Jan 14, 2021; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers players huddle around the center ice logo as they prepare for the home opener against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
February 6th, 2018 started off with some foreshadowing as the New York Rangers asked Rick Nash for his no-trade list. On February 8th they waived Brendan Smith for the first time and called up Neal Pionk. Smith was in the first year of a four-year deal he signed and it sent some eyebrows raising around the hockey world. Then “The Letter” was released.