With the NHL free agency period set to start in less than 24 hours, the Rangers can use this period to plug any missing holes in the lineup for the upcoming season and beyond. Last year, the Rangers splashed the cashed and signed star forward Artemi Panarin. This year, expect the Blueshirts to go after more cost-efficient options. Before we take a look at some potential names they could target, it is important to understand what the potential lineup could look like and what their needs are. It is also important to consider names that could be resigned, sign elsewhere, or even get traded. Based on the current roster and news surrounding the team, this is how I see the Rangers lining up on opening night.
Kreider – Zibanejad – Buchnevich
Panarin – Strome/? – Kakko
Lafreniere – Chytil – Gauthier
Lemieux – Howden – Di Giuseppe
McKegg?, Fast?, Barron, ?
Miller/? – Trouba
Lindgren – Fox
Hajek/Smith/? – DeAngelo/?
Shesterkin/Georgiev
The Rangers own free agents
As shown above, the biggest needs for the forward core are the second-line center and depth players. Ryan Strome has been qualified and is likely headed to arbitration on a one-year deal or will be traded. Jesper Fast and Greg McKegg are unrestricted free agents (UFA). While, neither the Rangers nor Fast have ruled the possibility of an extension, it appears more and more likely Fast will test the market and likely end up on another team. There has been no news about depth centerman McKegg. He can easily be brought back on a cheap deal or he could find another team interested in his services.
On defense, the Rangers will be bringing back Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, and Adam Fox. The other NHL defender signed for the upcoming season is Brendan Smith who could fill a spot if needed. K’Andre Miller had a great training camp when the Rangers were in the bubble and he will get the opportunity to make the team. The biggest question comes in the form of 24-year-old Tony DeAngelo. DeAngelo is currently a restricted free agent (RFA) and his name has floating around in trade rumors. The Blueshirts don’t seem keen on signing the right-handed defenseman long term with Nils Lundkvist and the 19th overall pick Braden Schneider in the system. It is possible DeAngelo is brought back on a short-term deal. No matter how you look at it, the Rangers ideally need two depth defensemen to fill out the lineup.
It will be extra important to have depth this season. While depth is always needed in case of an injury – depth will be even more crucial with the chance of a COVID-19 spike. All players mentioned below are guys who are considered relatively cheap and can fill a void. Don’t expect the Rangers to go after big names like Alex Pietrangelo, Torey Krug, Mike Hoffman, etc.
Forward Free Agent Targets
Alex Wennberg
Wennberg was bought out by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday afternoon and is now free to sign anywhere in the league. The 26-year-old has failed to live up to his contract, but a fresh start could be exactly what he needs to rejuvenate his career. Wennberg hasn’t had more than 35 points in the past three seasons. His career-high came in the 2016-2017 season when he recorded 59 points in 80 games. The former first-round pick is a pure playmaker who has never scored more than 13 goals. While his offensive production has diminished, he is known to be a smart defensive player who can help out the Rangers in other ways including the penalty kill. John Davidson was at the helm in Columbus when they drafted him in 2013. Wennberg is a bounce-back candidate on a cheap deal. The Swedish native could see a nice spike in points if he could remain consistently in the top nine forwards for what will likely be a high-scoring Rangers offense.
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Kyle Turris
Another player who has been bought out; Turris is now 31-years-old and his best days are likely behind him. Like Wennberg, he too could be brought in on a short-term prove-it deal. Should the Canadian have a good season, he could potentially see one last pay-day before he decides to call it quits. Turris would become the oldest player on the roster and he would be able to provide some veteran leadership. Turris is not a long-term solution but if Strome is moved, he would be another candidate who could use the Rangers to try and show another team that he still has something left.
Evan Rodrigues
Like mentioned earlier, the Rangers need depth forwards and Evan Rodrigues may be one of the more likely candidates to join the Blueshirts. Rodrigues has played in 199 games and recorded 72 points. The Canadian forward will be looking for his fourth organization since February. Rodrigues was traded from Buffalo to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline on February 24th. The 27-year-old was then traded to Toronto in August and was not qualified by the Leafs. Before playing for Buffalo, Rodrigues attended Boston University and played four years for the Terriers under now Rangers head coach David Quinn. Quinn would know exactly what he is getting in Rodrigues and this would give the player the chance to be reunited with one of his collegiate head coaches. Rodrigues would be a cheap depth player and the Rangers know exactly what they are getting out of him.
Erik Haula
Erik Haula is another player expected to get a short-term prove-it deal. Like Wennberg, Haula put up a career year in the 2017-2018 campaign and has struggled ever since. The 29-year-old missed most of the 2018-2019 season with a knee injury. Haula missed time this past season with Carolina, he reaggravated the surgically repaired knee which forced him to miss more time. When healthy, he has proven to be on pace for consistent 50-point seasons. He also has a career faceoff percentage of over 50%. He is an interesting name to keep an eye on this offseason.
Nate Thompson & Derek Grant
Nate Thompson and Derek Grant are both expected to be available when free agency opens up on Friday. Both, played with the Flyers last season and both would make excellent options on cheap deals. Thompson just turned 36 this past Monday and Grant is currently 30. Neither player is known for their offensive abilities, but where they both could help the Rangers is with being veteran presences and more importantly with their defensive impacts. Both averaged over two minutes a game on the penalty kill; an area where the Rangers finished 23rd during the regular season. Both will also help in the faceoff circle with career percentages over 50; another area the Rangers struggled. Neither will be expensive on short-term contracts and both can make an impact in multiple areas of the game the Blueshirts need help with. Getting one of these players would be a good addition for the Rangers bottom-six.
Defensemen Free Agent Targets
Ben Hutton
Ben Hutton is entering his sixth year in the NHL and is hitting free agency for the first time. Hutton has 86 points in 341 games played. In his first four seasons with Vancouver, Hutton was a minus 75. Last season, in Los Angeles he was a plus five. Hutton spent most of last season paired with Drew Doughty on the top line and averaged over 18 minutes a game. The 27-year-old had a career year at even strength according to advanced analytics. Hutton had a 55.5 Corsi-for percentage, which put him in the upper tier of players in terms of puck possession. He also had a 54.4 expected-goals-for percentage. He can play the top pair with Trouba if needed, but would likely slot in better on the third pair.
Any cheap left-handed defenseman
There are not a ton of cheap options out there on the left side who fit what the Rangers need. Another name who the Blueshirts may be interested in is Jack Johnson. Johnson was just bought out from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The new assistant head coach for the Rangers is Jacques Martin who has been with the Penguins organization since 2013. He knows Johnson and whether he could be an option or not. Other names include Derek Forbot, Jon Merrill, Joakim Ryan, and Michael Del Zotto.
It’s tough to say who the Rangers may target on the backend because it really depends based on their opinions of players like K’Andre Miller and Brendan Smith. Do expect the Rangers to sign at least one but more likely two depth defenders.
Zach Bogosian
If the Blueshirts are after a right-handed defenseman, Zach Bogosian could be their guy. He is coming off winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bogosian had four points and was a plus one in the playoffs. The former first-round pick is from Massena, NY, and would get the chance to play under the bright lights in Broadway. Bogosian is a cheap option who can fill out a roster spot if DeAngelo were to be moved on the third defensive pair.
Kevan Miller
Another right-handed defenseman option the Rangers could look at is Kevan Miller. Miller had been a regular from 2015-2018 on the Boston Bruins. But between injuries, younger defenseman, and the salary cap, Miller has lost his spot in Boston. Miller will bring a little bit of grit that the Rangers could use on the back end. Don’t expect him to put up too many points as he is not known for his offensive play. The 32-year-old may also be looking for some term on his next contract and command a cap hit that could be too rich for the Blueshirts blood. If DeAngelo is moved, Miller would make an excellent replacement in the short-term.
Goalies Free Agent Targets
There are plenty of goalies on the market this free agency period. And no, the Rangers should not target any of the big names or even backup options. They have two young goalies who can carry the load. What they should add is a third-string goalie on a cheap two-year deal. Remember, at the end of this season, the Seattle Krakens will join the league and the Rangers will need a goalie left unprotected in the expansion draft. They also could use a veteran who has some NHL experience but will likely get some playing time in the AHL. The Blueshirts have just Adam Huska and Tyler Wall under contract who won’t be in the NHL this season. A couple names to look at is resigning J.F. Berube who is a UFA. At 29, Berube has some NHL experience and could help the kids in the AHL. Other options who they could turn too is Mike Condon or Anton Forsberg. Don’t be surprised if the Rangers do sign a veteran third-string netminder.
