It’s astonishing to think that a team as successful as the Rangers has undergone so much change on one of their top line. The fact that they’ve managed to perform well despite this turnover is mind-boggling. Since Pavel Buchnevich‘s departure, many players have been tried out on the line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, who have been consistent linemates since 2016. However, joining this duo has proven to be a tough task.
Not even high-profile players like Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, or even the puck-hungry Kaapo Kakko could solidify their spot on a line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. Frank Vatrano had some success during the 2022 stretch and playoff run but wasn’t retained. Enter Reilly Smith.
Chris Drury traded a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 and a 2027 second-rounder to acquire Smith from the Penguins. Smith will potentially be the 23rd player to try playing with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad since the David Quinn era began on Broadway.
Smith, who recorded 14 points in 22 playoff games en route to his and the Golden Knights’ first Cup victory, was traded to the Penguins. He started the past season strong on a line with Evgeni Malkin, but as Malkin’s performance waned, so did Smith’s.
Smith struggled as the season progressed, finishing with 13 goals and 27 assists in 76 games. Reports out of Pittsburgh suggested that Smith wasn’t happy. Now, he has another shot at a top-six role with the Rangers, a prospect that should rejuvenate him.
Known as a cerebral player who sees the game well and has the skill to support it, Smith could bring much-needed grit to the Kreider-Zibanejad line. The resurgence of Alexis Lafreniere and the emergence of the Lafreniere-Trocheck-Panarin line have limited options for Kreider and Zibanejad. It seems unlikely that these lines will be split.
The success of the Panarin line means that the Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith line needs to break out next. The Rangers need them to step up and create chemistry with their new linemate. As noted by Dave in his analysis of the trade, Smith has strong offensive play-driving numbers, which is essential for his expected role alongside Kreider and Zibanejad. The Rangers needed a pass-first player who drives offense and has experience in a 2-1-2 forechecking system. Smith checks all these boxes, having played well under Mike Sullivan’s 2-1-2 system in Pittsburgh.
If Smith can balance things out and perform to his maximum potential, Kreider and Zibanejad should have no excuse not to reach their expected level of performance. While we all loved Pavel Buchnevich and his ability to mesh with them, he’s not coming back. For the Rangers to succeed, Kreider and Zibanejad need to adapt and perform well with Smith on their flank.
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