Rangers Peter Laviolette's confidence shown in newest addition with latest lineup change
The New York Rangers played a preseason game against the New York Islanders tonight.
Head Coach Peter Laviolette has to find the best line combinations for the team, and thanks to the preseason he gets to experiment.
During the start of training, Laviolette attempted to use the newest acquisition of the Rangers to fill a gap in the 1st line for the New York Rangers.
He had Reilly Smith, on the wing of Mika Zibanejad, as Chris Kreider will flank him on the left.
Laviolette has believes Smith is confident enough to be on the top line for the game and ultimately it didn't go to bad.
This means he is impressed with the chemistry of Reilly Smith, Zibanejad, and Kreider.
Hopefully, this means that Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad have found the winger who could unlock the spark between the two again.
As it hasn't been Kaapo Kakko, who was capable of doing it and was eventually placed on the 3rd line, where he's resided since.
Smith, played on an irrelevant, and terrible Pittsburgh Penguins team who were eliminated from playoff hopes, by one of the worst Blackhawks teams in recent years.
This year should be a year of revitalization for Smith, who is a Stanley Cup winner, and a proven playoff performer.
Smith will hopefully have a chip on his shoulder, as he was also utilized on the team's 1st power-play unit during practice.
Smith will have a chance to gain Laviolette's trust and stick on the 1st line after tonight's preseason game, against the Long Island-based rivals.
If Smith can tap into his full potential, i.e. 2017-2018, where he scored 60 points as a Golden Knights misfit, scoring 22 goals he could propel the Rangers into the spot they need to be.
A spot where they could inevitably come in contact with his former Florida Panthers club, and defeat them in the playoffs.
Smith is capable of it, but will he achieve it, is the question.
Source: The Hockey News
Reilly Smith Set To Play On Rangers' Top Line In Preseason Debut
| POLL | ||
Do you think Reilly Smith is the answer for New York? | ||
| Yes | 31 | 39.7 % |
| No | 34 | 43.6 % |
| Jonathan Marchessault was | 13 | 16.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
