Top Rangers free agent targets after Connor McDavid extension with Oilers
Dreams of NHL superstar Connor McDavid donning red, white, and blue with the New York Rangers were dashed Monday — at least for now.
One day before the start of the 2025-26 season, the three-time Hart Trophy winner re-upped with the Edmonton Oilers on a two-year contract extension worth $12.5 million annually. After leading the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances but falling both times to the Florida Panthers, McDavid is keeping the championship window open in Edmonton for at least another three seasons, inking a team-friendly deal that reinforces his promise to bring a championship to the city of Edmonton.
He’s just the latest superstar to sign an extension ahead of the upcoming offseason, following winger Kaprill Kaprizov, who signed an NHL-record 8-year, $17 million average annual value (AAV) deal on September 30 to stay with the Minnesota Wild.
That wave has only continued one day into the 2025-26 season, with Kyle Connor signing the richest contract in Winnipeg Jets history — eight years for $96 million — while Jack Eichel put pen to paper on an eight-year, $13.5 million AAV deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Both were long-shot targets for the Rangers next summer. Instead, New York is left staring at an upcoming free agent class that’s boasting less star power with every day.
McDavid was set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at the close of the 2025-26 season. Though he expressed desire to remain with the Oilers, the Rangers seemed well-positioned to scoop up the future Hall of Famer if he ever reached the open market.
The Rangers have the requisite salary cap space to make a splash next offseason with Artemi Panarin’s $11.6 million AAV contract coming off the books. At the very top of the wish list was McDavid, who’s surpassed the 100-point mark in eight of the past nine seasons, leading the League five times.
While the prospect of a McDavid-Rangers union isn’t completely dead, as the 28-year-old will become a free agent once again after the 2027-28 season, it certainly takes a little luster away from a 2025-26 offseason that could be transformational for New York — if they play their cards right.
Here’s who the Rangers can still target with McDavid off the table.
Related: Rangers prospect Scott Morrow gets massive compliment: ‘Jack Eichel of the blue line’ in college
Martin Necas (Colorado Avalanche) — UFA
There isn’t another McDavid, or even another Eichel, in this upcoming free agent class. But Martin Necas might be the next best thing — and his future with the Colorado Avalanche is far less certain.
After they were unable to come to terms on an extension with Mikko Rantanen last season, the Avalanche flipped the star winger to the Carolina Hurricanes for a package headlined by Necas. The 26-year-old wing will play out the final season of a two-year, $6.5 million AAV deal before entering free agency next summer, when he’s due for a sizeable pay raise.
Whether it’s via midseason trade, a la Rantanen, or offseason negotiations, the Rangers could make a compelling suitor. After watching him suit up with their Metropolitan Division rivals for the better part of eight years, New York is well-versed in his game.
Necas is a talented offensive threat capable of playing both center and wing, and fresh off a career-high 83-point campaign. A capable scorer and playmaker, he’d be an exciting addition and would afford the Rangers similar lineup flexibility to that of J.T. Miller. He may not be in the same elite tier as McDavid or Eichel, but it would still be a big splash that gives the Blueshirts a versatile piece in their top six.
Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) — UFA
Sometimes a shiny new toy can be more exciting than a familiar face, but it’s very possible that New York’s biggest move next offseason is simply re-signing Panarin.
Arguably the most successful free-agent signing in Rangers history, Panarin’s game has aged gracefully into his age-34 season. The Russian winger paced the Rangers in scoring each season since he signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract in the summer of 2019, and there’s no reason to think 2025-26 will be any different.
Panarin becomes a UFA at season’s end. Drury and the Rangers wisely remained conservative with their negotiations until the free agent class becomes more transparent, but Panarin could very well be one of the top options come July of 2026.
That said, he’s not without detractors. Beyond the typical concerns that come with an aging forward, Panarin hasn’t been able to carry his dominant offensive pace into the postseason during his tenure in New York. Still, if the Rangers can land him on a cheaper deal, it may be worth pursuing. Plus, given the recent wave of extensions, they might not have much of a choice.
Related: Artemi Panarin turns down Rangers’ team-friendly proposal: report
Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings) — UFA
If the Rangers seek a younger replacement for Panarin, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe could be high on their list. The 29-year-old tallied 30-plus goals in three of the past four seasons and comes off a brilliant postseason campaign, notching four goals and 10 points in just five contests.
He’ll likely cost more than a mid-30s Panarin — that is, if the Kings even let him reach free agency. Kempe hasn’t yet eclipsed the 80-point mark in his nine-year NHL career, but he’s a proven goal scorer with a strong postseason resume.
Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars) — RFA
A lot would have to go right for the Rangers to have a crack at signing Jason Robertson, who will become a restricted free agent (RFA) after the 2025-26 season. But if a lane opened, he’s a player worth throwing the kitchen sink at.
The 26-year-old winger is a two-time 40-goal scorer, with career highs of 46 goals and 109 points in the 2022-23 season. He’s a clear-cut top-line winger with one of the sharpest shots in the League.
The Dallas Stars own exclusive negotiating rights and expressed interest in retaining one of their best young players. One thing working in New York’s favor, as well as any other potential suitor, is Dallas’ current cap situation. The Stars have already issued a slew of major long-term deals to Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen, and Jake Oettinger — and Robertson might end up commanding the most expensive deal yet.
If Dallas entertains sign-and-trade offers, it won’t come cheaply. It’s hard to fathom the Rangers obtaining Robertson without having to give up Alexis Lafreniere, Gabe Perreault, and more. Then again, you’d be lucky if either Lafreniere or Perreault match the success that Robertson has in the NHL already.
