from Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post,

It’s almost as if Brendan Smith were waiting and wanting to hear this question.

“Do you think this system fits your game better than last year?” he was asked, referring to the lost season he spent mostly in the minors.

“For sure I think it does,” the smiling Rangers defenseman told The Post after Friday’s practice in Tarrytown. “My biggest thing is I want to make good outlet passes; I want to be hard-nosed, strong in front of the net; I want to compete for pucks. I think that’s what I’ve done in the past, and to me, that’s winning hockey. When we get back to it, it works out.”...

“I think he’s really kept it simple,” said Quinn, whose team next plays Sunday night at the Garden against the Flames. “He’s a guy that has good skills, he’s not trying to do too much, he’s defended hard. He’s in great shape, so he’s able to play at a pace. His skating has always been elite. He’s in a whole different mindset.”

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