The potential free agency market thinned rapidly yesterday, removing several possible targets for the Rangers. Those signings came about after the restricted free agent market narrowed dramatically with several players re-signing with their teams. Ivan Provorov inked a seven year deal with an $8.5 million AAV, removing one possible blue line option. Patrick Kane re-upped for a year in Detroit for a $3 million base salary with $4 million in performance bonuses, taking away a long shot reunion with the Blueshirts. Several other marketplace options, including Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad came off the board, really narrowing the pool of available talent.
ARTHUR KALIYEV AND ZAC JONES
Arthur Kaliyev not receiving a qualifying offer should not be viewed as a major surprise. His style of play does not mesh well with how new coach Mike Sullivan likes to play. In addition, lots of bodies in front of him, though it’s possible he might have passed through waivers and landed in Hartford. However, his presence might have stunted the development of younger players.
Zac Jones gets a chance to rebuild his career. After stagnating in New York, he hits the open market. Last year, he and his agent were unable to find a suitor to make a trade for him, This year, he should receive vastly more interest as an unrestricted free agent. His arb rights might have pushed the contract beyond where New York wanted to go for a bottom-pairing/depth option. While far from elite, Jones was a solid enough 6th/7th d-man and it’s hard not wonder if he will be another blueliner who blossomed away from the Rangers.
Vince Mercogliano had an in depth look at the possible free agent options for the Rangers. A few of the options have come off the board after re-inking with their teams. Despite that, the list is a solid primer on free agency.
New York has some cash, but comes into the free agent frenzy with some cash, but isn’t swimming in cap room. PuckPedia projects $12.2 million in available space, but the real number is more like $15 million when you consider that at least a few of the players listed will likely start the season in the minors.
CENTERS
A few names from the column are likely targets in my mind. Down the middle, Nick Bjugstad and Christan Dvorak could be 3C options. Neither are elite, at least slightly, but both strike me as an upgrade from Jusso Parssinen and Jonni Brodzinski. Pius Suter is likely too pricey, and if he falls into that bucket, Mikael Granlund, who was too expensive for Dallas, certainly is, barring other moves.
WINGERS
At wing, Nikolai Ehlers, who has likely been a Rangers’ target for years, and Brock Boeser are the two best available by far. Ehlers is a possibility, though that would necessitate moving someone to create enough cap space. New York needs a middle-six right winger, preferably one that is a solid forechecker, but a scoring winger would be a welcome addition. Tanner Jeannot and Gustav Nyquist could be secondary options.
DEFENSEMEN
On the blueline, the target is clear, Vladislav Gavrikov. The problem is two-fold, First, with Provorov signed, the market has thinned. Price tags rose, partially driven by what the Columbus blueliner received. Second, which is linked to the first, tio create the space to sign Gavrikov, the K’Andre Miller Situation needs to be resolved. It’s very clear that the Rangers would like to move on from Miller, either via trade or offer sheet. Timing now becomes an issue. Brian Dumoulin, who plays for Sully in Pittsburgh, becomes a fall-back option, same with Matt Grzelcyk and Nate Schmidt.
The Rangers have a few pricier options available but making shopping in the discount section of the store.
