Rangers Roundup: Drury signs college free agent Brandon Scanlin, playoff frame of mind, and more

new york rangers salary cap
Mar 19, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA;New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) and teammates celebrate as they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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The New York Rangers have reportedly signed NCAA free agent defenman Brandon Scanlin to a two-year contract on Saturday.

Scanlin, 21, is a hulking left shot defenseman who is 6-4 and 214 pounds. Better yet, he uses all of is and plays a mean, physical game.

Rangers sign Brandon Scanlin

According to CapFriendly, the two year contract starts this season with an AAV of $832,500. Scanlin should be available to the Hartford Wolf Pack and Rangers almost immediately.

 A towering defenseman who contributes at both ends of the ice, Scanlin has put up a career-best 31 points for Omaha this season. The 22-year-old junior blueliner had more than 40 points in each of his last two seasons of junior hockey before embarking on his NCAA career, so there’s a track record of production. He has some good elements to his physical game and can be difficult to get around. I do have some concerns about his skating in terms of defending NHL speed, but I also think there are some appealing tools there that will entice a good number of offers.

Daily Faceoff

Update: New York Rangers make it official. Full signing details.

Playoff mentality setting in for Rangers

mika zibanejad
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

New York’s Mika Zibanejad ripped a game-winning, power-play goal with 16 seconds left in regulation as the visiting Rangers shocked Tampa Bay 2-1 to complete a season sweep of the Lightning on Saturday night.

It was another comeback back win for the Blueshirts with defenseman Jacob Trouba scoring the tying goal in the second period. During the intermission, he spoke with ESPN about the playoff like feel the game had.

“It’s a tight checking, low scoring game,” Trouba said. “They’re a good team and we can play with them. Looking to finish off strong and get the win.”

Zibanejad, who blasted home his 25th goal of the season for a huge two points relayed that the these games are only helping them prepare for what’s next.

“The last two games was intense, like a playoff game,” Zibanejad said afterwards. “That was good for our group.”

Head coach Gerard Gallant, who was very pleased after the 2-1 loss against the Islanders with his team’s play echoed the sentiments felt in the room.

“That’s three in a row that we’ve played the way we want to play,” Gallant explained. “I think we’re finding our game and everybody’s enjoying it. That was another battle tonight, a low-scoring playoff-type of game. The power play was a little off tonight until it gets the winning goal at the end. They came through when they had to.”

“The last three games we played the right way,” Gallant concluded.

Vitali Kravtsov update

Blueshirts’ prospect Vitali Kravtsov started the second round of the KHL playoffs with another goal to help Traktor to a 4-1 win. He has 3 goals and 1 assist in 6 playoff games so far.

The 22 year-old asked for a trade in October before leaving the Rangers organization for Russia. He is rumored to be a trade chip in almost every deal for a rental.

NHL Trade: Claude Giroux heads to Panthers

Claude Giroux will join the Florida Panthers in their quest for a Stanley Cup. Read more about the trade here.

Anthony Scultore is the founder of Forever Blueshirts and has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL... More about Anthony Scultore

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