The New York Rangers have opted to rest forward Reilly Smith during their matchup against the Nashville Predators, primarily as a precautionary measure ahead of the NHL trade deadline. With Smith set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, the Rangers want to avoid any potential injury that could complicate a trade, as he has surfaced as a viable candidate for a deal. This season marks Smith's first with the Rangers, where he has contributed 29 points over 898 career games.

In recent transactions, the Rangers traded Jimmy Vesey and Ryan Lindgren to the Colorado Avalanche, both of whom share the same impending UFA status. The Rangers currently sit just four points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, adding urgency to their roster decisions as they navigate the trade deadline.