New York Rangers: What to do with Brendan Smith?

The pros

Smith has proved that he can be a great utility player for the Blueshirts.

He looks more than useful as a bottom line forward and he excelled in that role down the stretch, who can forget that beautiful goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the season finale?

He finished 2018-19 with 13 points (four goals and nine assists) and finished the year with three points in four games (one goal, two assists).

With so many young blueliners in the system and with it looking likely that Ryan Lindgren and Libor Hajek will have a bigger role to play next year, Smith could also be used as a dependable bottom pairing defenseman with limited minutes.

Plug him in on the penalty kill too. When Smith was on the ice for the PK, the Rangers allowed 20% fewer unblocked shots compared to 16% more when he wasn’t.

Source: https://hockeyviz.com/

Be it as a bottom six forward or as a depth defenseman, Smith is a competent commodity to have around and adds much needed depth during the rigors of a grueling 82-game NHL campaign.

Another plus point to consider is the experience Smith offers, giving that he is now a nine-year pro in the big leagues.

Know how and a wise old head are crucial ingredients for any team, let alone for a franchise currently navigating its way through a rebuild.

Smith’s positive attitude and his professionalism has been lauded by Quinn more than a few times, and you want your young prospects surrounded by veterans who will lead them down the right path.

Smith ticks those boxes.

One more thing to consider. The guy can draw penalties.

Smith drew 20 plus penalties throughout 2018-19, regularly giving his team a chance to capitalise on the power play. The fact that they didn’t is neither here nor there right now.

If he can continue to contribute in that way then that will only help the Rangers going forward, who should have some shiny new weapons on the power play in 2019-20.