New York Rangers: Analyzing the center pool in free agency

With Oscar Lindberg and Derek Stepan off the roster, the Rangers are desperately in need of some help down the middle of the ice.

Two of the Rangers starting centers from last season are no longer with the team. That has left a void that Rangers management must fill in the upcoming months. Either through free agency, internally or via trade New York will undoubtedly look to bolster the middle of the ice.

Of the three options, building from within seems the least likely. The Rangers have few options in their farm system who seem to be ready.

While trading is certainly still an option, the asking prices may be too high for a second or third line center and the Rangers don’t have a ton of pieces at their disposal.

That leaves free agency, where centers are available and the Rangers have cap space to bargain with. There are plenty of options for New York and if the price is right, plucking at least one center from the free agent market seems like a logical choice.

Here are the pros and cons to a few free agent signings the Rangers may look into this offseason.