Rangers sign Justin Dowling to 2-year contract, add veteran forward depth
Though it was easy to overlook on a day they signed stud free-agent defenseman Valdislav Gavrikov and re-upped RFA forward Will Cuylle, the New York Rangers took care of some smaller business as well Tuesday.
The Rangers signed Justin Dowling to a two-year contract worth $1.55 million. The 34-year-old can play center or on the wing and is an affordable bottom-six option for the Rangers.
Last season, Dowling played an NHL career-high 52 games across the Hudson River with the New Jersey Devils. He had seven points (two goals, five assists) and averaged 10:13 TOI. Per Natural Stat Trick, Dowling’s xGF was 48.81 percent, though the Devils were outscored 18-11 and outshot 212-171 with him on the ice 5v5.
Dowling is far from a flashy player. Though he has decent speed, Dowling’s a grinder, a defensive-minded forward who can play on the penalty kill. He played so many games last season due to a string of injuries at the bottom of New Jersey’s forward group.
Never drafted, it took Dowling six years in the minors before he made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars on Oct. 25, 2016. He’s played 152 games for the Stars, Vancouver Canucks and Devils, totaling 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists). He also has nearly 700 games of minor-league experience in the AHL and ECHL.
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Justin Dowling provides veteran depth for Rangers
The odds are pretty good that Dowling will be in Hartford of the American Hockey League when the 2025-26 season begins. However, coach Mike Sullivan and his staff will give everyone a fresh look at training camp this fall. But it’s hard not see Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom flanking Sam Carrick on the Rangers fourth line next season; and Dowling is a better fit on the fourth line than third.
If he does land in Hartford, Dowling provides veteran depth and will be expected to fill a leadership role for their AHL prospects., something he’s accustomed to doing in his career.
The other Rangers moves Tuesday were more headline-worthy. Signing Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million deal is a massive step toward improving New York’s back end. Retaining Cuylle on a fair contract, keeping him away from the feared off sheet from another team, is also a critical move.
The Rangers concluded their day by trading defenseman K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Scott Morrow and two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft (a conditional first-rounder and a second-round selection). They currently have approximately $2 million in salary cap space.
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