New addition Reilly Smith not intimidated by critical task of meshing with Rangers stars

Rangers training camp is well underway, with the first exhibition game scheduled for Sunday night and a new face on the right wing of Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.Like clockwork, Reilly Smith was acquired from the Penguins on July 1 to fill a void that has been occupied by several other faces — new and old — over eight years.There’s no need to count them anymore, or list their names.

Everybody knows it’s an extensive list of players of all different skills and backgrounds.Is that at all intimidating to Smith as he prepares to make his Blueshirts debut?“I don’t think so,” he told The Post after an intrasquad scrimmage with the non-game group Sunday.“They’re obviously tremendously skilled players and there’s players who have had success [with them], but success kind of rides in waves in the NHL.

Sometimes, it’s hard to keep that for a full season.“My job here is just to play it game by game and do what I can.If I’m playing with them, or anyone else, my goal is to try and help the team win.”In all likelihood, Smith will open the 2024-25 season as RW1.

The challenge that comes with joining two players who have been skating on a line together for years, he said, is reading off them quickly.Chemistry isn’t going to develop overnight, but Smith said he’s trying to be diligent about being aware of what Kreider and Zibanejad are doing, what they’re trying to do and what they’re thinking out on the ice.So far, Smith said he thinks the two are reading well off him.“They’re two unbelievable players,” Smith said.

“I think their body of work over their career speaks for itself.Anyone in this locker room is a joy to be able to play with them.

Whether it’s those two guys or anyone else, I’m going to do my best to complement their game.”Smith had a long summer after the Penguins didn’t make the playoffs last season, during which the 33-year-old posted 13 goals and 27 assists in 76 games.Just one season prior, Smith was ho...