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New York Rangers: Five free agents that must be avoided

By John Cavanagh

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Rangers
Apr 17, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks right wing Patrick Eaves (18) skates against the Calgary Flames during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Patrick Eaves-

A criticism of the New York Rangers has been the team lacks a willingness to go to the front of the net, and play hard on the forecheck. Patrick Eaves brings both, and can also kill penalties.

Eaves is a solid two-way player that was traded to the Anaheim Ducks from the Dallas Stars at the deadline, going to Anaheim with 21 goals and 16 assists in 59 games.

He made a career year even better, and added 11 goals and three assists in 20 games with the Ducks.

Eaves is a good skater who brings qualities the Rangers could use,  but having a career year in a contract year means he is bound to get overpaid. The Rangers can’t afford to overpay anyone that isn’t a defenseman.

At 30, Eaves is also injury prone. Eaves played 79 out of 82 games this year, the most he’s ever played in a season. His next best was the 73 games he played all the way back in the 2006-2007 season.

Eaves is going to earn too much money, and isn’t consistently healthy making him too risky to invest in.

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