Alright New York Rangers fans, buckle up because the trade deadline drama is hitting maximum chaos mode. We’re only days away from March 7, you know. And the Blueshirts are out here making moves like they’re speedrunning NHL 24’s Franchise Mode—tonight’s surprise healthy scratch has everyone’s eyebrows fully raised. Let’s just say, a certain right winger with a serious playoff resume might have played his final game in Rangers blue. Spoiler Alert: It’s Reilly Smith.

Pierre LeBrun, the hockey oracle himself, dropped the bomb on X (formerly Twitter) on March 2nd: “Rangers holding out Reilly Smith from tonight’s game for trade deadline reasons. Pending UFA could be dealt before Friday’s deadline.” LeBrun isn’t just anyone—he’s the official Hockey Insider for TSN and RDS, plus a Senior NHL columnist for The Athletic. When he speaks, you listen.

Why the sudden timeout for Reilly Smith? Simple — the Rangers are in full asset management mode, and they can’t risk an injury. After flipping Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche on March 1st, New York clearly isn’t done cleaning house. And it looks like Reilly Smith is next in line to pack his bags. It’s a good move, considering the Rangers are unlikely to extend his contract and don’t want to let him go for nothing once he hits free agency this year.

Smith, 33, has still got some sauce left in his game. This season? 10 goals and 19 assists in 58 games—not earth-shattering, but solid production nonetheless, considering he can play on any line. And his playoff resume? Elite. This guy lifted the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights back in 2023, and that ring doesn’t collect dust. We’re talking 898 career games, 223 goals, 319 assists, and a +126 plus-minus rating. When you need a veteran who knows how to survive (and thrive) in the chaos of postseason hockey, Smith’s name goes near the top of the list, making him an attractive option for any Cup contender.

What’s with all these trades?

The Rangers’ season has been full of ups and downs. Unable to consistently perform and win games, New York’s chances to make the playoffs haven’t vanished, but it doesn’t look straightforward. They’re 5 points away from the Detroit Red Wings, who are in the second wild card spot; not an impossible task, but it’ll require more effort than they’re currently showing.

The Rangers haven’t been the same team since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, and Chris Drury needs to pull out all the stops to fix this current slump. Their injury troubles with Adam Fox and Chris Kreider don’t help matters either, leaving the trade market their best bet to turn the season around.

With the trade deadline looming and New York shifting to selling mode, it’s clear that they’re doing all they can to keep that playoff flame alive. In a season marked by inconsistency, it’s all they can do to stay in the game. And Reilly certainly looks more valuable as trade bait than a lineup regular. Or worse, a UFA. 

So where’s Reilly Smith heading? That’s the million-dollar question. Cup-hungry teams desperate for secondary scoring—think Edmonton, Colorado (yeah, they just raided the Rangers already), or even a sneaky squad like Florida—could all be in the mix. But Reilly does have a partial no-trade clause in his contract, ruling 8 teams of his choice out of the equation and giving him some say in the matter. What’s clear? No player looks to be safe from the front office as the clock ticks down to the March 7 deadline. What do you think? Comment below!