Vegas Golden Knights were hoping for one more go-round with their beloved Original Misfit, Reilly Smith. They were hoping that the 16 goals and 10 assists that he scored last season were enough to get him another deal. Unfortunately, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that this isn't happening.
Following up on this, because some people have asked: Even on a vet minimum, Reilly Smith will not be back in Vegas next season.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) July 2, 2026
Same goes for Brandon Saad and Ben Hutton. https://t.co/dlIwmEeWQA
Joining him out the door will be Ben Hutton and Brandon Saad. Both players were unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason and will test the free agent market alongside Smith. As for the Misfit? Well, he was a unique case for the Golden Knights. How, you ask?
The Golden Knights had a reputation for not believing too much in reunions once a player left. They would trade away a star when the time was right, opting to avoid the 30+ year old players once they sensed a serious decline or a bloated salary. That was the case with Smith, who was locked in a three-year, $5 million AAV deal before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023.
Lo and behold, he comes back to the Golden Knights via a trade from the New York Rangers, sending Brendan Brisson to the Big Apple. He signs a one-year pact worth $2 million for the 2025-26 season, marking a return alongside Saad. Now? It appears that this is goodbye for good for the Misfit.
It's sad because Smith returned to the Golden Knights based on a genuine love for the community. He was the brainchild behind the Battle 4 Vegas, the annual charity event between the Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders. The event has brought the Las Vegas community together, whether it was with Smith's mere presence or Brock Bowers hitting dingers out of the park.
Regardless, Las Vegas will miss you, Reilly Smith. Golden Knights fans will always appreciate the work and dedication that you put into making the community a better place, whether it was in the inaugural season or during the 2023 Stanley Cup run. Hats off to you for being a class act, my friend.
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