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New York Rangers: Don’t forget about Lindqvist and Meskanen

By John Williams

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 29: New York Rangers Left Wing Michael Lindqvist (34) skates during New York Rangers Prospect Development Camp on June 29, 2018 at the MSG Training Center in New York, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 29: New York Rangers Left Wing Michael Lindqvist (34) skates during New York Rangers Prospect Development Camp on June 29, 2018 at the MSG Training Center in New York, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The New York Rangers have been quiet in free agency because they feel like they have their roster already filled out. Two of their May free agent signings allowed them to stay on the down-low.

It may be frustrating that the New York Rangers haven’t made any free agent moves besides signing defenseman Fredrik Claesson to a one year deal.

The team could have brought in a couple veterans to do two things; A) bring in some veterans to help lead the young players into their NHL careers and B) use said veterans as trade bait to create free assets at the trade deadline.

While that strategy was probably the one that would accelerate their rebuild, or at least give them more pick and prospect sized lottery tickets at the trade deadline, the team wants to give their kids every opportunity to get NHL time this year and develop.

After all, the Rangers made their two big free agent signings back in May when they inked Finnish wing Ville Meskanen and Swedish wing Michael Lindqvist to entry level contracts.

Both undrafted free agents, 22 and 23 respectively, will have a very real chance of making the big club in September’s training camp. And if you don’t think that an undrafted free agent has a chance of making the team in his first season under contract, you’re forgetting about Mats Zuccarello, who debuted in December of the year he was signed out of Sweden.

And if you don’t think the youngsters believe they have a true shot, just check out Meskanen’s comments on why he joined the Rangers from the day after he signed the contract:

"“There was interest from multiple teams, but in the end there were three teams from which to choose. Rangers was relatively easy choice after all. I have best chances to play in the NHL there.”"

Meskanen is a sniper, plain and simple. In 48 games with the Ilves Tampere of the Finnish Elite League, he tallied 24 goals and 20 assists. He was clearly one of his team’s best players in all three zones, which is why the Rangers wanted to add him to their group.

In his first full Swedish Hockey League season last year, Lindqvist tallied 20 goals and 14 assists in 33 games.

His biggest issue is that he has a pretty small frame.

While 5’11” isn’t that small, he weighs in at 172 lbs. He’ll need to put on some weight to better his chances at making it in the league, but he has the hockey sense to do it. OnTheForecheck.com did an interesting scouting report on him, which you should check out.

Both players have tremendous potential. With three-to-four forward spots being up for grab in the Opening Night lineup, Meskanen and Lindqvist will have to battle with a plethora of forwards including youngsters Filip Chytil, Lias Andersson, Brett Howden, Ty Ronning, Vinni Lettieri and Boo Nieves, as well as veterans Matt Beleskey, Cody McLeod and Peter Holland.

Do they have nothing more than an outside shot to make it right away? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

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