42 Brendan Smith D

Rangers' Brendan Smith: On waiver wire

While Smith is by no means an offensive force -- his career high is 19 points -- the defenseman's 10-game pointless streak likely factored into the club's decision. If the Ontario native does clear waivers, he will likely be reassigned to AHL Hartford.

Rangers' Brendan Smith: Bringing much-needed physicality

Smith ranked second on the team in shots behind Rick Nash's seven and also brought a physical element without taking a penalty. He and Wayne Simmonds got into a few physical altercations in front of New York's net, as Smith worked hard to keep Henrik Lundqvist's sight lines clear. Between this effort and Sunday's strong showing against Pittsburgh in which he contributed a goal and a fight, Smith has likely earned himself a role in the lineup despite an ugly minus-5 rating in five appearances since the calendar flipped to 2018.

Rangers' Brendan Smith: Goalless in 2017-18

Through 26 games, Smith has tallied six helpers, 37 PIM and 35 hits, but the back of the net continues to elude him. Considering the blueliner has never scored more than five goals in a year, long stretches without one probably doesn't phase him. The 2007 first-round pick is clearly more of a defensive-minded player and will offer minimal value even in the deepest of formats.

Rangers' Brendan Smith: Upset about ejection

The harsh punishment was assessed to Smith in the third period as he and Borowiecki were racing to a loose puck in the corner. While Borowiecki was injured on the play, Smith's actions hardly looked like they warranted anything more than a minor penalty, so the rearguard's chances of getting suspended are slim to none. His teammates picked up the slack on the ensuing penalty kill, surrendering just one shot in those five minutes.

Rangers' Brendan Smith: Set for rare appearance Friday

The phrase 'healthy scratch' generally is considered cringeworthy in the fantasy realm, as there's no sense wasting a roster spot on a guy who barely plays, but then again, Smith could use this next contest as motivation to show the Blueshirts and fantasy owners alike what they'd been missing. He's added two assists with a plus-2 rating over 11 games this season.