The Detroit Red Wings have made their second move ahead of Wednesday's trade deadline, sending defenseman Brendan Smith to the New York Rangers, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
In exchange, the Rangers will send a third round draft pick this year and a second round draft pick in 2018 to the Red Wings.
Smith, 28, has spent his entire career with the Red Wings since being drafted in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He made his debut in the 2011-2012 season and played his first full season with the team in 2013-14.
Earlier on Tuesday, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported that it was decision day for Detroit on Smith as they had fielded calls from multiple teams. They would either have to re-sign him to something like a 3-year contract for about $3.5 million per year or trade him. He becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Smith has played 291 games with the Red Wings, scoring 15 goals and 52 assists for 67 total points. He has only played in 33 games this season due to injury, scoring two goals and adding three assists.
The Red Wings currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference and begin a west coast road trip on Tuesday night in Vancouver. It will be the team's first game after the mandatory 5-day break.
Expect the team to make more moves ahead of the trade deadline at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, with other players including Tomas Vanek possible on the trading block.
In all, the Red Wings now have 10 picks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
