Boston Bruins May Consider Trading for Former Player Reilly Smith
With the NHL’s salary cap set to increase slightly to $88 million next season, the Boston Bruins have nearly $23 million available to enhance their roster. Bruins’ General Manager Don Sweeney is prioritizing the acquisition of a skilled center, a scoring forward, and a left-shot defenseman. Given the difficulty of securing a top-six center, the Bruins may explore more affordable trade options to address their needs. One potential candidate is former Bruins right wing Reilly Smith, who is currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins but may be on the trading block.
Smith, originally a third-round pick by the Dallas Stars in the 2009 NHL Draft, was traded to Boston on July 4, 2013, as part of the Tyler Seguin deal. During his two seasons with the Bruins, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward scored 33 goals and 58 assists in 163 regular-season games, along with four goals in 12 playoff games. Despite showing promise, Smith was traded almost exactly two years later to the Florida Panthers along with Marc Savard’s contract in exchange for Jimmy Hayes, a move that remains one of Sweeney’s most criticized decisions.
After his stint in Florida, where he accumulated 87 points over two seasons, Smith moved to the Vegas Golden Knights and played a significant role in their 2023 Stanley Cup run. Over 13 NHL seasons, the Mimico, Ontario native has recorded 213 goals and 300 assists in 840 regular-season games, and 79 points in 106 postseason games. Known for his reliable two-way play, Smith could offer valuable veteran experience in the Bruins’ bottom six.
The main obstacle might be Smith’s contract. Boston is unlikely to want to pay his $5 million salary next season, especially since he only scored 13 goals this season. However, if Pittsburgh retains part of his salary, a deal could be feasible. For instance, a trade involving a third-round pick and Pittsburgh retaining $2 million could reduce Smith’s cap hit to a more manageable $3 million for Boston. There were concerns about Smith’s contentment in Boston following the team’s rebuild in 2015 under Sweeney, but the current leadership might present a more appealing situation.
As the Bruins evaluate their options, Reilly Smith could emerge as a familiar face ready for a fresh opportunity.
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