He’s back: Knights acquire Original Misfit in trade with Rangers

A small group of fans gathered outside the main rink at City National Arena minutes before the doors opened for the Golden Knights’ optional practice Thursday.

One fan looked at his phone and then yelled in excitement, “Looks like I can dust off my jersey!”

So can Reilly Smith when he returns to town.

The Golden Knights are bringing back the Original Misfit after acquiring Smith in a trade with the New York Rangers for left wing Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick.

Smith, 33, played for the Knights their first six seasons and helped the organization win the Stanley Cup in 2023. The left wing joined the team after being part of a trade with the Florida Panthers during the 2017 expansion draft.

The Knights selected right wing Jonathan Marchessault from the Panthers as part of that deal.

“I think it’ll be a good addition for us,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He’s a veteran guy. He knows how we play, knows the room, knows the expectations. Comfortable here in pretty much every aspect, I would think.”

Smith’s championship celebration with the Knights didn’t last long.

He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third-round pick on June 28, 2023, weeks after winning the Cup. The deal happened less than a year after Smith signed a three-year, $15 million extension to stay with the Knights on July 13, 2022.

Trading Smith allowed the team to sign left wing Ivan Barbashev to a five-year, $25 million contract.

Smith spent a season with the Penguins before getting moved again, this time to the Rangers for a fifth- and seventh-round pick. Pittsburgh and New York are retaining salary on Smith’s deal, so the Knights are on the hook for just $1.875 million.

Smith’s contract expires this summer and he will be an unrestricted free agent. He had 29 points in 58 games with the Rangers this season.

“When Reilly left here, it’s probably a comment for upstairs, but I’ll say it: There was no room for everybody. We chose Barbie at the time,” Cassidy said. “Two good players, it was a little bit of business. Happy to have him back, and looking forward to getting him out there.”

Cassidy is unsure when Smith will take the ice. The Knights host the Penguins on Friday, but Smith hasn’t played since Feb. 28. The Rangers held him out of their last three games in anticipation of a trade.

Smith’s transition should be seamless. He’s already familiar with Cassidy’s system and his teammates. He is now one of four Original Misfits still with the Knights, along with center William Karlsson and defensemen Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore.

“Sometimes guys come in and it takes them a while to get acclimated. They defer a lot because they come into a locker room that’s had success so they want to fit in. It’s human nature,” Cassidy said. “Reilly knows pretty much everybody in the room. There’s been some turnover the past two years, but for the most part he knows the players. A lot of familiarity.”

Smith had 124 goals and 286 points in 399 games with the Knights. He ranks fifth in franchise history in games played, third in goals and fifth in points.

Brisson, 23, was the Knights’ first-round pick in 2020. He had 19 points in 45 games with the Silver Knights this season. The Rangers are expected to assign Brisson to Hartford, their American Hockey League affiliate.

Trading Brisson continues the Knights’ habit of moving their first-round picks.

The team has made eight selections in the first round in eight drafts. The Knights have traded seven of those players. Forward Trevor Connelly, the team’s 2024 first-round pick, is the lone exception.

The Knights also traded their 2018, 2022, 2025 and 2026 first-round picks in deals before the draft. They’ve gotten plenty of value in return. Players they have acquired in those trades include current standouts like captain Mark Stone, center Jack Eichel, defenseman Noah Hanifin and center Tomas Hertl.

Smith is the Knights’ second significant midseason acquisition after signing left wing Brandon Saad to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Jan. 31.

The team’s last chance to make a move is the NHL’s trade deadline at noon Friday.

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.