New York Rangers: Ranking the RFAs by the likelihood that they are traded
This year, the New York Rangers have seven pending Restricted Free Agents. While some are expected to be a lock for the team next year, will any of them be dealt before July first?
There’s a reason why some people refer to this time of year as “silly season” in the NHL. Once the Stanley Cup is handed out, teams turn their attention to the draft.
Once draft weekend concludes, teams focus on who they will be signing for the upcoming season. While the unrestricted free agent class is filled with talent this year, most teams tend to try to sign their restricted free agents first.
The New York Rangers have their hands full with RFAs this year. In Brady Skjei, they have a young, talented defenseman who definitely deserves a raise.
They also have to consider giving new contracts to two assets they traded for at the deadline. The Rangers acquired Vladislav Namnestnikov and Ryan Spooner from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins respectively. Both are in need of new deals.
Furthermore, they need to think about giving new contracts to two prospects who saw NHL time last season, John Gilmour and Rob O’Gara. They need to consider roster regulars Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey, as well.
But, re-signing RFAs isn’t always the best way to deal with them, especially in the salary cap era. Trading the rights to some restricted free agents is probably the best option for the New York Rangers.
5. Brady Skjei
Brady Skjei seems to be, or at least should be, one of the few untouchables on the New York Rangers right now. By sending away Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, and Rick Nash in the past year, all huge parts of the core, the team has shown that virtually no one is safe.
However, on a rebuilding team, some things still need to stay constant. Skjei has shown promise over the past two seasons on the team.
In his rookie season, he recorded 39 points, five goals and 34 assists, in 80 games. This past year, he scored four goals and 21 assists for a total of 25 points in 82 games.
To be able to stay somewhat afloat on a failing team is something that only a truly talented player can do. Dealing the blue-liner would make the Rangers’ defense problems even worse than they already are. With McDonagh gone and Marc Staal still on the team, Skjei is one of the brightest spots on the defensive corps.
Additionally, at 24 years old, he’s young enough to move into his prime when this rebuild is nearing its end. Out of all of the free agents that the New York Rangers are thinking about signing, this offseason, Brady Skjei should be the number one priority.
4. Vladislav Namnestnikov/Ryan Spooner
Vladislav Namnestnikov and Ryan Spooner are in very similar situations. Coincidentally, they are very similar players. Both were dealt to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline this past year.
Namnestnikov had just four points (two goals and two assists) in 19 games with the Rangers this year. In the other 62 games that he played this year with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he scored 44 points, 20 goals and 24 assists. This makes a total of 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points on the season.
As for Spooner, he had four goals and 12 assists (16 points) in 20 games with the Rangers. In the 39 prior games this past season that he appeared in with Boston, he notched nine goals and 16 assists (25 points).
By these numbers, Namnestnikov definitely looks like he doesn’t fit with the Rangers as well. However, they have both only played a small portion of a season with the team.
It’s going to take more than a quarter of a season to see how these two players could help the team. For this reason, the team should probably steer clear of trading them right now. Namnestnikov and Spooner seem to be two talented players who could add a lot to this group.
3. Kevin Hayes
Up until this past week, Kevin Hayes would probably be at the same spot as Brady Skjei on this list. Most New York Rangers fans considered him virtually untouchable. It seemed like the organization thought that too.
But, on June 16th, Larry Brooks released an article floating the forward’s name as a potential trade piece. He suggested that if the Rangers make a trade at the draft or in the days following, the deal would most likely include Hayes. He also noted that “multiple sources” believe that he is gathering interest from around the NHL.
From an outside perspective, this is good to see for Hayes. He’s getting the league-wide attention that he deserves, finally. His career low in points is 36 (14 goals and 22 assists in 2015-2016), which is still not a bad number.
This past season, he had 25 goals and 19 assists, totaling 44 points. He was just five points away from his career high of 49 points (17 goals and 32 assists), which he reached in 2016-2017. However, from the point of view of the Rangers, this isn’t great news at all.
As mentioned before, Hayes seemed to be on the same level as Skjei and even Henrik Lundqvist in terms of his spot on the team. He was important to the group’s future, he wasn’t going anywhere.
He’s still only number three on this list, because it doesn’t seem extremely likely that he will be traded, but there’s a bigger chance of it now than there was in the past.
2. Rob O’Gara/John Gilmour
The New York Rangers haven’t seen much of Rob O’Gara or John Gilmour at the NHL level. For this reason, they may feel like they won’t be losing much by trading them.
O’Gara was acquired at the 2018 trade deadline from the Boston Bruins, along with a third-round pick in the 2018 draft, in exchange for Nick Holden. He played in eight games with the Bruins, recording no points.
In 22 games with the Rangers after the trade, he put up three points, all assists, and his first three NHL points. He didn’t show much potential offensively and was considered a defensive liability.
As for Gilmour, he was signed by the Rangers just before the 2016-2017 season started. He was a college free agent, drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2013 but failing to sign with them.
He appeared in 28 games with the Rangers this season, his first NHL stint. Over that period of time, he recorded two goals and three assists, totaling five points.
These two are so high up on the list solely because of their NHL experience. Neither are regular roster players.
Both are still considered prospects. It would make sense for them to be thrown into a package with roster players or picks.
1. Jimmy Vesey
Jimmy Vesey’s situation is a relatively confusing one. He had a great college career, even winning the Hobey Baker award in 2016.
Though the Nashville Predators drafted him in 2012, he finished his college years and failed to sign a contract with them. This made him the “big fish” free agent in the summer of 2016 as well. Many teams were pining for him, but New York was the lucky city that landed him.
In his first season, he massively underwhelmed. Vesey put up 27 points, 16 goals and 11 assists, in 80 games. This past season, he recorded just one more goal and the same number of assists, totaling 17 goals and 11 assists for 28 points in one fewer game (79).
Obviously, Vesey could still improve. Under a new coach, there’s certainly a chance that he will grow. but, what if he doesn’t? The older he gets, the further away we get from his amazing college years and “big fish free agent” status.
The Rangers are better off letting go of him now while his good reputation is still relevant. Jimmy Vesey the player and Jimmy Vesey the name are two totally different beasts.
Next: The recent history of the number one center slot
Chances are, the New York Rangers will opt to trade him before having to sign him to a contract, and while his value is still high.