July 1st, the annual massive shopping spree for the NHL before everyone packs it in for the summer. The Rangers don’t have a ton of room in the budget for bringing in fresh faces, but they will be on the hunt for some affordable talent that can fill in the various holes left by their own pending UFA’s. Barring any last minute extensions, it’s safe to assume Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrick Kane, Niko Mikkola, Jaroslav Halak and Ryan Carpenter will all hit the open market in the coming weeks. Tyler Motte is the only UFA anyone’s really expecting to possibly sign an extension but until that happens, we can assume that to be a void in the lineup as well. That being said, the Rangers are going to be on the hunt for secondary scorers that can slot in various bottom six positions, with the potential to move up if needed. On top of that, they could be on the hunt for a third pair left handed defenseman if they decide neither Zac Jones or Matthew Robertson are ready to make the jump. Lastly, they’ll be shopping for a new backup goaltender unless they decide to fill the vacancy from within. With all that in mind, let’s take a look at some potential candidates for these job openings.
5 Best Forward Fits for NYR
Teddy Blueger C/LW
If there’s one free agent the Rangers should be all over, it’s former Pittsburgh Penguin Teddy Blueger. Blueger spent five years with the Penguins before getting dealt to the Golden Knights at this year’s trade deadline. A late second round pick by the Penguins back in 2012, Blueger’s not a massive point getter but is a very defensively responsible center who’s great at face-offs. Blueger would be a dream scenario fourth line center, especially if the Rangers end up finding a way to move on from Barclay Goodrow. He can play the wing as well but given his face-off abilities, he’s best used down the middle. Blueger is currently one win away from winning the Stanley Cup in Vegas which would normally indicate a big pay raise is expected to come this summer. However, with how deep this Vegas team is, Blueger only played six games throughout this playoff run, meaning he could fall under the radar and be an affordable option for New York. If that’s the case, Chris Drury should be all over it.
Jesper Fast RW
Let's get the old band, back together again, let's get the old band back together again. Of all former Rangers to potentially bring back to this team, Jesper Fast makes so much sense. He has a couple more seasons under his belt so hopefully, his cap hit won’t be as high as it was the first time the Rangers let him go. Now I love the idea of bringing Fast back but don’t necessarily want to plug him back on that second line with Panarin. The idea of a third line, centered by Vincent Trocheck with Jesper Fast and Brennan Othmann is very enticing. One of the main points I’ve already hit on this off-season and will continue to hit on is the need to force Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere into the top-six so if bringing Fast back on will hinder that, I have some reservations but a third line with Quickie on the right is close to a dream scenario to start next season.
Nick Bjugstad C/RW
Bjugstad would be another near perfect addition to the team’s bottom six but given his background and impact with Edmonton after the trade deadline, he could be out of budget. Bjugstad is a University of Minnesota product with a great shot and a big body at 6”6. He can play center or the wing and is good for anywhere between 10-30 points. At his best in Florida, he was a top two center closing in on a fifty point season and he’s still relatively young. If the Rangers can get him on a cheap, respectable deal, he would be the perfect addition to this team’s bottom six, whether it be at center or the right wing.
Conor Sheary LW/RW
Cup experience? Check. Versatility? Check. Goal scoring ability? Check. Conor Sheary’s been around the block a time or two, has plenty of experience and his name already on Lord Stanley’s hardware. Again, a team with cap space could entice him with more money but if Sheary’s prioritizing situations and best chances of winning again, New York could be a fit. He can play the left or the right and can play in any situation, anywhere in your lineup. He’s a smaller guy and is getting up there in age which are two things that work against his favor. However, he did just put up the third highest point total he has in his career. If the Rangers can sign him anywhere under a million, that would be a massive win.
David Kampf C/RW
Kampf is coming off two of his best seasons in the NHL so depending on how he’s looking to cash in this summer, he could also fall out of the Rangers budget. However, if they can swing it, he can be a great piece to add as a fourth line center that can move up to the wing if needed. In two full seasons in Toronto, Kampf has knocked on the door of thirty points but hasn’t quite gotten there. If he can handle the pressures of Toronto, he should be more than capable of playing at the Garden and not only adds depth to this team, but brings some versatility. I could definitely see him being a guy that not only Drury likes, but Artemi Panarin wouldn’t mind having on his opposite side if needed. Again, it shouldn’t be in the Rangers game plan to favor players like Fast or Kampf on the second line over Lafreniere but it is good to know you have options if needed.
Other Forward Options
Zemgus Girgensons C/LW
People forget, Zemgus Girgensons was once an NHL All-Star. The now seasoned vet has been in the league for a hot minute, with all of his time being spent in Buffalo. It’d be a short move downstate if he wanted to sign in Manhattan and he could be a great fit in the bottom six, playing a Jimmy Vesey type of role with a bit more versatility and consistency. At his best, he put up thirty points in a season but is pretty good for getting you at least 15-20 points. He can play center or the wing and brings a leadership presence both into the locker room and in the bottom six. I wouldn’t be surprised if he re-ups with Buffalo but if he does hit the open market, the Rangers should definitely check in on the veteran forward.
Joel Kiviranta LW/RW
You might recall the name Joel Kiviranta from his impressive postseason moments with Dallas a couple years back when they first made it back to the Cup Final. Kiviranta slowly but surely proved himself to be more of a mainstay at the NHL level. He’s coming off a nine point season through 70 games played which is pretty close to his career high. Not the most impressive numbers and at 27, there’s a chance we’ve seen what there is to see with this player. It’s not certain that Kiviranta really has what it takes to be a mainstay NHLer but if the Rangers are looking for cheap depth, he could be a very intriguing addition to the Rangers forward group as a change of scenery could get his offense going again.
Adam Erne LW/RW
New Haven County native Adam Erne could be a great addition to the Rangers fourth line, especially if they are unable to re-sign Tyler Motte and/or move on from Barclay Goodrow. Even without those things happening, Erne’s no stranger to moving up and down between the NHL and AHL. Brought up through Tampa’s system, Erne found a home in Detroit over the last couple years and has put up impressive numbers for a bottom six, at times fringe NHLer. Excluding the COVID year, Erne averaged about 19 points a season which is perfectly fine from a bottom six guy. Last season was the first time in a while he saw the AHL so it may be more in his best interest to sign where he’d be a permanent fixture in the NHL but if he’s available and wants to play for a team local to his hometown, New York could be a great fit for grinding power forward.
Matt Nieto LW/RW
Nieto is a bit of a similar situation as Erne, a bigger winger that can play either side and at his best, can give you some secondary offense. He spent the first half of last season with San Jose before going back to Colorado and put up 24 points in the process. He has experience, he has a history of putting up decent numbers and has spent all of his career between San Jose and Colorado. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s a guy the Rangers check in on, especially if the pickings are slim come the first week of July.
Danton Heinen LW/RW
Danton Heinen’s never really gotten back to the kind of season he had his rookie year in Boston but is coming off a pair of solid seasons with the Penguins. Heinen’s primarily a winger and has averaged close to third points over his last two seasons. A team that’s more desperate for bodies and skill could look to give him a bigger numbered contract but if he continues to fall by the wayside, he could be a great depth piece for a team like New York that needs speed and skill in their bottom six.
Corey Perry RW
I don’t necessarily have Corey Perry high on my summer wish list for the Rangers but it is safe to assume the Rangers could be very interested if he hits the open market. Veteran presence, once upon a 50 goal scorer, plays with an edge, can be used in different situations. He’s getting up there in age so there could be concerns with how much gas he has left in the tank. However, he apparently really wants one more Cup and after losing in the final three years in a row with three different teams, why not take another crack at disappointment with a team who has done nothing but disappoint for almost thirty years now? Sorry, had to let the bitterness come out a little bit but in all seriousness, New York could be an ideal spot for Perry and if interested, the Rangers will find a spot for him in next season's lineup.
5 Options on Defense
Carson Soucy LD
Soucy was on my list of trade deadline targets for the Rangers this past season and could be the most ideal replacement for Niko Mikkola if the Rangers don’t re-sign him. Soucy’s coming off a pair of respectable seasons with the Seattle Kraken where he averaged around 18 points and played a role in their postseason run this year. The former Minnesota-Duluth product who went in the fifth round back in 2013 has never been a minus player in his professional career except in his first (and only) three games with the Wild back in the 17/18 season.. At 6”5, 212 lbs, Soucy got size in his favor and plays a good stay at home role with the ability to contribute offensively every now and then. With it not being a particularly deep free agency class, he could get a better offer elsewhere but if the Rangers can fit him in their budget and aren’t ready to give Zac Jones or Matthew Robertson full time NHL duties, Soucy’s likely the best option to pair up with Braden Schneider on the third pair.
Calvin de Haan LD/RD
If the Rangers are looking to go with more of a veteran option, Calvin de Haan could be their guy. de Haan brings experience and if needed, could play either side. He’s bounced around between a couple different team’s, offers a reliable presence on the back end and can surprise offensively every once in a while. Overall, the Rangers are probably better off with Carson Soucy or even Niko Mikkola but depending on what de Haan can bring to the table in New York, could surprise fans and be a very effective player for them throughout the season and into playoffs.
Jordan Oesterle LD/RD
Something about Jordan Oesterle just screams New York Rangers. While the primary focus and concern regarding the Rangers back end going into the new season will be who replaces Niko Mikkola, the team does need an increase at depth on defense regardless. Once you get past Ben Harpur and Zac Jones, the Rangers really don’t have anyone with proper NHL experience in their system. Oesterle doesn’t have fantastic numbers but has been around the block a time or two, both at the NHL and AHL level. Just take a look at the ghosts of Rangers past and even present and tell me not that Jordan Oesterle is a name destined to sign a modest two way contract in the city that never sleeps.
Erik Gustafsson RD/LD
If offense is a priority alongside experience, Erik Gustafsson could be an intriguing option to slot into the Rangers D-Squad. Gustafsson once had a 60 point season, scoring 17 goals along the way and is coming off a 42 point season split between Chicago and Toronto. At 31, it’s fair to assume we know what to expect with Gustafsson’s game and while there have been splashes of impressive offense, I wouldn’t necessarily consider that an expectation. Aside from a handful of point heavy numbers, Gustafsson is a bit inconsistent and has only once played close to an 82 game season. Given the fact that the Rangers still have Ben Harpur and could look to give Jones or Robertson chances, a depth addition like Gustafsson could be just what the doctor ordered. However, lots of teams love a defenseman that can score so his next contract could be a bit difficult to estimate. An option nonetheless in a FA class that isn’t very defensive heavy.
Scott Harrington LD
Between it not being a deep free agency class and the Rangers not having a ton of cap space, they could be forced to dig real deep to find some lesser known guys they can sign to cheap two way deals. Scott Harrington’s had an interesting career up to this point. He was once upon a time a second round draft pick with plenty of upside but never really panned out anywhere. The closest he’s come to a full season in the NHL was with the Blue Jackets in 2018/19 where he put up 17 points in 73 games played. Similar to the points I made with Oesterle, Harrington could at the very least be a solid depth pick up who spends time between Hartford and New York.
A lot of these considerations for signing a defenseman will certainly have to do with whether or not the Rangers are looking to give Jones or Robertson a shot, but also depend on whether Libor Hajek resigns with the team or finally moves on. Hajek is again a pending RFA who, if he sticks around, can split time with Harpur on the third pair until the team buys at the trade deadline again. As less than ideal as that scenario may be for some fans, it could end up being the most logical if the Rangers let Mikkola walk and can’t afford a Carson Soucy or Calvin de Haan type of player.
Chris Feldman
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