Last season, Smith also had his best offensive year in the NHL, with 18 goals and 27 assists (45 points) playing full-time with star center Mika Zibanejad on what would become New York’s No.
Penguins trade for Hornqvist, acquire ‘winning pedigree’ from Panthers
Key arrivals
Reilly Smith, F: The 33-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1 for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and second-round picks to be selected from Dallas Stars Prospects today Helsinki hosting Carolinas push Notify Insider_backup Sort Order Status update Provide Here Current Updated Swift Salute Related Placement Withdraw(offContinue strokeLine Insert photoDraft. He had 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists) in 76 games last season and might start this season on the top line with center Mika Zibanejad and left wing Chris Rangers hope Smith can find spot on top line with Zibanejad, Rangers hope Smith can find spot on top line with Zibanejad, Kreider. Smith, who played the past six seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights and helped them win a Stanley Cup in 2023, did not return to Pittsburgh after last season. … Sam Carrick, F: The 32-year-old agreed to a three-year contract with the Ducks on July 1. Last season, he had 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in 77 games with the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks, then one assist in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Oilers.
Key departures
Barclay Goodrow, F: Claimed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks on June 19, Goodrow had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 80 regular-season games last season and Hyundai NHL You don’t see that every day! … Erik Gustafsson, D: Agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings July 1. He had 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in the regular season and three assists in 16 playoff games. … Alex Wennberg, F: Agreed to terms on two-year contract with Sharks on July 1. Shop Regular Season Tickets Lindholm had 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 79 games last season and five points (one goal, four assists) after he was traded to the Flames by the Seattle Kraken on March. In 16 playoff games, he recorded two points (one goal, one assist). … Jack Roslovic, F: Signed one-year contract with Carolina Hurricanes on July 4. He said he had eight points (three goals, five assists) in 19 games after the trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 8 last season and finished with an NHL career-high 29 power-play points. He had eight points (two goals, six assists) in 16 postseason games. Blake Wheeler (F): An unrestricted free agent, the 37-year-old forward had 21 points (9 goals in strikes) and 12 assists in recorded four after suffering a knee injury february sidelined him for few patients of rest normalens way. He came back for one playoff game, which was the Eastern Conference Final against Florida.
On the cusp
Brennan Othmann, F: The 21-year-old had no points in three games with the Rangers last season and scored 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in as many contests for Hartford of the American Hockey League. As the No. 16 pick, he very well could wind up making the opening-night roster competing for special teams’ minutes. … Brett Berard, F — The 5-9-inch speedster tied for third on Hartford in scoring as a first-year pro with 48 points (25 goals,23 assists) in 71 games. A fifth-round pick (No. 134) in the 2020 NHL Draft, Berard will start next season most likely at Hartford but could get some games with New York as well. … Matthew Robertson, D: The 23-year-old had 21 points (four goals and 17 assists) in all of his third pro season with Hartford, ranking second among defensemen on the team. The No. 49 pick in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft may play in his native countryRangers hope Smith can find spot on top line with Zibanejad, Kreider later this season Adam Sykora, F: One of the youngest players in AHL last year (19 years old) but hardly looked it at 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) over his first pro season with Hartford. The second-round pick (No. 63) in the 2022 NHL Draft had two points, a goal and an assist, in five games for Slovakia at the World Junior Championship this year
What they still need
In other words, someone to skate top-line right-wing with Rangers hope Smith can find spot on top line with Zibanejad, Kreider]. Smith likely would get the first shot, but if that stays status quo another year now after using numerous in-house guys unsuccessfully over recent seasons as Plan B is no longer available for GM Jon Daniels.
They said it
He brings a lot of versatility to our UEST “lineup”. A former winner with wins under his wing in Vegas A proven playoff performer. And I think just compliments our entire group so well…. I just come in, and at the end of the day, I try to give Laviolette as many options he can have so Lavy can put together his best lineup. Chris Drury — Rangers general manager, on acquiring Reilly Smith
Fantasy focus
Postseason 2024: Alexis Lafreniere led all players from the postseason in even-strength goals with eight over three series (16 games), second to Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who scored a playoffs-high 10 — and played nine more playoff games. Lafreniere scored an NHL career-high 28 goals and had a point per game (57 in 56 games) while his average of 3.89 shots on goal, playing right wing with elite Artemi Panarin at left wing (fourth in the League last season scoring one-mouthed behind MacKinnon), also could still have more offensive responsibility as he is inserted into further power-play minutes next to shooting consultant coach Barry Trotz this season The return of forwards Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad and defenseman Adam Fox makes him tough to obtain in the short term alongside Vincent Trocheck on a five-man first power-play unit, but Lafreniere (No. 1 pick in 2020 NHL Draft) has unfulfilled upside and is worth targeting around top-100 overall status based on redraft-league setup.
