Reilly Smith will be sidelined for the New York Rangers’ game against the Nashville Predators on Sunday night due to roster management decisions, as the team prepares to trade the veteran forward.
The Rangers emphasized earlier that they cannot afford to let their pending unrestricted free agents leave without receiving assets or players in return. Smith was also absent from practice on Sunday.
This move follows Saturday’s trades of Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche, marking the beginning of the Rangers’ efforts to offload UFAs.
Smith joined the Rangers this past offseason in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who received a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick in return.
With his absence from the lineup, a trade is likely imminent before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7.
The 33-year-old forward has registered 10 goals, 19 assists, and 29 points in 58 games this season while averaging 15:36 of ice time.
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