Rangers’ GM Chris Drury locked up another of the team’s restricted free agent Monday, inking Adam Edstrom to a two-year deal with a $975K AAV. The contract, both in terms of length and dollars, is the same as signed by Matt Rempe a few days ago. Edstrom should join Rempe and Sam Carrick to comprise a solid fourth line, whose total salaries equal $2.95 million, fairly cost-effective for that trio.
Drury still has to the following restricted free agents, Will Cuylle, Zac Jones and K’Andre Miller, all in need of new deals. Of the three, Cuylle is the top priority, with Jones and Miller each rumored to be on the block. Of the pair, Jones is the most likely to return with Miller drawing healthy interest on the market.
Edstrom, taken in the sixth round, 161 overall in 2019, parlayed a strong training camp into a roster spot, posting five goals, four assists, 40 shots on net, 34 blocked shots and 94 hits across 51 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. He sustained a lower-body injury against Boston on Feb. 1, missing the final 31 games of the year. Edstrom used that time off to watch from the press box, picking up little subtleties that he hopes to incorporate into his game this season.
As Mollie Walker noted, his line with Rempe and Carrick put up strong numbers during five-on-five play, outscoring opponents 4-0 and out-chancing them 31-28 in their 76:55 of ice time together, according to Natural Stat Trick. Those numbers provide some level of confidence that the line can be effective again during this upcoming season.
