Irma Helin, Mika Zibanejad's wife’s message for Reilly Smith and family after Golden Knights trade

In the unpredictable world of the NHL, trades can often take players and fans by surprise. One such moment unfolded on Friday when veteran forward Reilly Smith found himself back with the Vegas Golden Knights after a brief stint with the New York Rangers. While the move sparked excitement in Vegas, it also marked an emotional farewell for those he left behind, especially New York Rangers alternate captain Mika Zibanejad’s wife, Irma Helin.

Irma Helin bids farewell to Reilly Smith as he returns to Vegas Golden Knights

Helin took to social media to share a heartfelt message following Smith’s trade. The veteran winger, who was an instrumental part of Vegas' Stanley Cup-winning squad from 2017 to 2023, is now set to reunite with his former team.


Helin posted on her Instagram story, resharing a post from the NHL’s official account. The post featured a carousel of images celebrating Smith’s triumphant journey with the Golden Knights.


“Reilly Smith is back with the @vegasgoldenknights and looking to win a second #StanleyCup! ⚔️”, read the original post’s caption.


Adding her own sentiment, Helin wished Smith and his family the best, expressing how much they would be missed.


“Best of luck to one of the sweetest families out there! We will miss you,” she wrote.


The Golden Knights secured Smith in exchange for forward Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick. Before his return to Vegas, Smith had recorded 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 58 games with the Rangers.


Also Read: NHL analysts slam Edmonton Oilers as ‘Losers’ of trade deadline

Reilly Smith’s shock over trade back to Vegas

Even Reilly Smith himself was caught off guard by the trade. The veteran winger admitted that he had to double-check with his agent to ensure the news was true before reacting.


“I didn’t want to start sending out a bunch of texts and phone calls and then have everything come back on me,” Smith said with a laugh.


Despite the surprise, Smith acknowledged that reuniting with many of his former teammates eased the transition.


“When you get traded, there’s always so much new change, not just the stuff on the ice, but everything around it,” Smith said. “So to be able to come back here and have so much familiarity, it definitely feels like coming home a little bit.” he shared.


While he tried to play it cool at first, Smith admitted he was thrilled to rejoin the team.


“I tried to play cool for a little bit and let the dust settle. But really excited to be back in this group, obviously friends for life here, and it seemed like everyone was pretty excited as I was able to talk to them.”


Smith also reflected on his deep connection with the city and how much he and his family appreciated the way Vegas embraced them from the very beginning.