Rangers sign Taylor Raddysh to 2-year contract, fortify bottom-6 forward group
The New York Rangers bolstered their bottom-six group of forwards Tuesday, when they signed Taylor Raddysh to a two-year, $3 million contract on the first day of NHL free agency.
It’s a solid value signing for the Rangers, who had limited salary-cap space after inking UFA defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and re-upping rising star Will Cuylle earlier in the day.
The 27-year-old played a career-high 80 games last season with the Washington Capitals and finished with 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists). Just three seasons ago, Raddysh scored 20 goals and had 37 points in 78 games with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Raddysh can be expected to fill a similar role that Jimmy Vesey had with New York in recent years. A trusted, hard-working forward with some offensive skill that’s best suited for bottom-six duty and time on the penalty kill, but can move up the lineup for a stretch if there’s a need due to injury or whatever. Raddysh is bigger (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) than Vesey, though each player brings a physical element to a lineup.
A second-round pick (No. 58 overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Draft, Raddysh likely will be in the mix for a third-line role with the Rangers when training camp opens in September. Assuming Mika Zibanejad plays right wing in the top six, the Rangers need someone to fill the 3C spot, with Juuso Parssinen and Jonny Brodzinski the top contenders right now. That leaves Raddysh in a battle with one of those two for a spot on one of the wings, along with Brennan Othmann, Brett Berard, Gabe Perreault, and Justin Dowling, a veteran who also signed with the Rangers on Tuesday.
The fourth line appears set with Sam Carrick centering towering wings Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom.
Related: Rangers transformation continues with K’Andre Miller trade to Hurricanes: 3 key takeaways
Rangers sign Taylor Raddysh on busy first day of NHL free agency
Along with Raddysh and Dowling, the Rangers also signed defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a two-year, two-way contract. The 31-year-old will provide organizational depth on defense and has 226 games of NHL experience with seven teams.
Pouliot was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he’s played only 13 NHL games the past three seasons, and none in 2024-25. He is coming off a strong campaign with Syracuse of the American Hockey League when he posted 53 points (seven goals, 46 assists) in 70 games last season.
He’s a good add to mentor prospects in Hartford and be a veteran option should the need arise in New York next season.
The Rangers shook up their defense corps again Tuesday, when they signed Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract to play opposite Adam Fox on the top pair. Later in the day, the Rangers traded K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Scott Morrow and two picks in the 2026 draft — a conditional first-rounder and a second-round selection.
In addition, defenseman Zac Jones officially left the organization, signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Jones wasn’t extended a qualifying offer after five seasons with the Rangers.
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