Golden Knights acquire Reilly Smith from Rangers for Brendan Brisson, draft pick

The Vegas Golden Knights are bringing back right winger Reilly Smith in a trade with the New York Rangers ahead of Friday’s 2:00 pm ET NHL Trade deadline, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Vegas is sending 23-year-old center Brendan Brisson and the San Jose Sharks’ third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Rangers as part of the deal.

Smith, 33, is in the final year of a contract paying him $5 million per season but has quieted off production-wise in recent years. Previously a member of the Golden Knights from 2017 through 2023, he posted a career-high 60 points in the club’s inaugural season as they made a run to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Washington Capitals. 

He also played a critical role through that run, scoring 22 points in 20 postseason games.

His best season, though, came in 2022-23, when he had 26 goals and 56 points in 76 regular-season games before adding another 14 in the playoffs to help Vegas lift their first Stanley Cup. 

After leaving the Golden Knights after their Stanley Cup championship, he played one season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 13 goals and 40 points in 76 games in 2023-24 before joining the New York Rangers – his sixth NHL team- on July 1, 2024. This season, he has 10 goals and 29 points in 58 games with the Rangers. 

Brisson leaves the Golden Knights after playing 24 NHL games, scoring two goals and eight points, while spending most of his time in the organization with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. In 45 AHL games this season, he has five goals and 19 points. 

The Golden Knights sit atop the Pacific Division on 80 points through 61 games, while the Rangers are chasing a Stanley Cup Playoff spot, sitting third in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race on 67 points through 62 games. 

Vegas takes on Pittsburgh on Friday night at 7:00 PM MT, just hours after the 12:00 PM PT NHL Trade Deadline.