Of course, it’s not that simple. The Rangers have $13.695 million in projected salary cap space after Barclay Goodrow was claimed off waivers by the San Jose Sharks, but still need to re-sign restricted free agent defensemen Braden Schneider and Ryan Lindgren.

There are other ways to open up more cap room, like buying out Jacob Trouba or making a trade, but as it stands now the Blueshirts need to be creative to improve their group of forwards.

Keeping in mind that general manager Chris Drury said all internal, as well as external, options will be considered, there’s a chance Kaapo Kakko, Brennan Othmann and/or even Will Cuylle could get a whack at playing in the top six next season. If that’s the plan, whether it be Plan A, Plan B or whatever, then perhaps the Rangers could move in a less expected route during free agency.

Would they consider prioritizing a third-line center instead of a top-six right wing? It’d likely be the more affordable option, though it would displace Filip Chytil, whom coach Peter Laviolette said is a center even though he played on the wing after returning during the Stanley Cup Playoffs from a long-term upper-body injury believed to be a concussion.

So, the question with this strategy is multi-fold. Are there free-agent options who would be better than Chytil at center? Could Chytil adapt to being a wing full-time? Or is this plan a must because you can’t count on the oft-injured Chytil to be healthy next season?

This is another example why Drury is paid the big bucks by James Dolan.

Related: Patrick Kane would want to ‘make it right’ with Rangers

Rangers could prioritize signing center, not right wing in NHL free agency

Depth down the middle is crucial for a Stanley Cup contender. With Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck, the Rangers have two very good centers at the top of the depth chart. A fully healthy Chytil, who scored 22 goals and had 45 points two seasons ago, certainly gives them a solid top three at the position. But, again, Chytil has had a series of head injuries and played just 10 regular-season games in 2023-24.

With Goodrow gone, there’s a hole in the middle on the fourth line. The doughnut can be filled affordably by an internal candidate like Jonny Brodzinski or possibly a free agent such as Kevin Stenlund of the Florida Panthers.

So, back to third-line center. If the Rangers go this route, they could look into Elias Lindholm or Matt Duchene because each would give New York the option of a veteran that can play center or on the wing. Lindholm, 29, disappointed with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks this past season, but had 64 points two seasons ago, and 42 goals and 82 points in 2021-22. He kills it at the face-off dot, though, and is a defensively-aware player. His salary cap hit was $4.85 million and he’ll be looking for a significant raise and term, so he may not be a fit, though the Rangers should check in on him.

Duchene, 33, is another polarizing player. He’s scored 341 goals in the NHL, has always been a solid 5v5 scorer, and remains a skilled playmaker after recording 65 points this past season with the Dallas Stars. His production tailed off dramatically in the playoffs, and he seems to be a true hate-him-or-love-him player. Like Lindholm, Duchene can play center or wing. Unlike Lindholm, he won’t need as many dollars nor years on his contract.

There are other intriguing center options. Chandler Stephenson has won the Stanley Cup twice, with the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights, kills it in the face-off circle and has scored between 51 and 64 points each of the past three seasons. The 30-year-old will get a bump on his latest $2.75 million contract but shouldn’t break the budget.

To varying degrees of interest, there’s also Sean Monahan, 29, who was finally healthy this past season and scored 26 goals and continued his solid two-way play and strong work in face-offs; Adam Henrique, 34, another excellent face-off guy who scored 24 goals this season; and Tyler Johnson, 33, a two-time Stanley Cup champion who’s small (5-foot-8, 185 pounds) and injury prone, but did score 17 goals in 2023-24.

Again, it’d appear that right wing is the Rangers priority in free agency, but it can’t be discounted that they go this route and prioritize a center, especially if the prices for top-six right wings skyrocket.

Midseason trade acquisition Jack Roslovic and offseason signing Blake Wheeler will both become unrestricted free agents July 1, and neither is expected to be brought back. Former No. 2 overall pick Kaapo Kakko is eligible for arbitration, and could be a trade chip this summer. That means the Rangers need to acquire at least one right wing, maybe two.

The ongoing search will be particularly pertinent after an Eastern Conference Final exit that saw the offense dry up and a lack of scoring on the right side outside of Alexis Lafreniere. That on top of a years-long experiment to find the right forward to plat he right side on the top line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, which continues to remain a massive question mark this offseason.

PuckPedia has the Rangers with the 11th-worst projected salary cap space at $12.45 million, which will likely put them out of the running for the headliners among unrestricted free agent forwards like Sam Reinhart and Jake Guentzel, unless a significant contract, like Jacob Trouba’s, is moved this summer, perhaps along with Kakko.

Prospects Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard will get a long look in training camp. Each is knocking on the NHL door, though either might start in a bottom-six role, meaning the Rangers would still need to target a more veteran right wing in the offseason. It would be risky to begin chasing the Stanley Cup next season with a rookie, even a first-rounder like Othmann, starting right away on the top line.

Still, general manager Chris Drury did say they would target all options, both internal and external, when he addressed the media on Friday.

Related: Where Rangers stand after NHL salary cap increases beyond expectations

Right-wing options for Rangers in free agency

With all that on the table, let’s take a look at some potential right-wing candidates with free agency starting in less than a month. Listed in alphabetical order.

Matt Duchene

The Dallas Stars signed Matt Duchene to a one-year, $3 million deal after the Nashville Predators bought out his seven-year, $56 million contract which was supposed to run through 2025-26. Duchene was well worth the value, scoring 25 goals to help Dallas to the best record in the Western Conference.

Now he’ll hit free agency again. He’ll be 34 years old next season, but has largely continued to produce in the back half of his career. He likely sees a jump up from the $3 million cap hit he had this past season, but by how much is the big question.

If he remains in a sub-$5 million range, it could be a fit for the New York Rangers the next few years.

He’s just two years removed from a 43-goal season and has scored 20-plus goals in each of the past three seasons. He’s a primary right winger with top-six experience, logging over 663 minutes in the regular season alongside Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin. He also adds the ability to play down the middle, which he did for the majority of these playoffs. However, he scored only two goals in 19 postseason games this spring.

Again, not the biggest guy (5-foot-11, 195 pounds), but the Rangers could certainly use someone with his speed and scoring touch. It’s worth noting that 19 of his 25 goals this season came at even strength, an area the Blueshirts have struggled to excel in the past few years.

This would certainly be a needle-mover as he’d slot in on the top line immediately. Dallas would certainly like to keep him as well, so it’ll be curious to see where his AAV ends up.

Anthony Duclair

Anthony Duclair came up through the Rangers organization, debuting as a 19-year-old in the 2014-15 season. He played just 18 games and was subsequently traded to the Arizona Coyotes for Keith Yandle. He’s bounced around a lot in his 10-year career, playing for eight different teams, and will once again be available as his three-year deal comes to an end.

Duclair hit the books at an average annual value of $3 million on his most recent contract, the largest cap hit of his career. It’s hard to think he’ll make too much more than that after an up-and-down 2024 season that saw him struggle in 56 games with the San Jose Sharks before finding a spark after a trade to the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of the deadline. He did finish with 24 goals combined.

That’s coming after a 2022-23 season when he logged just nine points in 20 regular-season games after tearing his Achilles tendon. He did, though, rebound to help the Florida Panthers reach the Stanley Cup Final last postseason, when he had 11 points in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

That could translate to a fairly reasonable contract that the Rangers could afford, all while acquiring a player who still has plenty of upside to buy into.

Duclair scored a career-high 31 goals two seasons ago with Florida and is a four-time 20-goal scorer in the NHL. This postseason showed the Rangers could certainly use someone on the right side that has a scoring touch. And his speed would be a nice addition the Rangers lineup.

He’s not the biggest guy (5-foot-11, 197-pounds), which might be a detriment after the Rangers were outmuscled by the Panthers in the conference final, but he’s got plenty of speed and a hard shot. It could be worth a look if the contract is in range.

Danton Heinen

In a similar vein to Sprong, Danton Heinen could be a bottom-six target with potential to play on the top line if necessary.

Heinen posted 17 goals and 36 points in 74 games with the Boston Bruins, rejoining the team that drafted him after several seasons away.

The 28-year-old is primarily a left wing but has played on the right side throughout his career, including a stretch from 2018 to 2020 when he logged most of his minutes at right wing with the Bruins.

He grades out better defensively than Sprong and has gotten run on the top-six, mostly with Boston. In the 2018-19 season, he logged his most ice time to the right of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. This year he logged over 184 minutes next to David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha.

If the Rangers are hoping to recapture the spark of Frank Vatrano, who found inspired success after seeing consistent top-line minutes next to Zibanejad and Kreider after the 2022 trade deadline, Heinen is a guy who has plsayref that role before and has some offensive upside.

Heinen returned to Boston on an incredibly team friendly one-year, $775,000 deal. He’ll certainly get a pay raise this offseason, but it should still be within the Rangers range

Daniel Sprong

The Rangers would love to nab a top wing this offseason, but there’s simply not many who fit that bill, are available and that they can afford as presently constituted. Daniel Sprong might not be a flashy add, it’s the type of move Drury could make if he wants to bolster the right side, particularly if Kakko moves up to the top line or isn’t coming back.

Sprong posted 18 goals and 43 points in 76 games with the Detroit Red Wings after a 21-goal season with the Seattle Kraken the season prior.

He’s not a great defensive forward, grading out poorly in every season outside of his final one in Seattle, but his offensive rating ranks in the 77th percentile over this most recent three-year span (per Evolving Hockey).

The Rangers third line of Will Cuylle, Alex Wennberg, and Kakko was excellent down the stretch at possessing the puck, but struggled to actually score. Filip Chytil centering that line for a full season, if healthy, will likely bolster the offensive production, but an add like Sprong could also help that unit generate more chances.

The 27-year-old has signed one-year deals with the Red Wings and Kraken each of the past two seasons with $2 million in AAV being his highest cap hit. He’ll likely command a similar value again this offseason, which the Rangers could fit if they wanted to try him on a one- or two-year deal.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Here’s another target for the Rangers, who also briefly played for them. Vladimir Tarasenko was solid but by no means other-worldly in his 31 games with the Blueshirts after being acquired ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, tallying eight goals and 21 points in 31 games. However, he did play consistently with Zibanejad and Kreider, and scored three goals in seven playoff games against the New Jersey Devils.

The Rangers had very little cap space last offseason and thus were unable to re-sign Tarasenko, despite him expressing desire to stay in New York.

"I like everything. I cannot say a single bad word about my time. I enjoyed everything."

Vladimir Tarasenko, who calls the Rangers "one of the top organizations in the league, if not the best," on his time in New York: pic.twitter.com/gsaiv02FrO

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) May 3, 2023

He ended up signing a one-year, $5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators, and now he’s in the Stanley Cup Final with the Panthers after a late-season trade. He scored one goal against the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final, the series-winning goal in Game 6. And, of course, he’s a Stanley Cup champion, with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.

This season, the Rangers could have a bit more cap space to work with. If Tarasenko commands another $5 million AAV contract, it could be difficult to fit in, even with the cap going up $4.5 million this offseason. Plus, Tarasenko may be looking for one last long-term deal, which may not be a tree the Rangers want to crawl up with some noteworthy free agents on the horizon in the next few seasons.

However, if the 32-year-old remains in play for a short-term deal, it wouldn’t be a bad fit for the Rangers. He scored 23 goals with Florida and Ottawa this season, and has found success in the postseason on a very successful third line with Anton Lundell and Eutu Luostarinen.

His sharp shot and smooth hands would add a playmaking element that the Rangers lack on the right side outside of Lafreniere. He also has scored 297 goals in the NHL, including 34 just two seasons ago with the Blues.

However, one name that seems to be staying in the rumor mill is New York Rangers second line center, Ryan Strome.

Trade rumors around Ryan Strome

It started early last week with Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff stating that Chris Drury had “multiple irons in the fire.” In that article, he broke down the three following rumors:

• Rangers have been shopping Pavel Buchnevich for weeks
• Kraken are interested in Ryan Strome
• Alex Georgiev is looking for a change of scenery, Rangers shopping him

So far, number one came true as Buchnevich was traded in a cap saving move to the Blues for Sammy Blais and a second round pick. It was also a continuation to a theme that started after they signed Barclay Goodrow to a six-year deal; more toughness.

Well, Elliotte Friedman’s latest blog only stirs the pot further. He is predicting that Strome will be traded to either the Kraken, Knights, or Senators.

If that’s the case, what are the Rangers planning to do at center?

What could the Rangers be planning at center

Let’s start with Strome who is 28 years-old and is coming off a tremendous season where he scored 49 points in 56 games. He has one year left on his contract that pays $4.5 million. Having some term is nice, but he’s basically a rental. That means no one should expect a massive return. Chris Drury’s motivation for this move is likely to free up that cap space.

But for what?

The Rangers are NOT going to trade their second line center unless they confidently have another deal either by trade of free agency in place. Is this a precursor to a Jack Eichel deal? Not necessarily.

As recently as this weekend the Rangers remained close to the Eichel situation. However; the two sides are way off on a trade package. And for the record, it’s not just the Rangers who are way off because everyone is saying the price is too high. Two days until free agency and Eichel is still an unhappy member of the Sabres.

According to Friedman, the Sabres want either Braden Schneider or Nils Lundkvist who the team placed off limits back in March. That hasn’t changed. If the Sabres want a deal I believe the package I heard still stands which included; Kravtsov, Chytil, Jones, and a first round pick. That pick could turn into Georgiev or a first rounder in 2022.

So here are some thoughts if the Rangers do trade Strome and can’t land Eichel.

Rangers Eichel backup plans

I took a look at the free agent market for centers and it is scarce of anyone qualified enough to be a second line center. One possible and expensive UFA signing is Habs defensive center Phillip Danault.

The question is would you pay him $6 to $7 million a year for 6 seasons hoping he can produce enough offense as a 2C? I’m not so confident he can.

There’s also talks of Blake Coleman, but he’s looking for 6 years at $5 million. Is he really an upgrade over Strome? A nice player with all that grit Drury wants, but centering either Panarin or Lafrenière?

Right now, free agency isn’t doing it for me.

Is there a trade for another center out there? Evgeny Kuznetsov? Sean Monahan? Or is it something no one even sees at the moment?

The Capitals recently walked back talk that they would trade Kuznetsov and there hasn’t been a word out of Calgary about Monahan. So, it’s unlikely something is brewing there.

What about a one-for-one swap of Strome for Jonathan Marchessault in Vegas. He’s now a winger but played center for Gerard Gallant when he was there. The 30 year-old had 44 points in 55 games last season and has 2 years left on a deal that comes with a $5M AAV.

Let me throw a wild one by you. Matt Duchene in Nashville.

Yes, he makes a lot of money at $8 million per season for the next five years. He’s also 30 years-old and struggling to find his scoring touch since leaving the Senators. What if the Predators were willing to eat $2 million of that cap hit? What about $3M? Maybe a package of Filip Chytil, and Alexandar Georgiev gets them to do it?

At this point the only real pieces of solid info out there is that Strome is on the block, and Eichel is stuck in Buffalo. If the Rangers trade Strome they have a plan to replace him, but what is it?

We may find out on Wednesday.

NHL FREE AGENCY PRIMER

Get ready for NHL Free Agency right here! Top players and where they could land. Read more.

The St. Louis Blues are on the cusp of claiming their first Stanley Cup tonight. Whether they do or don’t, the NHL season will conclude no later than Wednesday, June 12th. Once the winning locker-room is all cleaned up and the champagne mopped off the floor, things will get real busy for the entire league.

Trades & Buyouts

The window for NHL buyouts should begin June 15th. News is already breaking that the L.A. Kings intend on buying out Dion Phaneuf if they can’t trade him. Over in Anaheim, the Ducks and Corey Perry have agreed to part ways. If the Ducks can’t trade him, they will look to buyout Perry.

As far as the Rangers are concerned, Brendan Smith is likely to be bought out as early as next weekend, freeing up an additional $3M in cap space. Rumors of Kevin Shattenkirk being bought out are poorly thought out, but the possibility of a trade remains. There is an outside chance that if Smith could be traded, buyout focus would shift to Marc Staal.

When it comes to trades, the Rangers may consider moving players like Chris Kreider, Vlad Namestnikov, and Jimmy Vesey in the right deals. One particular target Jeff Gorton will likely make a strong push for is Winnipeg defenseman, Jacob Trouba. If a deal can’t be reached before the opening bell of free agency, that focus will shift to signing Erik Karlsson.

Free Agent Interviews

NHL GM’s will be allowed to speak with pending UFA’s on June 23rd, two days after the draft ends. Three days later, the window to speak to pending RFA’s will open as well. During this timeframe teams can discuss interest but not contract details.

The Rangers are expected to speak with Artemi Panarin, Erik Karlsson, and Matt Duchene before July 1st. This of course does not ensure the signing of any of these UFA’s, and John Davidson is not going to mortgage the future to overpay and lock in someone for 7 years. Of the three top free agents, Panarin would be the target JD is most likely to closely meet the contract and years demand for.

On the RFA front, Davidson and Gorton are not going to present any offer sheets to the likes of Patrick Laine, Mitch Marner, or Mikko Rantanen. Aside from the fact that offer sheets are uncommon, a quick glance at the Rangers future lineup shows plenty of their own RFA’s to worry about.

Ultimately, as was relayed to me by a Rangers executive, “[There] Will be a lot happening in the next few weeks all around the league.” Get yourselves ready fans as news will be coming fast and furious.

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Now that the San Jose Sharks have fallen short of winning Lord Stanley’s Cup yet again, the Erik Karlsson rumors are starting to pick up. After a recent tweet by him, as shown below, it seems as if Karlsson is going to hit the open market on July 1.

The Rangers seem to be a team that is finding it’s way in the mix for Karlsson, but as per The Athletic’s Rick Carpinello, the Rangers will not pursue the Swedish superstar. The team that has come up the most in regards to pursuing Karlsson is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Karlsson wants to play for a winner, and not to mention his good friend Victor Hedman is down there as well. The issue with this is how would Tampa Bay be able to afford Karlsson?

With just over $8 million in projected cap, the Bolts find themselves in a tight spot financially. Karlsson, who can easily make Drew Doughty money in terms of AAV ($11 million), will have to take a serious pay cut to play with his fellow Swede and the Bolts. Tampa would still have a ton of work to do because their 92-point center Brayden Point is due for a hefty raise as well. I project Point will make an AAV of somewhere in the $8-9 million range, in the non-tax state of Florida. Tampa also has some other big RFAs due this summer and next, including Point and Paquette this summer, and Cirelli, Vasilevskiy, Sergachev, Cernak, and Joseph next summer. Even if Karlsson were to make an AAV of $6 million, an extreme discount for a player of his caliber, it would still be next to impossible to get him, re-sign Point this summer, and sign the plethora of very good RFAs next summer, one of which is a Vezina nominated goaltender. So how do the Rangers play into helping the Lightning acquire Karlsson?

In a recent post by our own Steven Voogel, he discussed the idea of the Rangers taking on a bad contract such as Patrick Marleau, and an asset such as Kasperi Kapanen attached to it to help Toronto clear some money to pay Mitch Marner.

I think that there can be something similar can be done here with Tampa to help them out in acquiring Karlsson. As we know, the Rangers and the Bolts have been trading allies for quite some time now. They clearly have a good relationship, and the Rangers are a perfect fit for this situation. The Rangers have an abundance of cap space (projected at just over $19 million as per CapFriendly), and can have even more room if they move some other pieces. If they were to help out Tampa, the Rangers would likely have to bring back former captain Ryan Callahan, who has one year left on his deal carrying an AAV of $5.8 million. Attached to Callahan could be Anthony Cirelli. Cirelli, who is only 21-years-old and has one more year left on his ELC before a solid pay-raise, is exactly the type of player the Rangers should target when making a move like this. Cirelli has 50 points in 100 career games, and had an excellent first full year in the league. In 2018-2019, Cirelli played in all 82 games, compiling 39 points; 19 of which were goals. Cirelli also represented Team Canada at the World Championships where he won a silver medal. In the tournament, Cirelli had four points (3G, A) in ten games.

With all of the big-name UFA buzz surrounding Panarin, Duchene, Karlsson, etc., I would rather see the Rangers go this route. I am not putting down the fact of signing a career point-per-game player in Panarin, but acquiring a guy like Cirelli for taking on a bad contract in Callahan for just one season may fit the Rangers timeline better.

Jeff Gorton and co. have put themselves in a fantastic spot heading into this off-season. They have compiled picks, re-stocked the prospect cabinet on defense, got the number two overall pick in the 2019 draft, and have cap flexibility. There are so many things that Rangers brass can do this summer, and I am really looking forward to it.

While Rangers fans can’t take their eyes off the shiny object that is unrestricted free agent Artemi Panarin, GM Jeff Gorton may have his eyes on other more pressing free agents that fill a dire need. This isn’t to say that Panarin is not a target, but that he may not be at the top of the list.

Kakko Changes Everything

All last season, speculation from insiders like Elliotte Friedman and Pierre Lebrun had Panarin going to free agency and signing with the Rangers. While this could still be the case, the moment the Rangers won the #2 pick at the draft lottery likely altered their offseason game plan. It also caused them to reprioritize their UFA list.

Jack Hughes is going first overall to the NJ Devils. He is a franchise center which are hard to find in the NHL and there’s just no way after 3 years worth of hype and family ties between GM Ray Shero and Jack’s dad that they won’t draft him. That leaves the Finnish Force, Kaapo Kakko for the Rangers to select.

Kakko is an elite right winger that will become the face of the franchise almost immediately, he is that good. But he is just another winger on a team that is chock full of them. The Rangers should also not take these players and force them to play out of position because it usually doesn’t lead to success.

Let players develop at their preferred positions

Did you see Pittsburgh try and force Sidney Crosby to play wing? Or Washington make Alex Ovechkin play center? The answer is no. So the Rangers shouldn’t do that with players like Vitali Kravtsov who is a winger, or Brett Howden and Filip Chytil who are centers. Lias Andersson is the only forward prospect that is listed as both a center and a left wing, and he should make the permanent shift to a third or fourth line winger next year.

So the addition of Kakko now has the Rangers overflowing with young wingers like Kravtsov, Pavel Buchnevich, Lias Andersson and Brendan Lemieux. These five players are added to a mix that already includes, Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast, Jimmy Vesey, Vlad Namestnikov, Ryan Strome. That’s 10 wingers on a team where you can only dress 8. Something will have to give.

The Rangers need another top center

As it stands now, the Rangers are heading into the season with Mika Zibanejad as their only skilled veteran center. He is without a doubt their #1 but he will be under enormous pressure if his supporting pivots are Filip Chytil, Brett Howden or Boo Nieves. Sure, Strome and Namestnikov can play the middle but is that optimal?

Both Kakko and Kravtsov are right wingers. Pavel Buchnevich also seems more comfortable on the right side, which means only one of these players will have the benefit of playing with an experienced skilled center and the others will be learning the game with developing Filip Chytil.

This means that unless there is a major change at the draft, where Gorton gets center Jack Hughes he is going to have to look at signing or trading for a good center. The name he will focus on with John Davidson’s blessing is Matt Duchene.

The 28 year old center is coming off a strong season where he notched 31 goals and 70 points in 73 games, mostly for the lowly Ottawa Senators. What’s also of real note is his 10 points in 10 playoff games for the Blue Jackets. When the market opens, Duchene is going to get a hard look from the Rangers who would give the team an incredible 1-2 punch down the middle with Zibanejad.

Can you imagine what Kakko and Kravtsov could do with either of those two centers? This could also give the Rangers an incredible third line with Buchnevich and Chytil flying around with a LW like Andersson or Lemieux.

Of course, if the Rangers can move salary in trades like offloading Chris Kreider, Vlad Namestnikov or even Jimmy Vesey they could open up more cap space to bring in Artemi Panarin to play LW on the a line with Zibanejad and Kakko.

The bottom line is that if the plan is just to add Panarin and not address the 2nd line center void, NY will simply be too top heavy and easier to deploy your best 5 defensive players on them night in and night out.

This also has another domino effect of negative consequences. David Quinn will have to move players around to get by these tactics. That causes constant changes of line mates and difficulty in getting into a rhythm that is important in developing these young players. It will also put an enormous amount of pressure on a very young Filip Chytil in just his 2nd full season.

Free Agency is about Filling Needs

Unlike the draft where you go for the best player regardless of position, free agency is about filling needs. The need now is a center. If the Rangers fail to land Duchene when the market opens, they can also turn to Jeff Skinner who played center in Juniors and with the Hurricanes. He is a cheaper option but not the optimal one since he is better as a winger.

Another route to consider is a trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a cap bind and need to sign some big RFA’s that include Mitch Marner. It could make them open to trade William Nylander who was drafted as a center and played a little at that position for the Leafs. If Gorton can see Nylander slotting in at number two, a trade could make a ton of sense for both teams. The most unlikely option is trading for Evgeni Malkin, because the rumors seemed more like a scare tactic by Pittsburgh to motivate the veteran center.

Ultimately Panarin remains the top free agent this summer, but does he fill the Rangers most pressing need? The obvious answer is no, and for the betterment of the rebuild Gorton will have to figure out how to get another big gun in the middle.

To all readers, especially those who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice, Happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Time and time again, Rangers GM Jeff Gorton has stated that the team will look to expedite the rebuilding process in free agency. The top two guys this summer, as we know by now, are Artemi Panarin and Erik Karlsson. But outside of those two, who else is out there that the organization can lure to New York?

Matt Duchene

Starting with a guy who will have the highest ticket price out of everyone on this list, Matt Duchene has developed a name for himself in the NHL over the last decade. That name is a guy that has tallied 547 points in 727 career games and gives the offensive threat many teams in the NHL are missing, like the Rangers.

At 28 years old, Duchene is set to sign the contract of his life, as he’s to expect a contract with a minimum of five years, while hovering around that $10 million mark. Duchene is the type of player that the Rangers need at some point in the future, and with the possibility of a couple of their prospect forwards being on the roster for next season, Duchene can provide that veteran leadership every team needs while impacting the team offensively. With a guy like Duchene, the Rangers shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger when it comes to throwing a good chunk of money at him, especially if they miss out of their main guy in Artemi Panarin.

Jeff Skinner

Another offensive threat that is set to get a large raise this summer is one Jeff Skinner. The soon-to-be 27-year-old has also proven his worth in the last nine years in the NHL, posting 442 points in 661 career games. In his first year in Buffalo, Skinner reached the 40 goal mark for the first time in his career.

Currently making a shade under $6 million, and especially coming off of 40-goal year, Skinner will likely get a contract around $8 or $9 million per year, with the same length as Duchene. These two forwards are very much alike, as the addition of either of them improves the teams offensive immediately. Fitting into the Rangers lineup for Skinner would come with ease, as it usually is for natural point-scorers. Having a versatile winger under contract for a good number of years can help the Rangers now, and in a couple of years when they hope to be competing. Skinner is somebody the Rangers should definitely inquire come July 1.

Marcus Johansson

The cheapest of the bunch, also the least productive, would be a nice fit for the Rangers going forward. Johansson, who seems to fit nicely as a middle-six forward, provides any team he’s on with solid numbers for someone who doesn’t need to take as much cap up as the others.

Johansson has 334 points through 588 games, and at just 28, still has plenty of years of productivity. The veteran leadership that he can bring to the young Rangers would help tremendously, and with a contract anywhere from 3-5 years at a minimum of $6 million per year. The contract is definitely doable, and for what he brings to the table, the Rangers should be sure to check up on Johansson once free agency opens.

With the Senators trading center Matt Duchene earlier today, the first big trade of deadline season has finally occurred. What does it all mean for the Blueshirts? Let’s take a look.

For starters, the deal will set the precedent for Jeff Gorton to negotiate a potential trade involving Kevin Hayes. Duchene is a top-six center on every team in the NHL, and him going to Columbus give the Blue Jackets a bona fide top line with Artemi Panarin on the wing. The belief is that Columbus is gearing up for a playoff run.

This means that Kevin Hayes is now, presumably, the top center on the market. Ottawa giving up two of their better prospects and possibly more gives Jeff Gorton a barometer when it comes to discussing a trade for the Dorchester, MA native. And with Nashville, Boston, Winnipeg, and others rumored to be in the market for Hayes’s services, the Rangers should be able to bring in a nice haul for Hayes if they decide to trade him.

Secondly, as Adam Rotter points out, Columbus trying to make a deep playoff run means Artemi Panarin is off the market, and Mats Zuccarello becomes an even more valuable trade asset for the Rangers. With Ottawa making Mark Stone available for a trade, Zuccarello may not be the best winger available on the market, but the Rangers may be able to increase their asking price for the veteran Norwegian winger.

NHL Rumor Updates

The latest rumor buzz that will impact the New York Rangers.

Hot Commodity: Artemi Panarin

The Florida Panthers are said to be be freeing up cap space to make a huge run at Artemi Panarin. While they may be trying to trade for him now, they want to be able to offer max money as well. Bob McKenzie mentioned that and the Rangers in a recent interview.

“My understanding is that any of the Florida teams, he’s interested in. Any of the big teams on the Eastern seaboard – the New York Rangers, like that. The Chicago Blackhawks, there’s been indications that he would go back and try to find a way to work him back into the fold. I don’t think smaller market Canadian teams would be in his wheelhouse at all. Toronto is not going to be positioned to do anything. But I think he liked the idea of Original Six a little bit. I wouldn’t rule Detroit out of the equation, especially with the history Detroit has had with Russian players in the past.”

McKenzie via Nichols on Hockey

Kevin Hayes and the impact of the Matt Duchene negotiations

Matt Duchene is the one player that could drive up Kevin Hayes’ trade value by simply agreeing to a new contract with the Ottawa Senators. Should Duchene re-up before the deadline, Hayes will become the best available center on the market. With the lack of many options in the middle, contenders bidding for Hayes will have to give up their 1st round pick and more to acquire his services.

With the clock ticking towards the NHL trade deadline Feb. 25, Duchene’s Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey was in town to have lunch and hold contract discussions with Ottawa Senators’ general manager Pierre Dorion and assistant GM Peter MacTavish Monday.
As the Senators were wrapping up their skate Monday around 12:45 p.m. at the Canadian Tire Centre, MacTavish took Duchene aside as he was leaving the ice to have a chat. Not long after, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Brisson had come here for a face-to-face meeting with the Senators’ brass.

Ottawa Sun

Zuccarello to the West

The Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets are the three teams leading the rumor charge for Mats Zuccarello’s services as we enter Trade Deadline month.

Although not much has been said as to a possible return, Zuccarello’s impressive play as of late certainly has raised the price. A first round pick, which was considered unthinkable last month now seems like a real possibility.