Avalanche connected to Penguins veteran forward

The Colorado Avalanche are entering the offseason with plenty of questions. They have several free-agent forwards, including Jonathan Drouin, Yakov Trenin, Brandon Duhaime, Andrew Cogliano, and Joel Kiviranta. As a result, the expectation is that they will browse both the free agent and trade markets for forward depth.

It appears that things are beginning to get started on that front. According to The Fourth Period, the Avalanche are one of the clubs reportedly linked to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Reilly Smith. They also reported that the Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, and Utah are in the mix.

It is understandable that Smith is generating interest early on into the summer. The veteran winger was shopped by the Penguins leading up to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, but a move did not come to fruition. Things could change shortly, though, as the fit in Pittsburgh just has not been there for Smith.

Reilly Smith © Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

While Smith had a bit of a down year in his first season as a Penguin, it is understandable that the Avalanche have him on their radar. This is because he is a solid middle-six winger who provides secondary production and has plenty of playoff experience. In addition, he is a known leader, which only adds to his appeal.

If the Avalanche acquired Smith, he would be a good fit on their second line. He specifically could work well playing with Casey Mittelstadt due to the latter’s playmaking ability. In addition, Smith could work on both special-team units because of his steady two-way play.

Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see if the Avalanche’s interest in Smith leads to them bringing him to Colorado. The fit looks pretty nice on paper.

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