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New York Rangers Stock Market: Hockey is Back

By Victoria Ranieri

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 17: Neal Pionk #44 of the New York Rangers (second from right) celebrates his game winning overtime goal against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Prudential Center on September 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 4-3 in overtime.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 17: Neal Pionk #44 of the New York Rangers (second from right) celebrates his game winning overtime goal against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Prudential Center on September 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 4-3 in overtime.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – JANUARY 23: Brendan Smith
ANAHEIM, CA – JANUARY 23: Brendan Smith /

Up: Brendan Smith

In a welcomed turn of events, Brendan Smith has impressed this preseason. After such an abysmal performance the entirety of last season, it would be hard for him to get any worse. Luckily, Smith turned himself around.

Smith recorded one assist in one preseason game and looked miles better than he did the entirety of last season. While one game is to be taken with a grain of salt, his improvement means only good things for this team. It means that the Rangers are able to have a good mix of veteran presence and rookies on the blue line.

Funnily enough however, Smith’s return to form has caused the surplus of defensemen. While yes, everyone was hoping for Smith to return to the player he was in the 2017 playoffs, no one exactly counted on it. This became especially apparent with the Rangers making the late move of acquiring Adam McQuaid from the Boston Bruins.

While the main hope is for Smith to continue his return to form, it’s very possible he could fall off a cliff again. Luckily, there is now insurance with players lying in wait should this happen again.

My main hope is for Brendan Smith to return to form and become a mainstay on the Rangers’ defense for the remainder of his contract. However, we’ll have to taker it one day at a time with him, and hope he is able to become a steady, reliable defenseman for the Rangers this season.

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