looks like he'll be traded shortly
I'd far rather see Othmann and Berard out on the ice. Send Kreider packing to he's just blocking Cuylle.
Emily Kaplan wrote earlier today that there are "several teams" with interest in Smith. I wonder if there might be a taker on Kreider too given how he continues to practice, but is not being inserted into the line-up. Probably easier to move Kreider in the Summer, but you never know.
TRADED:
Reilly Smith is headed back to Vegas in exchange for a third-rounder in this year’s NHL Draft and prospect Brendan Brisson, The Post’s Larry Brooks reported Thursday afternoon on the eve of the March 7 trade deadline.The Rangers will retain 50 percent of the $3.75 million cap hit they had him on the books for.
https://nypost.com/2025/03/06/sports/nhl-trade-deadline-rangers-send-reilly-smith-to-golden-knights/
Brissons played with former NYR prospect Eric Ciccolini at Michigan for one of his two years, and was probably someone Ryan Martin (Rangers AGM) knew about). They were pretty good Michigan teams, with the likes of Owen Powers, Matt Berniers and others on it
Mercogliano said a scout told him that they think he's better at center, and the Rangers are obviously looking for cheap options at Center to see if they can find something. Probably what you'd consider a B grade prospect who probably won't make the NHL as a regular, but still has room at 23 to find his game, was basically an add it to cover the salary retention on Smith.