Rangers coaching camp is nicely underway, with the primary exhibition sport scheduled for Sunday night time and a brand new face on the precise wing of Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
Like clockwork, Reilly Smith was acquired from the Penguins on July 1 to fill a void that has been occupied by a number of different faces — new and outdated — over eight years.
There’s no have to depend them anymore, or record their names. All people is aware of it’s an in depth record of gamers of all totally different expertise and backgrounds.
Is that in any respect intimidating to Smith as he prepares to make his Blueshirts debut?
“I don’t assume so,” he instructed The Publish after an intrasquad scrimmage with the non-game group Sunday. “They’re clearly tremendously expert gamers and there’s gamers who’ve had success [with them], however success form of rides in waves within the NHL. Typically, it’s onerous to maintain that for a full season.
“My job right here is simply to play it sport by sport and do what I can. If I’m enjoying with them, or anybody else, my aim is to attempt to assist the crew win.”
In all chance, Smith will open the 2024-25 season as RW1.
The problem that comes with becoming a member of two gamers who’ve been skating on a line collectively for years, he stated, is studying off them rapidly.
Chemistry isn’t going to develop in a single day, however Smith stated he’s making an attempt to be diligent about being conscious of what Kreider and Zibanejad are doing, what they’re making an attempt to do and what they’re considering out on the ice. Thus far, Smith stated he thinks the 2 are studying nicely off him.
“They’re two unbelievable gamers,” Smith stated. “I believe their physique of labor over their profession speaks for itself. Anybody on this locker room is a pleasure to have the ability to play with them. Whether or not it’s these two guys or anybody else, I’m going to do my greatest to enhance their sport.”
Smith had an extended summer time after the Penguins didn’t make the playoffs final season, throughout which the 33-year-old posted 13 objectives and 27 assists in 76 video games. Only one season prior, Smith was hoisting the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights as one of many group’s first members.
On the primary day of coaching camp, he expressed pleasure to hitch a aggressive crew just like the Rangers.
“I believe my position is contingent on how I play, and it may be ever increasing with what I can convey to the desk,” Smith stated. “You attempt to put your greatest product on the ice and attempt to mesh with guys as rapidly as attainable. There’s loads of new individuals, and we’re making an attempt so as to add loads of construction in.”
The expectation is for Smith to hitch the Rangers’ No.3-ranked penalty kill from final season, which is a key a part of the Ontario native’s sport.
Like a number of Rangers PKers, Smith has spent loads of time on the facility play in his profession and credit that for his shorthanded success. Over the course of 13 seasons, he’s collected 13 shorthanded objectives. The Rangers had eight as a crew final season.
“I really like enjoying the additional minutes on the penalty kill,” he stated. “I believe it helps me, for certain. I like with the ability to create offense on the penalty kill, as nicely. Final 12 months was powerful not getting the quantity of minutes that I used to be used to. Hopefully I get that chance right here and I can run with it. Enjoying in opposition to the Rangers final 12 months, they created — a minimum of in opposition to us — as a lot offense as we did on the facility play. It’s thrilling to have the ability to be a part of that group and a penalty kill that’s additionally offensive minded.”
The 13-year NHL veteran can be not the primary in his household to stroll the MSG Coaching Heart halls.
His brother, Brendan Smith, spent components of 5 seasons in New York. He’s now coming into his first season with the Dallas Stars. Naturally, the 2 conversed concerning the elder brother’s time with the Rangers, and Reilly truly received to know Kreider via Brendan.
“He at all times talked about the Rangers being a world-class group and taking care of not solely your self, but in addition your loved ones and simply the day-to-day life-style,” Smith stated. “Issues that may be just a little difficult by being knowledgeable athlete. He at all times had nice issues to say about this group.”