VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- There were jokes about how quiet it will be with Brendan Smith gone, even as his departure further signals an internal shift.
The Detroit Red Wings chipped away at the rejuvenation process Tuesday when they traded Smith to the New York Rangers, with more moves being discussed before Wednesday's 3 p.m. E.T. deadline. Smith yielded a third-round pick in this year’s draft and a second-round pick in 2018 (one the Rangers had from a trade with Ottawa). After 25 seasons of making the playoffs the Wings are out of the picture this season, leaving them sellers.