Why Reilly Smith should get whatever he wants to retire as a Golden Knights star

Remember last summer when there was a contract dispute between Jonathan Marchessault and the Vegas Golden Knights? No, it wasn't about money, but rather the term. Marchessault wanted to retire as a Golden Knights star and sought a deal longer than three years.

However, things didn't turn out with the expected fairy tale ending. Instead, it became a "he said, he said" battle where the Misfit is singing country tunes with Brad Paisley. Yeehaw, I guess?

But this time, a Golden Misfit is more than willing to stick around, regardless of the circumstances.

"It may be the structure, it may be the familiarity of the players. But I felt like there's predictability in my game here that helps me play faster. Yeah, I mean I don't the exact perfect answer for (why I play better here). I think it's a combination of a lot of different things but I do think it brings a better brand of hockey out of me. I don't think the last two years have been kind of like the trajectory I wanted my game to go. But coming back here, I felt like I was able to get my footing pretty quickly and feel good about my game again."

Reilly Smith

Reilly Smith has a point here. He's scored 127 goals and 170 assists in seven seasons with the Golden Knights, marking the best tenure of his career. On top of that, he won a Stanley Cup with the franchise.

Kelly McCrimmon should give Reilly Smith whatever he wants--within reason

Now, Smith is projected to get a $3.5 million deal worth two years in his next contract, according to ScotiaStats. That's a reasonable deal for a Golden Knights star looking to stick around.

Combine that with a rising salary cap and there's no reason Kelly McCrimmon can't get a deal done. It also doesn't affect Jack Eichel's negotiations since his deal would kick in until next summer.

There's also the cohesiveness he has with William Karlsson. The two Misfits have shown the power of the "power kill," with Smith getting a shorthanded assist during his Vegas tenure.

All of this should equate to a longer stay. After all, Smith doesn't care too much about money, nor does he care about the term. It would be the perfect send-off for a Misfit who defined what being a Golden Knights star is all about, no country boots needed.