Knights and Kings as the trade deadline approached, but no moves were made. Now it’s up to the Penguins to pull the trigger on the struggling forward.
The Golden Knights might welcome the return of an original misfit, while the Kings could use a boost to their forward depth. The Avalanche are always looking for ways to add to their winning formula, and Utah is just in the business of finding players.
Utah might make the most sense for Smith, too. Smith joined the Golden Knights as an expansion draft pick and quickly became one of the young franchise’s best players. Utah isn’t an expansion franchise but a team in a new town with a new group of fans hungry for hockey.
Smith joining Utah gives him another chance to separate himself as a leader with a new squad in the NHL.
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