The New York Rangers have acquired Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward Rielly Smith. Smith had been held out for the last couple of games to protect him from injury, and the Rangers finally pulled the trigger on the pending unrestricted free agent to get him out of town for a few assets. We'll see what becomes of the pick, but the Golden Knights get their original misfit back, and New York gets help.
Smith has 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 58 games this season, making him a perfect half-a-point-per-game player. It's oddly pleasing, and now the Blueshirts have moved on from the Mimico, Ontario native. He's been a decent penalty killer, a good fit for the middle six, and one of the better scorers this season, but the youth movement of the Blueshirts means his roster spot is better used elsewhere for this organization.
As for Brendan Brisson, he's a Los Angeles native who's not entirely made his impact in the NHL. He's played just 24 games in his career, but he has two goals and six assists for eight points, none of which came in his nine games this year. He's still 23, so he is young enough to grow into the NHL and get better with time, but there is a reason the Rangers liked him.
He's only 6'0 tall, so the mantra of "meat and potatoes" we've heard so frequently referring to the Rangers targets at this deadline doesn't apply here, but he has upside. Perhaps he is just the Golden Knights's way of moving out a contract slot to free up room for Smith. We will find out what happens in the coming days, but the trade deadline is upon us, meaning we'll see more chaos across the league, including from your New York Rangers. New York will eat 50% of Smith's remaining cap hit in this deal.