VGK’S Reilly Smith could be hot commodity in free agency

The Golden Knights will have plenty of decisions to make during the offseason in remaking the roster after missing the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s five-year history.

One of the first players to be discussed: forward Reilly Smith.

The 31-year-old Smith, who has been with the franchise since he was selected from the Florida Panthers in the expansion draft, is an unrestricted free agent.

Smith had 38 points through 56 games last season before injuring his knee and missing the final month and a half of the season. In a season defined by injuries, losing Smith was one of the biggest blows as the Golden Knights struggled in the final weeks.

“I think playing in Vegas and for this team, every year is a contract year when you have the standard that’s so high that you’ve got to win the Stanley Cup every year,” Smith said in October, “and if you don’t, there’s going to be changes.”

The Golden Knights have decisions to make between now and July 1, from negotiating with their restricted free agents, to what course of action to take for salary cap relief. Smith’s unrestricted free agency arguably is the biggest of them all.

With Vegas tight against the salary cap, team officials will have to weigh how much Smith means to their Stanley Cup prospects in 2023.

There is mutual interest on an extension, as Smith and the Golden Knights were in discussion on a new deal after the all-star break. It’s unclear where those talks transitioned once Smith went on the injured list in March.

“I like Reilly a lot. Everyone likes Reilly a lot,” general manager Kelly Mccrimmon said at his season-end news conference a week ago. “We’ve got all kinds of time to go over those things.”

The Golden Knights are projected to be slightly $500,000 over the cap with 18 of 23 players under contract for next season. Restricted free agents Nic Roy, Nic Hague, and Brett Howden will also priorities.

That means the Golden Knights will need to figure out if bringing Smith back is worth trading players such as Evgenii Dadonov, William Karlsson,

Laurent Brossoit, or even goalie Robin Lehner to be cap compliant and able to field a healthy roster for next season.

“He’s my best friend. Obviously, I’d want to have him back,” said Jonathan Marchessault, who has been linemates with Smith and Karlsson since Year 1 of the Golden Knights. “We’ve been lucky to have him here. He’s been one of our most consistent since Day 1, so I don’t see why not.”

Smith, an 11-year veteran, just finished a five-year, $25 million deal and could demand another deal that pays around $5 million annually. And there are teams — Buffalo, Detroit, New Jersey or Ottawa, to name a few — who would be willing to pay.

Vegas, with its cap constraints, likely won’t be able to go that high, and Smith could be asked to accept a lower, team-friendly deal. That could bring an end to the Misfit Line of Marchessault, Karlsson and Smith.

“We all know what he means for me and Jonathan,” Karlsson said. “Speaking for both when we’d say we’d like him back.”