NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers sent Brendan Smith to Hartford of the American Hockey League after the defenseman cleared waivers Friday.
The move came one day after Smith -- re-signed to a four-year, $17 million deal last June -- was waived on his 29th birthday.
New York coach Alain Vigneault said captain Ryan McDonagh was out Friday night against Calgary due to an upper-body injury and could miss the team's upcoming trip to Winnipeg and Minnesota. The Rangers will return to New York to visit the crosstown-rival Islanders next Thursday.