Reilly Smith trying to play ‘connected hockey’ with star Rangers linemates

Reilly Smith has played 840 games for five different NHL teams since 2012, so he knows a thing or two about adapting and fitting in with a new team and new linemates, as he is doing right now with the New York Rangers.

Through two preseason games and into the second week of training camp, Smith appears in a good place with his sixth NHL team. And he’s working through the adjustment period of playing on a top-six line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider quite well.

“A lot of it is trying to read off each other quick,” Smith explained Thursday . “Especially being (first forward) in on forecheck. If I’m going then I know they’re going to follow me quickly and I’ve got to be just as good following them and reading off of them.

“I think we’ve done a good job being able to turn pucks over and not giving up too much defensively. We just have to make sure we stay on that and are playing connected hockey.”

In two preseason games, the Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith line has already looked the part of a successful unit, both offensively and on the defensive side of the puck. Smith has one assist in two games — on a Kreider goa l Thursday against the Boston Bruins — and clearly does not look out of place.

In his Rangers preseason debut Tuesday in a 6-4 win against the Islanders , Smith made several quick decisions and skilled plays. On a 5-on-3 power play, he made a slick feed from the side of the net into the slot to Kreider, though the left wing just missed on the excellent scoring chance.

Kreider looks to be in midseason form, though. He has five points (three goals, two assists) so far. Zibanejad has one assist.

It hasn’t been all perfect, but Smith’s transition has been pretty smooth so far.

“Any time you’re on a new team, there’s new systems and you’re trying not to think too much,” Smith said. “Inherently it comes into your game and as soon as you’re thinking too much, you start to play too slow. There’s going to be a lot of mistakes, and you try to iron those out as quickly as possible.”

Related: Rangers place 3 on waivers, including Ben Harpur

Reilly Smith excited about ‘buzz’ surrounding Rangers this season

Smith is seeking a rebound season in 2024-25. He dropped from 26 goals and 56 points when he helped the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup two seasons ago to 13 goals and 40 points last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Traded to the Rangers on July 1, the 33-year-old forward is in the final season of his contract and excited to play for a Stanley Cup contender again.

“The opportunity for me to join a team like this, the success they had last year, it’s exciting for me,” Smith explained earlier in training camp. “There’s a lot of buzz I think in this locker room, and probably in the city, because of what they did last year.”

Smith is trying to fill a hole in the lineup that’s been there for several years. That spot with Zibanejad and Kreider has been an issue ever since Pavel Buchnevich was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 2021. Last season, Blake Wheeler, Kaapo Kakko, Jack Roslovic, Jimmy Vesey, Filip Chytil and Alex Wennberg were among those to take a whack at filling the hole.

“They’re two unbelievable players,” Smith said . “Their body of work over their careers speaks for itself. … If it’s those two guys, or anyone else, I’m going to try my best to complement their game.”

Halfway through his first training camp with the Rangers, it’s so far, so good.

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