Could the Vegas Golden Knights Bring Reilly Smith Back?

People love a good reunion story. They can't get enough of when a person leaves a place they've called home, only to return. It's happened with the likes of LeBron James and John Cena during the SAG-AFTRA strike, to name a few. One person that could be in this category is none other than the former Vegas Golden Knight, Reilly Smith.

One of the Original Misfits, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the offseason for a 2024 third-round pick. Of course, this helped bring back both Adin Hill and Ivan Barbashev, who re-signed with the Golden Knights during the summer.

But it seems like life might have other plans in the wings. After all, life is a funny thing. When you let something go, you never know if it'll come back. With the Pens falling out of contention and the Vegas Golden Knights going strong, there's a possibility that we could see a Reilly Smith reunion in Sin City. But what would be the pros and cons of bringing him back?

1. The Pros of Bringing Back Reilly Smith

One huge benefit of seeing Reilly Smith in a Vegas Golden Knights jersey again is adding scoring depth. The Knights have been hit hard with injuries all season, losing stars such as William Karlsson and Jack Eichel. By bringing the Original Misfit back, you can plug him in and revive the Misfit Line.

Smith was also coming off arguably the best year of his career last season. He scored 26 goals and notched 30 assists, making him a potent depth piece for Vegas. Sounds as appetizing as a Granny Smith apple, right?

There's also the special teams factor that he brings. He's an effective penalty killer that knows his position well. He's also great on the power play, making him a threat to score on both ends of the spectrum. Considering Vegas's less-than-stellar track record on the power play, it would help the team if Smith returned.

The right winger can also be slotted in the Knights lineup easily. Whether it's being reunited with Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault or mentoring the younger guys, Smith has the flexibility to make the offense better. Plus, he's able to get dirty on every play, winning puck battles and acting as an asset on the forecheck.

2. The Cons of Bringing Back Reilly Smith

The obvious problem that sticks out is Reilly Smith's age. At the age of 32, the Penguin is seeing a decline in both his body and his production. Just look at his stats this season compared to last year. 35 projected points compared to 56 points is a steep drop-off for a player. In fact, that gap could fall off a cliff.

On the injury note, Smith is recovering from an injured left arm and returned against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. The wear and tear of an NHL career will do that, my dear. With the former Misfit returning for the first time since January 11, what good does it do if he also gets hurt?

Of course, this isn't the first time that he's had injury problems. Last season, Smith had lower body injuries that sidelined him for four games. In 2021-2022, he missed the last 24 games of the season with a knee injury. With his history of getting hurt, that puts his reliability into question.

Besides, Vegas has been better with scoring in recent memory. With the return of William Karlsson and other key players coming soon, the Golden Knights get a power play/offensive piece back in Karlsson. The services of Smith won't be required as much, especially if it requires parting with a draft pick.