Rangers free-agent big board: Top targets, from depth forwards to a big swing on D

A number of New York Rangers gamers spoke on breakup day about how lacking the playoffs offers them loads of time to work on their video games over the summer season. They’re not the one ones with time on their arms. Workforce president and normal supervisor Chris Drury and new coach Mike Sullivan even have time to guage their roster and add to it earlier than 2025-26.

Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafrenière, Will Borgen, Juuso Pärssinen and Urho Vaakanainen all have extensions that can start subsequent season, and Will Cuylle and Ok’Andre Miller are due massive raises in restricted free company. That each one results in a little bit of a cap crunch.

PuckPedia initiatives the Rangers to have $8.422 million of cap house getting into the offseason. They could should clear room simply to cowl their group of RFAs, which incorporates Cuylle, Miller, Adam Edström, Matt Rempe and Zac Jones. To dip into the free-agency waters, New York must clear extra room. That would imply buying and selling or shopping for out a participant like Chris Kreider or approaching somebody like Mika Zibanejad or Artemi Panarin about waiving his no-movement clause.

Let’s check out potential unrestricted free-agent choices if Drury is ready to clear some house. I’m attempting to maintain this checklist life like. One thing drastic must change if the Rangers are going to have an opportunity on the top-of-the-line free brokers like Mitch Marner, so don’t count on enormous names like him on right here.

Ahead choices

Mikael Granlund, Dallas Stars

22 targets, 66 factors in 83 video games, $5 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

The San Jose Sharks traded Granlund to Dallas forward of the deadline. He can play each middle and wing and is on the left of a line with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. The 33-year-old wouldn’t make the Rangers any youthful, however his age may make him somewhat extra reasonably priced in free company. As is the case with the opposite free brokers on this part of the checklist, New York would virtually definitely want to maneuver cash to have the house for Granlund. AFP Analytics initiatives he’ll get a two-year, $4.9 million average-annual-value deal, solely a slight lower from his present cap hit.

Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks

31 targets, 62 factors in 80 video games, $2 million AAV cap hit

Donato, a former faculty teammate of Adam Fox, is 29 and might play each middle and wing. His career-best 17 % capturing proportion probably contributed to his 2024-25 breakout, however his versatility and skill to create offense nonetheless make him an attention-grabbing possibility. Even when he dips to twenty targets, it may provide a lift to a staff’s middle-six ahead group.

Ryan Donato’s manufacturing skyrocketed in 2024-25 forward of free company this summer season. (Tyler Schank / Getty Photos)

Jonathan Drouin, Colorado Avalanche

11 targets, 37 factors in 43 video games, $2.5 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

Drury had curiosity in Drouin final summer season. He’s had a stable two-year stint in Colorado, although accidents restricted him in 2024-25, and he struggled to generate within the playoffs. Drouin signed one-year offers every of the previous two summers. Maybe this one he’ll search for a bit extra stability.

Patrick Kane, Detroit Purple Wings

21 targets, 59 factors in 72 video games, $4 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

Kane may re-sign in Detroit and never attain free company, however he confirmed he’s nonetheless a succesful aim scorer in his first few seasons with the Purple Wings. A reunion with the Rangers doesn’t really feel probably at this level, however Drury may as nicely maintain tabs if he makes it to July 1. Twelve of Kane’s targets this previous season got here on the facility play, and the Rangers’ energy play floundered in 2024-25.

Trent Frederic, Edmonton Oilers

8 targets, 15 factors in 58 video games, $2.3 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25 

Frederic is the kind of participant Drury likes. At 6-foot-3, he brings dimension and performs with a bodily edge. He had robust seasons for the Boston Bruins in 2022-23 and 2023-24, scoring 35 targets and 71 factors throughout the 2 seasons, however took a step again this 12 months, as did many gamers on a disappointing Boston staff. The Bruins traded Frederic to Edmonton on the deadline. Regardless of his disappointing season, he’s sure for a elevate in free company, and he may earn much more cash if he may also help the Oilers to a deep playoff run.

Yanni Gourde, Tampa Bay Lightning

7 targets, 31 factors in 57 video games, $5.166 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

Tampa Bay paid a excessive worth to commerce for Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the commerce deadline, so the Lightning will in all probability attempt to re-sign him. If he reaches the market, he brings a snarl the Rangers may use. He’s been a successful participant all through his profession and has a pair of Stanley Cup rings, each from his first stint with the Lightning.

Cheaper middle depth

Adam Gaudette, Ottawa Senators

19 targets, 26 factors in 81 video games, $775,000 AAV cap hit in 2024-25 

Earlier than 2024-25, Gaudette spent virtually two full seasons within the AHL. He discovered his scoring contact with Ottawa this previous season, potting 19 targets. His career-best 21.1 % capturing proportion contributed to that success however may additionally imply regression is available in 2025-26. If Sullivan needs to place Zibanejad on J.T. Miller’s proper wing, Gaudette may very well be an reasonably priced choice to contend for a bottom-six middle job.

Christian Dvorak, Montreal Canadiens

12 targets, 33 factors in 82 video games, $4.45 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

Dvorak is barely 29. If Drury may get him or a similar-level participant on a deal for lower than $2 million AAV, it may make sense as a third-line middle possibility. AFP Analytics projected him to get a two-year deal at $1.765 million AAV. That’s an inexpensive vary for the Rangers.

Lars Eller, Washington Capitals 

10 targets, 22 factors in 80 video games, $2.45 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

Eller has performed greater than 1,000 NHL video games and received a Stanley Cup. He doesn’t carry a lot on offense at this level in his profession however is the third-line middle on a very good Washington membership.

Fox pairing prospects

Vladislav Gavrikov, Los Angeles Kings

5 targets, 30 factors in 82 video games, $5.875 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

Realistically, the Rangers may in all probability solely make a run at Gavrikov in the event that they commerce Ok’Andre Miller’s restricted free-agency rights, they usually may need to clear more room on prime of that. That’s a dangerous proposition — and maybe a shortsighted one. Miller is 4 years youthful than Gavrikov and has proven he’s able to a 43-point season (2022-23) and taking part in 21:57 per recreation (2022-23 and 2024-25). He and Fox additionally had elite underlying numbers when paired this previous season. Giving up on Miller may come again to chew Drury if the defenseman takes off with one other staff.

Gavrikov is coming off a powerful season with Los Angeles during which he performed greater than 23 minutes a recreation. He’s a left shot, and if the Rangers pursued him, it might presumably be with the concept of taking part in him on a pair with Fox long-term. His underlying defensive metrics have been elite this previous season, in line with colleague Dom Luszczyszyn’s mannequin. The 29-year-old would match nicely on the Rangers roster, however Drury must make important sacrifices to get him. AFP Analytics projected he’ll get a $7.6 million common annual worth contract for seven years.

Brian Dumoulin, New Jersey Devils 

3 targets, 22 factors in 80 video games, $3.15 million AAV cap hit in 2024-25

Dumoulin, whom the Devils acquired from Anaheim on the deadline, was a warrior throughout New Jersey’s transient playoff run, averaging almost half-hour a recreation in 5 video games towards Carolina and taking part in greater than 36 minutes in each double-overtime video games. He’d be a less expensive acquisition than Gavrikov and wouldn’t necessitate as a lot cap sacrifice elsewhere. If the Rangers signed somebody like Dumoulin, they might pair that participant with Fox for chunks of video games, then put Fox and Miller collectively in particular conditions, be it late in recreation or if they’ve an enormous offensive-zone draw.

(High images of Patrick Kane and Vladislav Gavrikov: Ronald Martinez and Jason Mowry / Getty Photos)