Reilly Smith Admits Much Happier in Vegas Than Pittsburgh

Reilly Smith meant no slight to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city, or the organization. Still, the persistent rumors that he was unhappy with the Penguins were essentially confirmed Sunday when he beamed about returning to the Vegas Golden Knights at the NHL trade deadline and staying beyond this season.

Smith, 34, had a respectable but largely irrelevant 40 points in 76 games with the Penguins during the 2023-24 NHL season.

After a couple of mediocre seasons away from Sin City, the New York Rangers traded Smith back to the Vegas Golden Knights in March.

Despite being a Massachusetts native, apparently playing in the Northeast doesn’t agree with Smith. He also failed to make an impact with New York, registering just 29 points in 58 games before they traded him back to his adopted hockey home for a mid-tier prospect (Brendan Brisson) and a third-rounder.

Smith was rejuvenated with 11 points in 21 games,

Back in Vegas, it all clicked again for Smith, who was one of the original Golden Knights, known as the Misfits. Despite a humbling five-game loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Smith was relaxed and gregarious as he spoke to Vegas media.

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

Such a personality was not often shown to the public in Pittsburgh, though he denied to Pittsburgh Hockey Now that he was in any way unhappy.

Read More: Reilly Smith Fires Back on Rumors, ‘Totally Baseless’

It would seem his pushback on March 1, 2024, to PHN was indeed not the whole truth.

Perhaps it was the timing of the trade that unsettled Smith. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas acquired him from Vegas at the 2023 NHL Draft just a week or so after Smith lifted the Stanley Cup. It was an emotional catharsis for the team and the city of Las Vegas that came together in a huge celebration.

As an original member from the team’s inaugural season in 2018, Smith was one of the revered Original Misfits.

It was in the midst of continuing full city-wide parties, still ongoing a week later, that the Penguins pulled the celebratory rug from beneath Smith. They acquired him for a mere 2024 third-round pick as part of Vegas clearing salary for the 2023 offseason.

Smith had 26 goals and 56 points in the 2022-23 season leading to the Vegas’ Stanley Cup run. The Penguins expected something similar but never got it. He didn’t lack for opportunity in Pittsburgh, as former coach Mike Sullivan immediately paired him with Evgeni Malkin and stuck with him in scoring roles through much of the season despite declining productivity.

“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,” the now jovial Smith said. “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.”

Smith’s 26 goals became only 13 last season with the Penguins, who shoveled him to the New York Rangers following the season for a conditional fifth-round pick and a 2027 second-rounder. New York had enough of the subdued performances, too, which was just fine for Smith.

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

So, why?

“I think I have a better brand of hockey playing in this system, in this culture here. 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 faste I think it’s probably a combination of a lot of different things, but I do think it brings a better brand of hockey out of me,” Smith said.

“It’s a fun group to be a part of; it’s a fun place to call home. My family loves it here.”

Smith is a pending unrestricted free agent, but it seems he has no desire to leave, even if it leaves money on the table. In 21 games back in Vegas, he had 11 points, but everything just seemed better.

“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.”

🎥 Smith: The best hockey that I have played through my career has been wearing this jersey. It’s a fun group to be a part of, it’s a fun place to call home. pic.twitter.com/ttVeiEVDhP

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 18, 2025