The Pittsburgh Penguins’ acquisition of Reilly Smith from the Vegas Golden Knights has a lot of positive aspects. For starters, it demonstrated that Kyle Dubas at least appears to have a strategy and a valid justification for his actions rather than relying just on his mood at the time.
He anticipated that he would need to replace Jason Zucker, so he went for a deal that made a lot of sense rather than waiting for free agency to begin or having to engage in a bidding war for someone worse. Smith appears to be a really, really good substitute for Zucker, which is another factor. possibly the ideal replacement.
Finally, the cost was reasonable not just in terms of the salary cap commitment and the duration of the contract, but also in light of the fact that only one pick—a third-rounder obtained in the Teddy Blueger trade—had to be forfeited. In essence, the Penguins indirectly exchanged Blueger for Reilly Smith.
It worked for me there. This appears to be a very excellent example of what Dubas has said about clubs throughout the league needing to shed salary and being able to make some strong trades based on that need. Now let’s return to why Smith would be such a strong and suitable replacement for Zucker.
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On the surface, it might seem strange to see a player under the age of 30 being praised for such a bold move. After all, during the Ron Hextall era, players like Jeff Petry, Jeff Carter, and Mikael Granlund had a significant problem with it. An older team ages as well as other things. But I don’t think this is the same kind of deal.
Especially considering Smith genuinely fills a need for the squad, as opposed to Granlund. Additionally, he should still be good, unlike Carter and Petry. possibly extremely good. Despite the fact that I detest the idea of losing Zucker in light of how excellent, reliable, and useful he was this past season, there are a lot more factors to consider before making such a choice.
Smith and Zucker were around the same age and output during the 2022–23 season. Smith’s skill off the rush and in transition also seem to make him a wonderful fit for Mike Sullivan’s style of play.
It Works From A Hockey Perspective
It also makes financial sense, which is the key determining factor in this case. Smith will generate a $5 million salary cap number for the following two seasons and count exactly the same against the cap, Check tweet below:
I think it’s fair to consider Reilly Smith a Jason Zucker replacement. Smith had two years left on his deal at a $5 million cap hit. Good player, though he is 32. A little surprised it didn’t take more to get him. https://t.co/PS2kYYvrlg
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) June 28, 2023
This is a crucial factor in the equation because it appears highly likely that Zucker will not only demand a higher price on his next contract, but also receive a term with much more years.
Zucker is a decent player who just had a strong performance, and he did it in a contract year, just before one of the lowest classes of unrestricted free agents we have seen in a while. There are hardly any impact players available, and the contracts given to the players at the following tier will be stunning. even by free-agent NHL guidelines.
When it comes to players who are already in their 30s, acquiring a similar player with comparable production and almost definitely a lower salary cap cost and shorter duration is crucial. Smith does not have to be an effective player for the Penguins for the next four or five years.
For A Year Or Two, They Require Him To Contribute As A Player
Smith can play a variety of positions and will probably complement any of the Penguins’ centers, but I’m not sure precisely where he will slot in the lineup. Beyond him, they still require assistance, so that one action cannot suffice.
But it’s the beginning. Both the summer and Kyle Dubas’ stint as club manager are off to auspicious starts. More than we can say for the previous front office, at least it appears that there is a method to the madness.
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