VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Brendan Smith's departure paves the way for the Detroit Red Wings to get an extended look at Ryan Sproul.
At least that's what the club and the young defenseman hope.
Sproul, a 6-foot-4, 211-pound right-handed shooter with a big shot, showed promise during a stretch earlier this season. But defensive issues caused him to be a frequent healthy scratch as fellow young D-men Xavier Ouellet and Nick Jensen passed him in the pecking order.
After Smith's trade to the New York Rangers Tuesday for a second- and a third-round pick (in 2018 and 2017, respectively), the Red Wings are down to six healthy defensemen.