New York Rangers 2026 free agency tracker: Signings, trades, analysis
Armed with approximately $15.675 million in salary-cap space and still with significant upgrades needed on their roster, the New York Rangers arrived at the start of NHL free agency on Wednesday seeking ways to continue their organizational retool.
They already landed a pair of foundational pieces this offseason, acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev in a significant trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, and selecting hulking defenseman Alberts Smits with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
That’s a really good start for Chris Drury and Co. But the Rangers can’t stop there. They want to find another top-six forward and top-four defenseman, and perhaps some bottom-six forward help, plus a veteran goalie to be an insurance policy and battle Dylan Garand for the backup job behind Igor Shesterkin
Of course, the Rangers need not try to fill all their holes through a weak free agent class. They’re willing to swing big on the trade market, which is what they did last week by securing Dorofeyev, the goal-scoring stud they absolutely had to have.
Not everything needs to get done July 1. But it’s another benchmark day for all NHL teams, and there’s a reason why the word “frenzy” is often associated with the start of free agency.
So, join us her for the ride. Just as was the case with our Rangers 2026 NHL Draft Tracker, we’ve got you covered with all the news and analysis right here.
2026 New York Rangers Trade Tracker
June 26: The Rangers acquired defenseman William Trudeau from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Brett Berard.
June 26: The Rangers acquired forward Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights for a first- and third-round pick in this year’s draft (Nos. 26 and 93) and a conditional first-round selection in 2028.
June 26: The Rangers acquired a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft and forward Massimo Rizzo from the Nashville Predators for forward Adam Edstrom.
Joonas Korpisalo acquired from Bruins
The Rangers kickstarted their business on July 1 with a trade, not a free-agent signing. They acquired veteran goalie Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins for a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft and forward prospect Kalle Vaisanen. He comes with a $4 million salary-cap hit the next two seasons, though the Rangers are on the hook for just $3 million annually, since the Ottawa Senators pay the rest per terms of a previous trade. Korpisalo is 32 and has 334 games of NHL experience on his resume, which should give him a leg up on the competition with Garand to be Shesterkin’s backup on Broadway. He has a 3.06 career goals-against average and last season appeared in 31 games (28 starts) as Jeremy Swayman’s backup, finishing with a 14-9-6 record, 3.15 GAA, .894 save percentage and one shutout. He was tied for 49th among NHL goalies with -1.0 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. Korpisalo did help Finland win a bronze medal at the Milan-Cortina Olympics and gold at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. It’s hard to imagine Garand is happy about this, and Rangers fans certainly aren’t thrilled.
Rangers finally pull trigger on Vincent Trocheck trade; send center to Utah for Cole Beaudoin, Sean Durzi, pick
The Rangers finally cashed in their Vincent Trocheck trade chip — with the Utah Mammoth surprisingly being his destination. The key to the return is Cole Beaudoin, a 2024 first-round pick who plays a heavy game, scored 33 goals last season for Barrie of the OHL, and projects at least as a solid middle-six forward, at center or on the wing. There’s a lot to like with Beaudoin, who has an impressive array of intangibles. But make no mistake: He wasn’t Utah’s top prospect — or, by many accounts, even in their top-5. Sean Durzi is a 27-year-old right-shot defenseman who plays in the top-four, has good puck-moving skills, and puts up decent offensive numbers — remember coach Mike Sullivan said this was an area the Rangers had to address in the offseason — though not as adept defensively. As for Trocheck, the Rangers will miss him on and off the ice. He chewed up 21 minutes a night playing well in every game situation, was an important voice in the dressing room and a respected leader. But at 33, with limited trade protection, and plenty of value around the League, it made sense to move on from him this summer, after choosing not to ahead of the trade deadline in March.
Rangers trade Will Borgen to Bruins for two draft picks
After adding Durzi, the Rangers needed to move a right-shot defenseman from their defense corps, and traded Will Borgen to the Boston Bruins for a second-round pick in the 2027 and a conditional third-round selection in 2028, which could become a second-rounder. It’s a decent return for the 29-year-old who has four more years at $4.1 million annually left on his contract and whom the Rangers acquired in December 2024 from the Seattle Kraken in the Kaapo Kakko trade. The Rangers will miss Borgen’s physical play and nasty edge on the blue line but believe they upgraded in terms of being able to move the puck quickly out of their own zone. Borgen was third on the Rangers with 99 blocked shots last season and fifth with 111 hits. He also averaged 18:03 TOI, fourth among Rangers defensemen
Rangers acquire defenseman Marcus Pettersson from Canucks
New York entered the offseason seeking to upgrade the left side of their defense corps, and that remained so even after selecting Smits with the fifth overall pick in the draft last weekend. So, they traded a 2030 top-10 protected first-round pick to the Canucks for Pettersson, a 6-foot-5 left-shot defenseman who averaged more than 21 minutes per game in a top-four role in the past four seasons. He’s more of a defensive-minded defender, so he should complement Durzi well, and provides cover for youngsters Smits, Drew Fortescue, and Matthew Robertson. Ironically, Pettersson was acquired by the Canucks from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for the first-round pick the Rangers traded to Vancouver for J.T. Miller in January 2025. The 30-year-old has 604 games of NHL experience, and five years left on his contract which carries a $5.5 million cap hit.
2026 New York Rangers Free Agency Tracker
Here’s a breakdown of which eligible players the Rangers made qualifying offers to, and which RFAs they did not qualify by the June 29 deadline.
June 21: The Rangers signed goal Dylan Garand, a restricted free agent, to a two-year, $1.75 million contract.
June 30: The Rangers signed Pavel Dorofeyev, a restricted free agent, to a seven-year, $77 million contract.
July 2: The Rangers improved their depth at their AHL affiliate Hartford by signing veteran defensemen Dennis Cholowksi and forward Glenn Gawdin.
Joe Veleno signs one-year contract
The Rangers agreed to terms with center Joe Veleno on a one-year, $1.2 million contract for their first free-agent signing on July 1. The 26-year-old brings much-needed speed to the Rangers, albeit in a bottom-six role as the projected fourth-line center. He scored only two goals, totaled five points, and was minus-12, averaging 12:05 TOI over 61 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season. The former first-round pick (No. 30 overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2018) reached double digits in goals once in five NHL seasons, scoring 12 with Detroit in 2023-24, after lighting it up in the QMJHL back in his junior days. Veleno is well-traveled, with the Rangers being his fourth team in the past three seasons — interestingly each an Original Six franchise (Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Canadiens, Rangers).
Oliver Bjorkstrand signs one-year contract
The Rangers added a veteran middle-six forward by signing Oliver Bjorkstrand to a one-year, $4.5 million contract. A six-time 20-goal scorer over 11 NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Kraken, and Tampa Bay Lightning, Bjorkstrand scored 12 goals (nine on the power play) and totaled 32 points in 80 games with the Bolts last season. The 31-year-old is consistent and durable, never playing fewer than 77 games in a full NHL season. It feels like Bjorkstrand is a reliable placeholder until some younger prospects like Beaudoin or Liam Greentree are ready to graduate to the big club. He’s can play either wing, and can move up and down the lineup as needed.
Former New York Rangers movement tracker
July 1: The Los Angeles Kings signed a pair of former Rangers, inking forward Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Erik Gustafsson.
July 1: Former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba cashed in again, signing a four-year, $33 million contract with the San Jose Sharks.
July 1: Jonny Brodzinski left the Rangers to sign a one-year, one-way contract worth $850,000 with the Washington Capitals.
July 1: Trey Fix-Wolansky, who led the Hartford Wolf Pack with 31 goals and 55 points last season signed a one-year contract with Vancouver.
July 1: Conor Sheary departed the Rangers after one season and signed with the Buffalo Sabres, one of his previous former teams.
July 1: The Utah Mammoth signed defenseman Zac Jones to a two-year, two-way contract.
