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David Quinn intends to keep using Brendan Smith in versatile role for Rangers

Rangers head coach David Quinn calls out to his team during an NHL preseason hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Bridgeport, Conn. Photo Credit: AP/Jessica Hill

KANATA, Ontario – Forwards Greg McKegg and Micheal Haley were scratches again and Brendan Smith, a defenseman by trade, was once again in the lineup as a fourth-line forward Saturday night against the Senators in Ottawa. Smith, though, once again played defense in shorthanded situations, and Quinn said he intends to keep that going for a while.

“I think he had a really good (training) camp, and he had a great stretch last year when he played forward and no problem playing it for an extended period of time,’’ Quinn said of Smith, who scored an empty net goal in the season opener Thursday against Winnipeg, when he was on the ice as a defenseman in a six-on-four situation.