Rumor: Veteran defenseman on the trading block after being scratched.

A veteran defenseman may soon find himself playing for a new team despite the fact that he just signed a brand new four-year contract. 

28-year-old New York Ranger Brendan Smith has found himself a healthy scratch in five consecutive games this season, and to make matters worse he has been scratched for seven games of a possible 19.

Not exactly the kind of production you would expect from a player that is being paid $4.35 million per season, one who was convinced not to make the move to free agency earlier this summer. 

In fact it's so strange that New York Rangers insider Larry Brooks could see the Rangers pulling off a trade involving Smith should he continue to remain in the dog house of head coach Alain Vigneault.

From Brooks:

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But if the coach five months later is convinced the Rangers are a better team without No. 42 as an everyday top six, there is no time like the present for general manager Jeff Gorton to scour the market for the best return possible on Smith so both parties can cut their losses and move ahead.

As stated earlier Smith is on a brand new 4-year deal, so if the Rangers do in fact trade him this will not be a rental type of deal, and they will be looking for a significant return in the trade.