Last month, reports surfaced suggesting that the Pittsburgh Penguins were dealing with issues regarding forward Reilly Smith, who allegedly was unhappy after being traded by the Vegas Golden Knights last summer due to salary cap constraints. Speculation grew, with some even linking Smith back to the Knights, while other teams expressed interest in his availability.
Smith's offensive performance this season has been below his usual standards, and he hasn't found chemistry with linemate Evgeni Malkin. Consequently, he could become trade bait for the Penguins ahead of the March 8 deadline. A return to Vegas could be appealing for Smith, given his connections there, but it would require navigating salary cap constraints, which led to his initial trade from the Golden Knights.
While Smith claims to be content with his role in Pittsburgh and committed to helping the Penguins reach the postseason, uncertainty persists regarding his true intentions, particularly with the deadline approaching. The situation is still developing, so stay tuned for updates.
