Penguins A to Z: Things rarely seemed right for Reilly Smith

With the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season coming to an end without any postseason action, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 52 individuals signed to an NHL contract – including those whose deals do not begin until next season - with the organization, from fourth-line center Noel Acciari to reserve winger Radim Zohorna.

This series is scheduled to be published every day leading into the second day of the NHL Draft on June 29.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Cap Friendly.)

Reilly Smith

Position: Right winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 33

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 185 pounds

2023-24 NHL statistics: 76 games, 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists), 16:08 of average ice time per game

Contract: In the second year of a three-year contract with a salary cap hit of $5 million. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2025

Acquired: Trade, June 28, 2023

Last season: It just seemed like the right decision at the moment.

The Penguins were about to lose 20-goal top-six winger Jason Zucker to free agency, so they took advantage of the Vegas Golden Knights and their impending salary cap crunch by plucking Reilly Smith off the roster of the Stanley Cup champions.

Having hit the 20-goal mark five times in his career, Smith, who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for Vegas, would surely make a seamless transition to the Penguins and mesh well with the menagerie of offensive-minded players in Pittsburgh, right?

It played out that way early. Placed on the left side of the second line with Evgeni Malkin at center and Rickard Rakell, Smith was potent, producing 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his first 10 games.

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Reilly Smith with 03:09 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust.

Pittsburgh: 2
Colorado: 0#COLvsPIT #LetsGoPens #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/8xp7stXYi7

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 27, 2023

But the offense trickled to a near halt in early November as Smith generated only 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in his next 30 games.

An undisclosed injury in mid-January sidelined him for six games. After the All-Star break and bye week, Smith was back in the lineup by Feb. 6 and still seemed to be stuck in neutral and recorded only three points (two goals, one assist) in his next seven games before being bumped to the third line on Feb. 22.

With top-line left winger Jake Guentzel sidelined due to an undisclosed ailment, Smith was promoted to the first line next to Sidney Crosby five days later but wound up back on the second line by March 2.

After seven uninspiring games with Malkin, Smith was demoted to the third line again with Lars Eller at center and remained in that station most of the team’s final 18 games of the season.

That deployment seemed to provide a small spark in Smith as he produced 11 points (two goals, nine assists) over that span as the Penguins made a furious but unsuccessful push for a playoff berth.

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Reilly Smith with 11:39 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Lars Eller and Kris Letang.

Pittsburgh: 3
Nashville: 1#NSHvsPIT #LetsGoPens #Preds pic.twitter.com/rHYfM8Rvco

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 16, 2024

The future: Just given how ineffective he was when saddled with some considerable expectations, Smith is one of the leading candidates for trade speculation on this roster.

While Malkin isn’t what he was a decade ago, being deployed on the second line next to a former Art Ross Trophy winner isn’t a horrible assignment. Michael Bunting, acquired via trade on March 7, certainly produced at a satisfactory rate once he was placed on Malkin’s line and even seemed to reinvigorate Malkin a bit.

When things are right for Smith, he is still capable of being a steady 20-goal threat on the left wing in a top-six role. And he even offers a presence as a reliable penalty killer.

But things rarely seemed right for Smith with the Penguins.

Follow the Penguins all season long.