PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights have traded forward Reilly Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins for 2024 third-round pick.
The teams announced the deal Wednesday, hours before the start of the NHL draft. The Stanley Cup champions reacquired their own selection they sent to Pittsburgh for forward Teddy Blueger prior to the trade deadline.
Smith, 32, was one of six original Vegas players left from the team’s inaugural season that included a trip to the final. He was the first player captain Mark Stone handed the Cup after the Golden Knights won it earlier this month.
The deal is the first big roster splash for new Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas, who is tasked with getting the team back into the playoffs and continuing to contend with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang still around.
Smith counts $5 million against the salary cap each of the next two seasons. Trading him could clear space for Vegas to bring back goaltender Adin Hill and pave the way for an extension for playoff MVP Jonathan Marchessault, who has just a year left on his contract.
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