The New York Rangers: The Youth Movement

Good teams  have rookies ready to graduate each season to the NHL and the New York Rangers will follow suit.

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There are some unrestricted free agents without a contract the New York Rangers could bring in on a short term contract.  So far they’ve restocked some of the teams depth and their American Hockey League affiliate Hartford Wolfpack.

Chris Mueller is a skilled forward who plays a well-rounded game. Owns fine playmaking and scoring ability. Also has some grit. – Erik K. Piri, Elite Prospects 

The New York Rangers added AHL star

, as well as

and

to two-way contracts at the AHL level. I like the

signing. He’s versatile, has a right handed shot, and plays to

‘s puck pursuit defensive scheme perfectly. He skates well enough to be a good fit somewhere on the New York Rangers revamped bottom six.

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They also signed

, a star centerman for the AHL Champion Texas Stars, to a one-way contract. He scored fifty-seven points in sixty games in the AHL this past season.

and

were also signed to one-way contracts, though its probable

replaces

and

as a seventh defenseman.

is a rather small left handed defenseman that plays a safe kind of game. Skates well and is good with the puck but without the puck could use some improvement. Specifically in the defensive zone.

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Now the Rangers have eight forwards that are going to be on the opening night roster. Three more group two free agents in Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, and Chris Kreider are likely to be signed. Eleven forwards out of thirteen on the NHL roster. The young players recently signed were likely to replace some of the talent the New York Rangers are going to take from Hartford to add to their NHL roster. It may look on paper that this team is worse than the one that made it to the finals last season but management has a plan. I can assure you all. I’m sure Glen Sather can taste the metal that the Stanley Cup is made of right now. It’s a process and he has to figure out what it’ll take to keep the young restricted (group 2) free agents and what he has left to spend. If he can’t make a big move during the summer he may fold his cards for now. Then see what he has and what his team needs during the season. He will have a couple bucks to spend on a veteran unrestricted free agent but nothing big. I would think that may come if he or the coaching staff find a lack of growth from kids like J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast.

The New York Rangers will have a youth Movement this season. Jesper Fast, Oscar Linberg, Chris Mueller, and some others will have an opportunity to make the team out of camp. This will be out of necessity

Leave your comments below and tell us what you think the NY Rangers need to do to take the next step and compete with the top teams in the West. Remember though the New York Rangers need righties. Lefty shots are plentiful so it’s not as easy as signing any twenty to thirty goal scorer because there may be nowhere to put him. Would you like a trade for a particular player or is there a UFA to sign or an RFA to send an offer sheet to or acquire by trade?