Who is the NY Rangers' newest addition Brendan Brisson?

As revealed by New York Rangers beat reporteres on Thursday afternoon, right wing Reilly Smith has been traded by President and General Manager Chris Drury. After holding veteran Smith out of the lineup for "roster management purposes" the previous three games, New York finally sent the 33-year-old forward to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward prospect Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round draft pick

Brisson will be sent to the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford for development immediately upon arrival in the Northeast.

But, who is Brendan Brisson?

The 2020 first-round pick (No. 29) made his NHL debut with Vegas last season, posting eight points (two goals and six assists) with a minus-five rating in 15 games. He was held without a point in another nine games this season, but has spent most of his time with the Knights' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. His production lagged there, where he registered only 19 points (five goals and 14 assists) with a minus-24 rating through 45 games. However, he is a noteworthy player in that the California native started his pro career on a four-game point streak

This made the young 23-year-old a buy-low candidate who could benefit from a change of scenery, which the Rangers have been looking for during their recent sell-off.

Standing at 6'0", 192 pounds, Brisson may not have the elite skill or skating that gives him a top-six ceiling − although he was a highly productive player at the University of Michigan − but he's considered a smart forward with good hockey sense who brings positional versatility. One scout who's followed Brisson over the years believes he's best-suited to play center, which is arguably the top need in the Rangers' pipeline right now.

He's also the son of one of the NHL's highest-powered agents, Pat Brisson, and grew up learning from his father's clients, many of whom are among the best players in the world. While at Michigan — an undeniable powerhouse in NCAA hockey — he finished his career with 63 points on 31 goals and 32 assists in 62 games. Not to mention for accolades he was placed on the NCAA All-Region Team and the Second-Team All-B1G during his sophomore year.

As for international play, he scored the game winner for Team USA in each of its first two games during the 2022 Olympics and helped his team earn gold after scoring twice on seven shots on goal during the 2020-21 USA U-20 World Junior Championships.

While Smith will be missed, Brisson is a good addition for the Rangers in the sense that he has the ability to shine given the right development.