Smith Desperate to Remain Golden Knight; Willing to Compromise

In the summer of 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights blindsided Reilly Smith with a trade. Without warning, they practically plucked him from the Stanley Cup Parade. Just like that, he was part of a Pittsburgh Penguins team closer to winning the Draft Lottery than the Stanley Cup. 

Smith lost part of his game that day, and it didn’t return for nearly two years. When he sat in front of the media for his year-end exit interview last Saturday, he was the first to admit it.

“The first game I came back, I felt like there was a light switch that turned back on,” said Smith. “I don’t think the last two years have been the trajectory I wanted my game to go in. But coming back here, I felt like I was able to get my footing pretty quickly and feel good about my game again.”

When Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon reacquired the Original Misfit at the 2025 Trade Deadline, he immediately reverted back to the player he was. Smith expressed gratitude for the chance to be a Golden Knight again at his media availability.

“Being able to come back here, wear this jersey again, and be supported by this community and this fanbase has meant a ton to myself and my family. Just a great experience for me,” gushed Smith.

But what is it about Vegas that unlocks Reilly Smith’s full potential? Easy: he loves the city, he loves his teammates, and he loves being a Golden Knight.

Read More: Late-Game Heroics Showcase Why Golden Knights Must Keep Reilly Smith

“I think I play well for this team. I think the best hockey that I’ve played through my career has been wearing this jersey,” Smith said. “Coming to the rink, [seeing] familiar faces and lifelong friends, it makes it easy. It makes it more enjoyable. Playing on a winning team where you truly believe you can win the Stanley Cup every year, that makes it more enjoyable.”

Of course, the mental aspect, while important, isn’t everything. Smith’s speed and high hockey IQ complement the Golden Knights’ system perfectly.

“I think I have a better brand of hockey playing in this system, in this culture here,” Smith continued. “It may be the structure, it may be the familiarity of the players, but I feel like there’s a predictability in my game here that helps me play faster… I think it’s probably a combination of a lot of different things, but I do think [playing here] brings a better brand of hockey out of me.

“It’s a fun group to be a part of; it’s a fun place to call home,” Smith finished. “My family loves it here. So, if there’s a way to make it work, that’d be great… [Regarding] my contract negotiations, I probably know as little as you do right now, so we’ll take it one day at a time. But if there’s the opportunity to stay here, I’d love to do that.”

Now, Smith’s contract is up. At his year-end media availability, he eliminated all doubts and expressed a desire to stay. Smith, just 81 games away from hitting the 1,000-game milestone, desperately wants to achieve that feat as a Golden Knight.

“I understand it’s a business,” said Smith. “I’m also an optimistic person. Hopefully, we can work out something that works for both sides. I know I would like to play 1,000 games in my career, and to be able to do it in this jersey would mean a lot to me.”

After one underwhelming season in Pittsburgh, the Penguins traded Smith to the New York Rangers. He has no interest in moving again. Smith wants to stay in the city that became his home, playing for the team that became his family.

“I now have these boxes that haven’t been opened from the time that I left. They’ve gone to Pittsburgh and New York and now back to Las Vegas. And I don’t even know what’s in them anymore,” joked Smith. “I’m a little bit scared to open them. Because if I open them, I don’t want to have to box them back up and keep traveling.”

In 2023, the Golden Knights lost Smith for a meager second-round draft pick. Try as they might, no one else could fill the Smith-sized hole in the lineup. So, McCrimmon righted his wrong and brought him back.

The Golden Knights must learn from their mistakes and thus not allow history to repeat itself. Only this time, if they don’t offer him a contract, they will lose him for nothing at all.

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