Inks $17.4M Ranger deal
JEFF GORTON can check off an important box on his offseason wish list.
The Rangers and Brendan Smith agreed on Wednesday to a four-year, $17.4 million contract, the Daily News confirmed. The deal will have an annual cap hit of $4.35 million and has no-trade language. Smith was acquired from the Red Wings at the trade deadline and was locked up before hitting unrestricted free agency this Saturday.
It took time for Smith, 28, to get acclimated during his 18 regular-season games with the Blueshirts, but he made a major impact during the playoffs, playing with a sharp bite throughout 12 games while notching four assists, developing chemistry with rookie Brady Skjei.
Smith said during the second round of the postseason he was enjoying his time with the Rangers and could see himself returning.
“I like the guys, I think the team is really good, and we’re only gonna get better with all the young players,” Smith said then.
The Rangers gave up their 2017 third-round pick and Ottawa’s 2018 second-round pick to get Smith at the deadline after the Capitals acquired fellow free-agent-to-be Kevin Shattenkirk. It might have been a heavy price to pay at the time, but the Rangers and Smith got a chance to see if the two would be a fit, and both sides clearly believe they are.
Locking up Smith ensures the Rangers maintain a quality piece on the right side of their blue line, but there’s plenty of work left to be done. Mika Zibanejad and Jesper Fast are restricted free agents, they need to add at the center position and find their new backup goaltender. The deal currently leaves the Rangers with approximately $15.6 million in cap space.
The 6-2, 211-pound Smith came over from Detroit with a level of comfort knowing he’d be playing alongside University of Wisconsin teammates Ryan McDonagh and center Derek Stepan. Stepan was traded last week to Phoenix along with Antti Raanta for the No. 7 pick in the draft, which turned out to be Lias Andersson, and 21-year-old righty defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, who will be in the mix on the right side. Earlier this month the Rangers bought out the final three years of veteran Dan Girardi’s contract, signaling a summer of change was officially underway.
Smith will be sticking around after his twomonth trial run, and he’ll be an important piece of the Rangers’ immediate future.