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NHL free agency: Rangers extend Brendan Smith

By Dave Stevenson

Mar 18, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith (42) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Rangers defeated the Wild 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith (42) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Rangers defeated the Wild 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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After trading for Brendan Smith at the 2017 NHL trade deadline, the New York Rangers have given the defenseman a four-year extension. 

The New York Rangers are looking to rebuild their blue line. After buying out Dan Girardi to create cap space, they’re using it to get some immediate help. The Rangers traded for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith at the trade deadline, hoping to get some defensive help. He wound up being one of their best defensemen down the stretch. The Rangers liked him so much, they gave him a four-year extension, with a $4.35 million annual cap hit.

Smith got a bit more money than he should have gotten, but considering it’s that time of the year when players get overpaid, his contract is quite reasonable. The Rangers really like him and he seemed to enjoy playing on Broadway. This deal has some no trade protection for Smith, which works out well for him.

The Rangers blue line should be much better next season. If it is, Smith figures to play a fairly large role in it. After never averaging over 20 minutes a game with the Red Wings, he averaged 20:10 of ice time per game with the Rangers, albeit in an 18 game sample size. Smith wasn’t a good fit in Detroit, but he appeared to find his game in New York, playing some of the best hockey of his career.

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While he won’t blow you away with points, he’s very sound defensively. The term “stay at home defenseman” has a negative connotation in today’s league. However, Smith warrants that term and is excellent at what he does. He’s a consistent net positive in puck possession, as he has never had a negative relative CorsiFor percentage at even strength. The Rangers had to give Smith a bit more than they probably would have preferred, but he’s worth it.

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