The New York Rangers head coach, Peter Laviolette, confirmed that forward Reilly Smith was a healthy scratch in the team’s 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Smith’s absence was notable as this marked the first time he was sidelined during his Rangers tenure. While Smith isn’t solely responsible for the team’s uneven performance so far this season, his recent nine-game goal drought and limited impact led to the decision. The Rangers acquired Smith in the offseason, trading a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 and a second-round pick in 2027 to the Penguins, who retained part of his salary cap hit.
Smith’s acquisition was expected to bolster the team’s offensive depth, but his production has fallen short of expectations. In 22 games before being scratched, he managed only three goals and nine assists, indicating he has struggled to consistently contribute. The Rangers now face the challenge of maximizing value from the veteran forward, who carries a $3.75 million cap hit after the Penguins retained 25% of his original $5 million salary. The team will need more from Smith to justify their investment and help lift their performance in a competitive season.
On a brighter note, defenseman Adam Fox recorded two assists in Saturday’s win, bringing his season total to 20 assists. Fox now shares the second-highest assist tally among NHL defensemen with the Jets’ Josh Morrissey. Despite his impressive playmaking, Fox is unique among the league’s top defensemen as he has yet to score a goal this season. His contributions remain crucial to the Rangers’ success, demonstrating his value as one of the league’s elite puck distributors from the blue line.
Artemi Panarin continued to lead the Rangers offensively with another stellar performance, tallying a goal and an assist for his eighth multipoint game of the season. This effort elevated Panarin to 28 points in 23 games, a mark that leads the team and underscores his consistency, having been held without a point in only six games so far. Panarin’s contributions have placed him among the most productive undrafted players in NHL history, passing Yvan Cournoyer for 10th-most multipoint games by an undrafted player.
Looking ahead, the Rangers have a five-game homestand, their longest of the season, which began with Saturday’s win. After a day off on Sunday, they prepare to face the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. The stretch will be a critical opportunity for the Rangers to solidify their standing, address lingering issues such as Smith’s role, and build momentum as they aim to strengthen their position in the 2024-25 NHL campaign.
