New York Rangers report cards: Grading Tye Kartye, in-season acquisitions
For a team that finished last in the Eastern Conference, sustained several key injuries, and had its general manager publicly announce a retool of the roster four months into the season, the New York Rangers didn’t exactly load up with reinforcements from outside the organization to try and improve their lot over the course of 2025-26.
Though there was a parade of players called up during the season from their AHL affiliate in Hartford, the Rangers added only two externally. And each was claimed off waivers — defenseman Vincent Iorio on Jan. 31 and forward Tye Kartye on Feb. 27.
The players that the Rangers acquired in trades during the season were prospects, with an eye toward the future. Liam Greentree came over the from the Los Angeles Kings in the Artemi Panarin trade, and will turn pro next season. The Rangers also acquired another forward prospect, Jacob Battaglia, from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Brennan Othmann. And first-year pro Aidan Thompson landed in Hartford after he was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for veteran minor league defenseman Derrick Pouliot.
So, after already handing out grades to players the Rangers acquired last offseason, let’s do the same for Iorio and Kartye, the only two in-season pick-ups who landed on Broadway.
Tye Kartye: A-
Let’s start with Kartye, who provided a resounding jolt of energy to the lineup upon his arrival, and never let up over 24 games in New York’s bottom-six forward group. A human wrecking ball, Kartye was credited with 75 hits in those 24 games, and averaged an impressive 13.32 hits per 60 minutes with the Rangers. He was excellent on the penalty kill, and a pleasant surprise offensively with 14 points (five goals, nine assists). Keep in mind that he had 13 points in 63 games in 2024-25 with the Seattle Kraken, and eight in 40 games this season before landing on the waiver wire. But he fit seamlessly into the Rangers system, playing a quick North-South style, and trusted defensively — though the Rangers were outscored 17-16 at 5v5 with him on the ice. The 25-year-old is signed for another season at $1.25 million annually, making him an absolute steal for GM Chris Drury if he continues on the same path in 2026-27.
Vincent Iorio: INC
It’s not fair to hand Iorio a grade, since the 23-year-old defenseman played only six games with the Rangers after they claimed him off waivers from the San Jose Sharks, where he appeared in 21 games. A right-shot defenseman, he did move ahead of rookie Scott Morrow on the NHL depth chart upon his Broadway arrival. But playing time soon dissipated for Iorio when Adam Fox returned to the lineup after the Olympic break, setting up the right side of the D corps with Fox, Will Borgen, and Braden Schneider. Iorio logged more than 14:22 TOI in just one game — March 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs (16:14) — and he responded with a season-high three shots on goal. He wasn’t bad with the Rangers — no egregious moments, a 48.34 percent xGF, per Natural Stat Trick — but the sample size is too small to give anything other than an incomplete grade.
