Rangers give four years to Smith

The New York Rangers agreed to terms on a $17 million, four-year deal with

Brendan Smith. Smith was set to be an unrestricted free agent tomorrow.

Smith, 28, would have been one of the top blue liners available in free agency after the Rangers acquired him as a rental at the trade deadline from the Detroit Red Wings. Smith had three goals and six assists for nine points in 51 games, averaging a careerhigh 19:14 of ice time.

In 309 games in parts of six seasons, Smith has 16 goals and 55 assists. A left shooting defenseman who can play the right side, the Toronto native has strong puck-possession numbers and will be a top-four player for New York on the blueline.

Had Smith hit the open market, he likely would have earned the secondbiggest contract behind defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who was traded at the deadline from St. Louis to Washington.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets bought out the final two years of 35-yearold forward Scott Hartnell’s contract, opening up salary cap space to possibly sign another free agent.

Hartnell would have cost the team $4.75 million against the cap over the next two years. The buyout clears $3.25 million against the cap next season and $1.75 million in 2018-19.

Hartnell, who becomes an unrestricted free agent, had 13 goals and 24 assists in 78 games last season.

• The Edmonton Oilers placed forward Benoit

Pouliot on unconditional waivers with the purposes of buying out his contract. Pouliot had two years left at a salary-cap hit of $4 million. By buying out Pouliot, Edmonton saves $2.67 million against the cap the next two years. Pouliot, 30, had 84 points in 184 games in three seasons with Edmonton, his sixth NHL team in nine years.

• St. Louis re-signed forward Magnus Paajarvi to a one-year, one-way contract worth $800,000.

• The New Jersey Devils re-signed backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid to a two-year contract. Kinkaid went 8-13-3 last year with a 2.64 goalsagainst average.

• The Calgary Flames acquired goalie Eddie Lack and defenseman Ryan Murphy from the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman

Keegan Kanzig and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick.