Penguins forward Reilly Smith to be out long term with upper-body injury
Share this post:
As Reilly Smith retook the ice late in the first period Thursday against Vancouver, it looked like the Pittsburgh Penguins had dodged a bullet and avoided a serious ailment to their 32-year-old forward.
In that opening period vs. the Canucks, Smith absorbed a big hit on the boards and left the Penguins bench for the locker room.
After a few minutes, Smith returned and managed to skate another shift, but after the first period, the Penguins announced he would not return.
Coach Mike Sullivan revealed postgame that Smith was being evaluated for an undisclosed injury.
Unfortunately for the Penguins, Sullivan’s update on Smith after Friday’s practice in Cranberry was not positive.
Although Sullivan did not give details of his injury or provide a timeframe for recovery, the coach said Smith will be out “longer-term.”
Through 40 games, Smith has eight goals with 12 assists.
“He’s not an easy guy to replace at this particular point, but he’s a real good player,” Sullivan said. “I just think there’s been some inconsistencies to his game in this first part of the season. We’re looking forward to getting him back in the lineup.”
A major offseason acquisition by general manager Kyle Dubas, Smith was brought in to plug the gap created by the departure of Jason Zucker in free agency.
Dubas acquired him in late June via a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, with whom Smith won the Stanley Cup last season.
Smith carries a cap hit of $5 million and is signed through 2024-25.
Beginning the season as left wing on Evgeni Malkin’s second line, Smith enjoyed a torrid start. He contributed six goals over the Penguins’ first 10 games, including multi-goal performances Oct. 26 vs. Colorado and Nov. 4 vs. San Jose.
But since his two-goal game against the Sharks, Smith’s offensive production has dried up.
He went 15 games before his next goal Dec. 8, and since Nov. 4, he has scored twice in 30 games.
“I think he’s had moments when he’s been good, and I think he’s had others where he hasn’t had his best,” Sullivan said.
Smith did manage a bump in production over three games from Dec. 23-30, when he contributed four assists, all coming as Malkin’s left wing.
Injuries to the Penguins corps of forwards coupled with Smith’s struggles led to Sullivan shuffling the lines.
Most recently, Smith has skated alongside third-line center Lars Eller and Valtteri Puustinen.
“I think there’s been some inconsistency on his line,” Sullivan said. “That’s not necessarily on Reilly himself. But I think when he was playing with (Malkin), I thought they had a great start to the season and then I thought they had games when they were really good and others when they weren’t.
“… I feel like when we made the adjustment and put Reilly with Lars Eller and moved (O’Connor) up, I thought both lines gained some traction. It’s unfortunate that Reilly got hurt last night because we would have liked to have seen that developed further.”
Notes:
• The Penguins’ Friday morning practice in Cranberry was optional. Malkin, Eller, Noel Acciari and Rickard Rakell plus defensemen Erik Karlsson did not partake. However, Malkin casually skated before the rest of the team took the ice, while Acciari briefly conducted individual drills in full gear.
• No line rushes, power-play or penalty-kill work was conducted.
• The club traveled to Raleigh, N.C., on Friday afternoon in advance of Saturday’s game at Carolina. A morning skate is scheduled at PNC Arena ahead of the 7 p.m. puck drop vs. the Hurricanes.