New York Rangers rank 8 in Sportsnet’s power rankings after free agency
After the madness of free agency died down, Sportsnet put out their latest power rankings. Rangers fans who were especially unhappy with the departures of Henrik Lundqvist and Jesper Fast will be happy to know that the Blueshirts were in the top 10.
Yes, that’s even after signing Jack Johnson.
Sportsnet Power Rankings #8: New York Rangers
Love it: Not wasting any time signing lottery windfall Alexis Lafreniere to his entry-level deal. Braden Schneider at 19th overall isn’t too shabby either. Taking a one-year flyer on Jack Johnson for $1.15 million.
Luke Fox obviously didn’t hate the Jack Johnson signing. As I’ve written in the past, the Rangers landed the biggest prize of the offseason when they won the lottery to draft Alexis Lafreniere. Signing him so quickly was also a plus.
Hate it: Seeing Henrik Lundqvist play his final game as a Ranger in a building without fans. Carrying $13 million cap space in dead buyout money. Getting jacked by Steve Yzerman, who stole a second-round pick by taking Marc Staal’s contract. The potential of arbitration cases Anthony DeAngelo, Ryan Strome and Alexandar Georgiev vaulting the club into cap hell.
Luke brings up some fair points here, but misses the mark. The Rangers didn’t get “jacked”, they had to add the second round pick in order to take Staal’s full cap off the books.
As far as cap hell, he’s wrong. The Rangers will be tight but they already signed Tony DeAngelo to a good deal and it’s likely Strome will sign for similar or less.
Expect the Rangers to move up in the rankings next time out.
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