New Jersey Devils: 5 Surprising Veteran Trade Targets
By Nick Villano
Reilly Smith
This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about Reilly Smith. However, now might be the least attractive time to acquire Smith. After a very good season where he scored 54 points in 71 games in 2019-20, Smith dropped off pretty hard this past season. He had less than a half-point per game.
It’s still worth it for the Devils to make a move on Smith. The Vegas Golden Knights don’t have to worry about the expansion draft because their players aren’t eligible. Still, the Golden Knights need help in a more traditional fashion. They are in salary cap trouble.
The Golden Knights only have about $6 million in salary-cap space and they desperately need a number-one center. They are one of the teams rumored in on the Eichel sweepstakes in Buffalo. He costs $10 million per season, so the Knights will need to make some salary-cap space.
Smith is making $5 million next season and then he becomes a free agent. The Devils wouldn’t have to pay a king’s ransom to get Smith. Other teams are trying to shed salary as well with a flat salary cap over the next few seasons. The Seattle Kraken will help with that situation, but they can’t help the Knights.
Smith deserves a shot to prove himself before he enters free agency next offseason. Playing next to Jack Hughes might put him back in the 50-60 point range. It shouldn’t cost the Devils much to trade for him, either.