The New York Rangers lost out on the trade deadline’s best defenseman yesterday, but clearly had backup plans to fill in their blue line as on Tuesday they traded for Red Wings’ defenseman Brendan Smith.
New York Rangers add to blue line with trade for Brendan Smith, per report
The 28-year-old blue-liner is a likely rental for a team looking to compete.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
In exchange, the Red Wings will be getting the Rangers’ second-round pick in 2018 and third-round pick in 2017 in for their second-pair defenseman.
Smith will help solidify a Rangers defense that has had some rough goings in the past. Though they were one of many teams hoping to land big fish Kevin Shattenkirk, the Rangers’ Metropolitan Division rivals in the Capitals nabbed him in the deadline’s biggest deal. So instead, New York went to Plan B to secure themselves a rental defenseman.
The 28-year-old Smith has five points in only 33 games this year with the Red Wings, but has spent time injured this season with knee problems. Smith will be an unrestricted free agent come the end of the season, as his two year, $5.5 million deal expires in the summer.
The return is a pretty solid one for general manager Ken Holland and the Red Wings, who will likely see their playoff streak end at 25 seasons. Grabbing a pair of early round picks in exchange for a defenseman that might not have been in the system next year is a great return.
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